Piss: Excavating Trauma Through Punk

The Vancouver quartet Piss has cultivated a devoted following through their raw and uncompromising live performances. Their music is a powerful fusion of hardcore, poetry, and sound collage, with singer Taylor Zantingh's experiences of sexual violence at its core.

Onstage, Piss delivers a meticulously tuned narrative of gender-based violence, not as entertainment but as a lived reality. This intense presentation, which they have performed consistently for two years, often subverts audience expectations of what a band named Piss might offer.

Their debut album, "You Made Me / Skin on Linen," is slated for release on October 30, 2024, via Sub Pop. Recorded to capture the visceral Piss live experience, the album features Zantingh's raw vocal delivery and disturbing lyrical themes.

Zantingh emphasizes that the visceral nature of their subject matter necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating various voices and art forms to convey experiences too immense for words alone. This method allows for interpretation while powerfully communicating the ongoing impact of trauma.

The band acknowledges the deeply uncomfortable nature of their art. While striving for accessibility through subtitles and clear communication, they recognize that their message may not always reach those who perhaps need it most, accepting the inherent challenges of their artistic mission.