Kelly xsisterhoodx.com

I first encountered your website (www.xsisterhoodx.com) about a year ago, what began your interest in Straightedge?

I first encountered straightedge when I was about fifteen. I was dating my ex boyfriend at the time. He was in a local hardcore band and their singer was straightedge. At the time I had experimented a little with alcohol and really had found no interest in it. To be quite honest I thought it pretty much sucked. The more I learned about straightedge the more I knew I was all about it. I listened to the cliché edge bands like youth of today, earth crisis and some minor threat. It was a good time. I went to a lot of shows. The more I got involved the more I knew I made the right decision. I really started realising how debilitating drugs can be. Friend's of mine really started screwing up their lives and their bodies. It wasn't a good scene.

Who else is involved in the website? And how was it they started helping you? Did you know them already or did they get in contact because of the website?

Most of the work on the website is done by myself. The people that do help on a regular basis are friend's of mine from college mostly. Greg and Tommy both work at WNHU with me, which is our school's radio station. We go to shows together and hang out. The help because I’m a slave driver and I won't leave them alone until I get some reviews. Mean Mike is a friend of mine from Sweden. He's an awesome guy. We began talking online about two years ago. He got in touch with me about the website. We've been talking ever since. Mel Screams also started talking to me because she found the site. She's a lot of fun. She keeps me informed about the goings on in South Africa, which is really interesting.

How long have you been straightedge?

I've been edge since I was fifteen, I’m now twenty-two.

What does being straightedge mean to you?

It's so hard to sum up a complete lifestyle in a few sentences or paragraphs. I would have to say that straightedge is more then a set of rules or a fly by night trend. We all make decisions every day on how we live our lives. My decision involves not drinking, smoking, or ingesting any harmful chemicals that will alter, harm or inhibit my perception of the world around me. There are not enough hours in the day for me to waste being unproductive.

Straightedge does not define me, it just happens to describe an aspect of my personal philosophy. Straightedge means that I am in control of my faculties at all times. It means that I am responsible for my actions and the consequences that ensue. There will never be a night that I don't remember.

Straightedge is not a lifestyle of have-nots. To me it's one of liberation. I don't need substances to "relax" or "have a good time".

Do you believe vegetarianism / veganism / religion to be integral parts of what straightedge is as we all know they were added to it later on and are in opinion not integral parts of being Straightedge, which leads many people to have misconceptions about the straightedge lifestyle which is abstinence from all narcotics, promiscuity and drink (drugs, tobacco, alcohol and sex)?

No I don't believe vegetarianism, veganism or religion to be integral to straightedge. They are peripheral matters. What food one ingests has no bearing on one's decision to be straightedge. Religion and diet do not define one's ability to be edge. I believe the misconceptions about straightedge stem from a few points of origin, one being misinformation. Through the Internet, media and word of mouth people hear strange things, and more often then not they believe them. It's true that there are a lot of vegan, vegetarian, and religious straightedge kids out there. But there are just as many vegan, vegetarian and religious non-straightedge kids out there as well. It's easy to see how spirituality got thrown into the mix. Straightedge does coincide well with a lot of religious teachings. Yet one does not require the other. As far as I’m concerned if one wants to be vegetarian, vegan, religious more power to them, but in no way are they tenants of the straightedge life style.

Where about (state) to you live and what is the straightedge scene like where you are from?

Well that's a complicated question. From the end of august until December I live in Westhaven CT, that's where I go to school. It’s an interesting area. Surprisingly enough for a small liberal arts college we have an awful lot of straightedge kids. Then December, and the end of May I live In Pine Bush NY. I can say with a great deal of assurance that there is respectively no scene in Pine Bush, but bands do come through Poughkeepsie, so its not THAT bad. Then the rest of the summer I spend in Lake George. Where the scene is small but respectable.

Where did the idea from promoting girls in straightedge and hardcore come from? I completely understand the need cause it shouldn’t just be this masculine scene the music is there for everybody and meant for everyone and not just a segregated minority.

I wish it were my idea. But it wasn't. This girl Circe started it. At first it was just an email list. There were like two hundred plus girls that would discuss and email each other every day. I used to come home to a full account all the time. There was a start of a webpage nothing really in-depth a few profiles some poetry. At the time I had just stated dabbling in graphic design and I offered my assistance. Soon there after Circe turned the whole thing over to me. Since then I've been running it and trying to make it a comprehensive resource. I know I was looking for some place where there were girls. I knew they weren't at the shows, but I also knew that I wasn't the only one. That's where the idea came from.

Are you in a band or play an instrument at all? What sort of things to do you enjoy doing?

No, I’m not in a band. I can how ever play the saxophone. But to be honest I haven’t picked it up in a few years. As far as hobbies go I’m into BMX, snowboarding, mayhem, graphic design, watching the star wars movies (I’m a dork like that), reading and a thousand other things too mundane to list...

What¹s the most annoying misconception to you about the straightedge?

The MOST annoying misconception would have to be.... That I have "no fun", you know that I’m a "square" if you will. The latter is tied in annoying points with the whole militant edge deal. I don't know where people get their ideas, but they can be pretty off base.

What¹s your opinion of the cliché comment "if you’re not now you never were"?

I think that cliché is pretty damn purist. I think that's a real problem with in the scene, purists that is. I don't know how any one, especially some fifteen-year-old kid, can stand on a soap box and dictate, one what straightedge is; and two, who can be straightedge. It's that sort of closed-minded thinking that turns people away from straightedge and perpetuates the negative stereotypes. I don't know why people treat straightedge like a lifestyle of sacrifice but if you ask me they're pretty lame.

