New Jersey’s CHARGE are picking up and running with the kind of political, inspiring form of hardcore spirit that the countless costume-wearing bands of today have shoved aside. Tired of listening about broken hearts? Sick of inane references to mascara and cut wrists? If you’re looking for a sense of empowerment, positivity, and passion, all rolled up into a thick, enticing, confident sound, CHARGE’s debut EP, “Universal Tribe” begs for your attention. This interview was conducted with Shawn Z, CHARGE’s bassist in late August of 2004.

Pastepunk: Since CHARGE are most likely a band that most of our readers are not familiar with, please list who is in the band, what they play, and how the band got its start.

Shawn: Well I’m Shawn and I play Bass. Giri is the vocalist and plays percussion as well. Zion B plays the guitars, while Steve is on the kit and samples. The band started as simple jamming, as just friends getting together to have fun and then it grew from that seed.

Pastepunk: A cheap, but not inaccurate comparison of CHARGE’s sound saying something along the lines of “BANE meets BAD BRAINS.” How would you describe the band’s sound, emphasis, and mission?

Shawn:Well the sound is a combination of all our influences and inspirations. Bad Brains is definitely an influence without a doubt, they are one of the best bands of all time. So to be even compared to them is an honor, but they are one influence of many. A lot of other music outside of the realm of hardcore/punk etc. influences us. Anything from Hip-Hop, Roots Reggae, older stuff like Curtis Mayfield, Hendrix, Sabbath, Parliament…so many things. World music, all types of music. Everyone in the band is an individual and brings their own vibe to the table when it comes to writing. It may be subtle and may go unnoticed but it’s there in some way, shape, or form. The new stuff we are writing is obviously going to be a progression of what we have done on the EP. We definitely don’t want to write the same record more than once. So the sound will always have it’s roots but at the same time it is ever evolving as we progress with it. The emphasis is to play the music we want to play that carries the message of hope and a state of awareness. It is non-sectarian, meaning we want everyone to feel included no matter your spiritual belief, race, creed, sex, etc. That is what the “UNIVERSAL TRIBE’ means, we are all in truth one. This oneness is simply the root of the message. We want to bring people together, express various feelings/issues and have fun.

Pastepunk: There’s a bristling political current that spins throughout “Universal Tribe” – how is the band able to maintain its uplifting spirit and stay focused while there’s so much to be angry about?

Shawn: Well personally it can be hard sometimes. But you need to keep your head on straight and not let the devils fuck your shit up and sap your energy. I have to be honest, I feel anger and I’m far from being some perfect person. I don’t want to be fake and promote myself as anything else than what I am, a person trying his best to make the best out of a hard situation. I think the key is to be aware of these negative things that take place around you so you don’t fall victim to them-be they political, social, etc. But it cannot be your main focus; the focus must be on the good things, the just things, and the positive things. I know from experience that it is very easy to get wrapped up in shit that is not productive. I think patience, faith, a sense of humor and a solid foundation is the key to success.

Pastepunk: Standard interview question – how did you guys hook up with Hell Bent Records? Tell me something about label co-owner Joe Oz that most people probably don’t know!

Shawn: Well Joe Oz was the first person to step up and support the band when we were new. He was out at our first shows and I guess he saw something special in us and wanted to be part of it. He was local, he loved the band, and so it just made sense. Something people don’t know, hmmmmmmmm. I would say Joe likes to drink a lot, but I think most people know that. I can’t really think of anything off the top of my head to be honest.

Pastepunk: CHARGE is managed/assisted by Armando Bordas who was in a hardcore band called FARENHEIT 451 a whole bunch of years ago, and runs the c-crap.com website. I was a big fan of that band while growing up in New York and CHARGE reminds me a bit of them in both lyrics and music. As hardcore has gone in so many different ways over the years, where do you draw your musical inspiration from – both past and present?

