Interview: Chicago Punk/Rock Band Torch the Hive Talk About Their Timely New Video "Shame on You"
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““Torch the Hive” is ambiguous to interpretation, so people are free to view the name however they wish. To us, “Torch the Hive” means to go above and beyond what’s expected of you and oppose those who try to control you.”
You've mentioned that Torch the Hive was formed after the breakup of your last band; what does the name "Torch the Hive" represent?
"Torch the Hive" is ambiguous to interpretation, so people are free to view the name however they wish. To us, “Torch the Hive” means to go above and beyond what’s expected of you and oppose those who try to control you.
Congratulations on the release of your music video for "Shame on You". What was your thought process when coming up with its treatment and who directed it?
The idea for the video came before we even wrote the song. Tyler and myself were at a bar one day and started discussing what a new music video would be like since we haven't made one prior to this in years.
We scribbled the ideas on a bar napkin (I think he still has it in one of his coat pockets somewhere). We never ended up using any of those ideas. We recorded the track with Chris DeQuick at Million Yen Studios then quickly brainstormed ideas with our director, Stephen Sotor. He came up with the video's premise of using social media/news inserts that surround the band throughout the duration of the video.
In a way, we wanted viewers to feel like they are being brainwashed with American propaganda. We all had a hand in creating the texts in each social media insert. They are basically an amalgamation of our opinions on the direction society is going in and how the media can mold one's beliefs.
As for the political aspect of the video, we chose to use footage of the riots in Hong Kong and protests from America to portray the perpetual cycle of violence and what happens when the upper class are the ones who hold power over people.
It almost seems like "Shame on You" could be the soundtrack to the protests taking place right now in the US and around the world. What were some things that inspired you when developing the song's lyrics?
Both the video and lyrics for "Shame on You" were written in a pre-pandemic/protest world. At the time I wanted to write a song about my frustration with the world. The line "some people hate me for the color of my skin / well fuck you snowflake I don't know what I did" is especially close to my heart now because I’m a Filipino American born and raised in Chicago and I had people telling me to “go back to China” during the beginning of the pandemic.
Will "Shame on You" be a part of an upcoming EP or album you guys are working on?
“Shame on You” will be part of an upcoming release that we are planning to release this year. We’re currently writing and had to scrap a few songs to make way for new songs to better fit the current political climate of the world today.
The first song on the album will be called “Copaganda”. You can fill in the blanks to figure out what that song is all about.
When someone listens to or watches the "Shame on You" video for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience?
When viewers are watching/listening to “Shame on You” for the first time, the first feeling I want them to feel is outrage. Question your government. Question why citizen surveillance is a priority among officials.
Question why these so-called social media “influencers” are taking advantage of the Black Lives Matters protests for their own clout. Question health insurance companies and why people live in fear of going to the hospital when they are sick/hurt.
The next feeling I want them to experience is empowerment. Don’t be afraid to stand up to racism and bigotry. Don’t be afraid to use your voice. Use your voice as a blade to cut the binds of oppression that have had a hold on marginalized groups of people for years. Use your voice as a tool to rebuild a society that desperately needs reworking.