BADSQUATCH On "Move": explores shadow work, self-love, and growth
Punk Head: This project is framed as a “mental health piece,” but “Move” introduces physicality in a really direct way. How do you see the relationship between mental and physical transformation across the album?
BADSQUATCH: As the full album comes out, it will be much more clear to the audience the transition taking place from song to song. Being such a beefy record, with so many angles to address in mental health as well, it's a bit early to explain the full picture, but what I can say is that the relief physical activity brings to certain mental health struggles, in my own experience, is profound. Often times when I'm struggling in mental loops of dark intrusive thoughts, getting out of my head and into my body helps me find my center again and address the roots of my problems instead of all the noise surrounding them.
Punk Head: This track celebrates movement as medicine. Do you think your audience will hear it more as a metaphor or a literal call to get up and move?
BADSQUATCH: Sincerely, I hope they hear it as both. Especially in times of grief and stress, some of the best ways to move through the inner turmoil is to move externally; physically. As above, so below.
Not to mention, fitness and health are extremely important, and not just physically, but spiritually and mentally, too.
Punk Head: You describe Mexico City as a kind of creative sanctuary. What does that environment unlock in you that you can’t access elsewhere?
BADSQUATCH: There are two fundamental reasons why Mexico City has become such a wonderful place for my creative energies. First and foremost, I have to give kudos to my team and everybody at Topetitud Estudios, as they are the most incredible engineers and music minds I've had the pleasure of working with. The peace that comes from being taken care of creatively by others that can see your vision is paramount.
The second reason is to escape all of the noise of my personal life back home. I've made many records at home (in the midwest) and am currently doing so, but it doesn't resonate quite the same as locking in for a couple of weeks in a place where I can fully detach and focus.
Punk Head: You’ve said you don’t care about genre. Do you think that freedom makes it harder or easier for people to understand who you are as an artist?
BADSQUATCH: It depends on what type of people to which you're referring. When it comes to commercial opinion and gatekeepers, my genre-less style becomes very difficult to be placed in the current music climate... So that can be frustrating sometimes.
Though, I truly believe on an individual level, the consumer that witnesses the depths of my projects more often than not embraces the personal touches and genre-jumping in my attempt to relate to the listener and serve the song, as opposed to writing to make commercial sense.
Punk Head: You’ve got this dual identity between your solo work and fronting The Party After. What does BADSQUATCH allow you to say or explore that the band context doesn’t?
BADSQUATCH: The way that I create with the band is a much more directional type of intention, with our focus being on consistent rock-based sounds complimented by themes of party dystopia, underdogs battling nepotism, the dark side of the industry, and more. Our message is pretty darn specific in highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding the music realms.
My solo career gives me an opportunity to lean into any genres I believe the songs would be best suited to in order to best serve the themes coming directly from my personal life experiences. It gives me an opportunity to explore as well as document my journey of what it means to be human through music, and then share it with others that hopefully can see that they aren't alone or powerless, even in their darkest moments.