Shawn: Well from the past bands like Bad Brains, Burn, Quicksand, Orange 9mm, Sick of it All, Cro-Mags…pretty much the NYC shit. Then things like Hendrix, Sabbath, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Zeppelin and Santana. Rock like Kyuss, Clutch, Janes Addiction, RATM…Bob Marley, Culture, Burning Spear, Sly and Robbie, Tosh…so much reggae/dub. Hip Hop like K-os, Heiroglyphics, Pharcyde, Jedi Mind Tricks, KRS ONE, Public Enemy, Roots, etc. Lately newer stuff I’ve been on as far as hardcore/punk music. Candiria, Rise Against, Strike Anywhere, Bane, Death Threat. I mean it’s all stuff I listen to; everyone in the band has their own things as well. These are things that inspire me, I’m sure a lot of this is parallel with the other members. But they have their own influences as well. Life is the top influence, experiences and the situations that we live in day to day on every level. That is the main inspiration and motivation. Really we’re not setting out to sound like any other band, we have influences obviously but when it comes down to it we are CHARGE.

Pastepunk: How have shows gone since the band got off the ground? What’s one thing that you have learned that makes the mental aspect of playing for 5 people or 300 people easier to adjust to?

Shawn: Well some shows are amazing and then some shows are less then amazing. It depends on the location, the crowd…the whole interaction between everyone in the place. For myself I have fun every time I play, obviously when people are going ape shit it is so much better-the energy level just gets like fire. But I always have a good time, I just love to play-it really is a blessing to be able to play music whether to 5, 50 or 500 people. It’s weird, there are so much politics that come along with being involved in hardcore/punk and I fucking hate that shit. So much gossip and bullshit. You just need to look past that and if you know what you are doing is real eventually the right people will naturally gravitate towards your band. It is all time and patience, everything we have as a band I take as a blessing. When we came out the box I expected nothing, so I feel very good about where we are heading with the music.

Pastepunk: How would get 50 blood-thirsty, flesh chompin’ piranhas out of a bathtub?

Shawn: Damn man, that’s a freaky picture. I guess I would try to scoop them out with something long enough and deep enough so I didn’t get chomped on. Put them in some buckets and call animal control.

Pastepunk: As a young band trying to grow into a bigger and better things, what would be a current band that you would love to tour with that could help the band accomplish it’s next level goals? Why do you feel this band would be a good match? Along those lines, if you could do a split release with any band – past or present, who would it be?

Shawn: Well I can think of some bands I definitely would love to tour with. Candiria, Strike Anywhere, Bane (again, best guys), Rise Against and the dream would be to play with Bad Brains. I think on many levels we would have a great time with any of these bands. I would also love to play with different types of bands, maybe some Hip Hop artists. A split release, hmmmmmmm…pretty much any of the above mentioned bands.

Pastepunk: Alrighty, so you’ve ended up stranded in a rainforest that amazingly has a previously undiscovered natural energy source to supply to your iPod for the entirety of strandedness – what releases absolutely, positively must be there on your iPod that would help prevent the oncoming insanity and disillusionment?

Shawn: Well if I was on an Island I would just have to enjoy the seclusion from everyday society. I would pretty much want mostly mellow music for such a situation. Artist I would have on my mix would be Michael Franti, Ben Harper, Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, Bob Marley, Bad Brains, K-OS, KRS ONE, Santana, Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, Stevie Wonder, Heiroglyphics…but I think I would eventually make my own instruments out of things on the Island and jam out with the nature around me.

Pastepunk: What are CHARGE’s near-future touring plans? Recording plans? Words of wisdom? Favorite pieces of candy as a child?

Shawn: Well we have a bunch of shows coming up and are planning a full on tour hopefully for late fall. We are writing songs for our LP now and I cannot say exactly when recording will happen but I think the LP will come out in mid 2005, maybe earlier. Words of Wisdom??? Just stay strong and hold on to your faith. Behind every storm cloud the sun awaits you. Candy, I was more of a fruit guy even as a child. I love green grapes, strawberries, blueberries…I love fruit. Natures Candy! Thanks for the interview. Thanks to everyone who supports the band. Thanks to all the true hardcore rebels keeping this alive. Stay safe, Stay up, PEACE!