Excerpt from transcription, audio
recorded on Saturday, March 29, 2025
Al: Hello. I'm Al, and I'm in Crush. I'm the vocalist.
Ameer: How did you get into the scene?
Al: My brother is the guitarist for Crush, so he introduced me way back. He’s my big brother. He’s 21 now, and I’m 19. He started showing me stuff around three years ago. I was 16, he was 18. He’s the one I started going to shows with. After that, I went to House of J, The End when it was still around—stuff like that.
Ameer: Do you think that being queer, or queercore, has made a significant impact on the Houston scene?
Al: Yeah, I think we need more of this. When I first came into the scene, I was really anxious. I would just stay behind my brother all the time because I didn’t know anyone. I’ve been out since, like, eighth or ninth grade, so it’s been a while—but I was still scared to be around everyone. Everyone looked so... white. I was terrified. I’m from Channelview, where it’s mostly people of color. When I started going to shows around February 2020, there were a lot more white people in the scene. So I’d always be behind my brother because I literally couldn’t talk to anyone. Not at all.
Ameer: So how has your experience as a queer artist been in the scene?
Al: I think it’s been good. I try to surround myself with other queer people in the scene, because I’ve learned that if I don’t, I still face transphobia. I’ve dealt with that even before joining the scene. And now, it’s still hard sometimes—especially because I haven’t medically transitioned. My parents are really transphobic, so I haven’t been able to. A lot of people still don’t respect me. I’m constantly having to remind people, “Hey, I’m a guy,” but they don’t always listen. So I’ve built my own community around me—especially my brother and my friends, who have always been there. But it’s still tough sometimes.
Ameer: Do you feel welcomed in the scene, overall?
Al: Yeah, I would say yes. Putting the bad apples aside, I’ve started going to more and more shows.
I remember once, my brother told me that Corpse Pile played a show where they talked about a trans girl who had been killed in a hate crime. They were very clear about being against that and said it wasn’t right.
When my brother told me that, I was like, “Oh my god—that’s so supportive. I want to go see more.”
I was still a little scared to go, but my brother would tell me how positive the scene is, how nice and comforting it is, and how you can be open here. Eventually, I started coming more often. I’d tell people, “By the way, I’m a guy,” and they’d just be chill about it. No big fuss.
Ameer: Do you feel like your experience as a queer person and a punk has affected your experience in the Houston, Texas scene?
Al: Yeah, I feel like I brought a lot of my older friends—who are also queer—into the scene because I’d tell them, “This is such a positive place, you should all come and listen to music, even if you don’t like it.” A lot of them weren’t super into emo or anything, but I’d still be like, “Come on, y’all. It’s a nice place. You’ve gotta see it. People won’t judge you here.” So I think bringing more people together like that is really nice. It helps build a space with more genuine people. Especially because there are a lot of folks who are just in it for clout. So it feels good when you’re around people who are actually authentic, you know?
Ameer: I’ve heard that sentiment a few times—that some people are here more for clout or whatever. Do you feel like that’s something really prevalent in the Houston scene, or is it more of a general thing?
Al: I’d say it’s about half and half. I’m a little involved with a lot of bands here, so I see both sides. There are definitely a lot of bands that are genuine. But then you have a few that aren’t. They say they stand for things, but they don’t actually follow through. That’s when I start thinking, like, “What’s really going on?” Sometimes it really discourages me. I’ll see things that make me feel down. It’s not super prevalent, but it’s there.
And I still think a lot of people don’t stand their ground enough. So those inauthentic people just keep growing in influence. Personally, I think if you’re coming into the scene—especially if you’re in a band—you can’t be transphobic, homophobic, racist, or anything like that. But I still see it way too often. Like, every time a band gets “canceled,” it’s always over stuff that’s been happening for a while. Or there are things that go unheard. It just makes it feel like some people are only here for clout.
Ameer: Do you remember the first show you went to?
Al: Yes. The first local show was at Ojeman. I came here and FromJoy was playing. I love FromJoy—they’re so good. But I was really overwhelmed because I wasn’t used to being in loud places, even though I listen to loud music on my headphones all the time. I guess I got anxious and overwhelmed, so I threw up. Just from being overwhelmed. Then I fell asleep during the FromJoy set. I remember my brother was there and he met some people, and I met them too—they’re still my friends today. He even remembered me being sick that night. So yeah, that was my first show.
Ameer: Well, that’s a show to remember. How has the scene impacted your life?
Al: Pretty good. In high school, I was bullied a lot for being trans. Not too much—I had a lot of friends. But also, people would go up to me and be like, "How do you think you are a guy? Why do you think you're a guy? And you're someone who looks like a girl. Like, just pick." They used to be so rude, but I came here. Like I said, everyone will be, like, the opposite. So it really, really, really made me open up a lot, especially since I started the band. I feel like even in my job or other parts in my life, I can be more open because I'm already, like, performing in front of people even though I'm always shitting myself. I have cried before, like, performing because I get anxious. But after I do it's, like, all good and all well, and I feel good. Yeah. And people are mostly sweet.
Ameer: So this is gonna be my final question. Do you have any plans for the future that you can share?
Al: Well, Crush is coming up. We’re gonna record soon and release new stuff soon. We’re also dropping new merch. Yeah, I really like my band—I love everyone. They’re like my best friends, the closest people to me, always there for me.
Just make bands with genuine people and be genuine yourself. Do it for the scene and do it for yourself. But not yourself in the sense of, like, “Oh, so they can write about me or whatever.” Do it to heal yourself, you know? That’s what I do.
I sing about transphobia, about my past traumas, about how I want to keep my people safe. And I feel like that’s what people need to do. Not just be like, “Oh, look at how many people listen to me.” No. Just think about yourself. It’ll become an open, safe place for people.
That’s what I mostly want Crush to be. But I feel like I need to heal myself first, so then other people can come to me and I can help them, you know?