What sort of bands are you listening to at the moment?

Lately I've had a lot of Most Precious Blood, Atreyu, 108, and Converge in my CD player. I've been gravitating more towards the more metal influenced hardcore rather than the punk. We'll see where that goes.

Who is your favourite live band and why?

Like the nine billion other kids out there I love to see Converge. No doubt they rock harder than most bands. They're an all around good band. Their music is music, not stock chords and bass lines. I guess it's because they have such energy and their presence grabs my attention. I get so excited when they play forsaken.

What one event in your life has had the most impact on your life and the way you think, whether it be a band, an ideal, a person or a book whatever?

Hmmm. I've had a pretty benign life. No major chaos, or tragedy has befallen me. As silly as it sounds it would have to have been my ex. We started dating when I was fifteen, and through him I was introduced to hardcore, straightedge, and graphic design. It wasn't so much him as it was what he exposed me to, and I am very thankful for that. As far as books go, you can't go wrong with The Catcher in the Rye....

Is there any advice you could give someone interested in starting up a website or a zine lets say that maybe you could have learnt or maybe some tips ion doing a website that you have learnt?

Just be prepared for a lot of hatemail. You can't please the world. I had some girl IM me last night telling me to change the name of my site because she didn't like it. People are a strange breed I tell you. If you start a site you can't expect to get major traffic right away. It takes time. Also have CONTENT, and interesting content at that. On the technical end, make sure your site loads fast and is easy to navigate.

Would you say you are a positive person because of the straightedge (I’m assuming here that its help you in some way) what do you get from being straightedge (for me its pride from giving up on a life I once negatively lead fuelled by alcohol, helped me dealt with depression and think more clearly there are loads more reasons but this interview isn¹t with myself!)

I was a positive person before straightedge. Straightedge didn't make me who I am today, I did. Straightedge just happens to fit me, contrarily to me fitting it. Straightedge in it self is just a label, it only has meaning if you give it meaning. I've met many a negative straightedge kid in my day. It takes all kinds.

Have you got any plans for the website?

I have lots of plans. I've been collaborating with a friend of mine on the West Coast. We're working on some sort of bicoastal movement. I've also been talking to some people about putting on some shows, and releasing a comp or two. As far as the site it self goes my goal is to get a lot of people involved writers, artists, etc. I want it to be a really solid resource.

Do you get many people emailing you to talk about what you have done with it? Its such a cool informational resource probably one of the most comprehensive straightedge websites.

I get a lot of emails, the majority of them positive, but I do get a few negative ones. One girl accused me of trying to make straightedge a clique and said I was going to market it to seventeen magazine. That made me laugh. I get a lot of suggestions and very little help. I wish I could get so me solid help. Then the site would really start to be informational.

What is your opinion of religion and its place in hardcore?

Religion is a very personal thing. If people want to scream praise God then let them do it. But I feel very uncomfortable with those who try to force-feed me their beliefs. As far as religion in the scene, I don't think it should be an issue. I don't think hardcore should be used as a means to convert the masses. Religion is one of those touchy subjects. Some are very passionate about it. I for one am not. Spirituality is personal and in my opinion should remain that way.

My own opinion is that like everything straightedge for example it is as justified as singing about say drinking if that¹s what influences people to sing about then its all good I believe people should get on and not fear judgement about a belief system of theirs)Š

Are you religious would you say? Do you believe in God for example? (If not what influenced you to not be into it, religion I meanŠI¹m not really religious so I¹m not prying! As to why.)

No, I’m not religious at all. I’m not a huge fan of organised religion. I do believe in spirituality though, one having a belief in God and such. I've been introduced to many religions over the past few years via friends. I have friends who are Catholic, Mormon, Baptist, Jehovah, etc. I've sat down and had long philosophical discussions with them and I find it fascinating. BUT, I there are too many discrepancies in the "teachings" too much hate being taught. I've also come into contact with a few who take their religion very seriously and condemn those of us who aren't regular attendees of Sunday Services. I had a guy tell me he could never love me because I didn't go to Sunday Mass. He would call me a blasphemer, and tell me I was going to hell for my trespasses. I asked him once if he wasn't raised Catholic would he have chosen that particular religion on his own, his answer was "No, Probably not". It's that sort of thing that Irks me. My friend Brick In highschool was Protestant. She asked me to go to Church with her because she was going to sing. I agreed. When I got there the pastor proceeded to tell me I had bad blood running through my veins because I don't go to church. I don't think religion should make you feel guilty. I think it should enrich one's life not take away from it. Conversely my roommate and best friend is a practising Catholic and we never have such discussions. I respect her and her beliefs. I also have a real problem with people who live sinful lives during the week. People who don't actually have faith, but go to church on Sunday so they're good Christians. I hope that answers your question.

Are they any bands or websites you want to give shout outs to?

Well the dude from www.notpopular.com is pretty cool, and www.poisonfree.com helped me out a lot. As far as labels, the dudes from immigrant sun are pretty cool, they put out wage of sin. I think that's it for now.

Is there anything else opinion wise or just something you would like to say before this interview is over at all?

Thankyou for doing it, I will contact you as soon a) its on the website (give it at least a week) and b) the zine¹s finished (in a month or so)

Phil