When considering Los Angeles outfit The Interrupters, take a moment to kindly forget jargon like “SoCal punk rock” or “next wave ska” or whatever perimeter you want to secure around them. A typical Interrupters gig feels like going to church where all the religious iconography is taken out and replaced with mirrors so the band and audience become one. Ignited by frontwoman Aimee Interrupter and the Bivona brothers’ indefatigable enthusiasm, attendees can see joy in action; discover strength in numbers; and feel bulletproof when facing the forces that haunt them. There are no victims or outcasts in attendance when the quartet are onstage: Transfixed by the legendary ‘80s 2 Tone ska movement and fueled with a contemporary energy that makes 180-bpm thrash-metallers seem positively slack, Aimee Interrupter and the Bivona brothers Kevin, Justin and Jesse blur the enthusiasm between band and audience in a way that’s equal parts dance party, cardio workout and personal therapy.
breakkaway is a global collective of musicians hailing from China, Mexico, France and the United States, today based out of New York City. Their art, unbound from convention and unconcerned with genre, draws from a diverse pool of influences, spanning hyperpop, indie folk and nu metalcore, while citing literature, film and fashion. Their introspective storytelling is at once deeply personal while speaking universal truths, serving as a lens through which to explore complex existential themes. Initially formed in 2022, breakkaway join the label’s ranks following the self-release of a trio of acclaimed tracks – “I’ll See You When the Night Comes”; “Outside”, which has amassed nearly 20 million streams; and “Secret”, which was spotlighted as the best song of the week on the esteemed BBC Radio 1 Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter. Key tastemaker publication Kerrang!, meanwhile, has hailed breakkaway as an act “breaking the boundaries of alternative music”.