Having spent a life navigating cultural expectations and a feeling of persistent in-betweenness, Crystal Pak is done with division—and she's finally choosing all of herself.
This was such an engaging interview, but that is no surprise at this point. I think it was before Initiate was formed, but I still remember the first time I saw Crystal take the mic during Free's set at Sound and Fury 2016. It's been cool to observe how Initiate have developed as a band and I appreciate getting more insight on who she is as opposed to someone I'm aware of because of their being in a band or seeing them at shows.
I once saw 108 at the wetlands in nyc. opening for earth crisis. And 108 starting playing the song "thorn" and 500 kids started singing in unison "Sex is suffering" And I think I was 18 and I thought that is so cool. Now that am 48 and founding out that you are a father I started thinking maybe sex isn't suffering. "When I see people in the crowd not smiling I think to myself it is my job to make them smile. But then I think if someone told me to smile I get upset So not only am a I hypocrite and an assh@le." Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill. I apologize for being so uncharitable and it is very easy for me to say this in the safety of my apartment. But am still a big fan of 108 and plan to see 108 open up for Judge at the Brooklyn mirage. maybe we can talk about this more on October 21st in a fair less hostile environment then the internet. I mean in person.
I remember that show in particular because there were Hare Krishnas giving out pamphlets outside the wetlands which were explanations of 108 song lyrics. I distinctly remember the explanation for the song “thorn” I guess the thorn is a metaphor for sex. If a camel is in the desert and all there is to eat are thorns he will eat the thorn which will cause great discomfort for the camel but he will brainwash himself into believing it is good for him. But as Dan O’mahony once said, “people aren’t toys” (I think this is a better analogy for the pain sex can bring.)
Mr. Fish I’m relieved that you liked my comment. (I was going to call you rob and then I realized we have never met I only know you through your music. Plus am huge film buff but I don’t know if you ever have seen the movie “Falling Down” starting Michael Douglas (as Foucault once said film is popular memory) but the scene where Douglas is in the fast food restaurant and points out the absurdity of name tags by saying to the employees “Rick, Sheila wait why am I calling you by your first names What is this an AA meeting? I don’t even know you. I have been working for my boss for over ten years and I still call him Mr.” But anyway back to “thorn” I always thought that song was cool (and still do by the way) but there is a concept in biology called Fisson; basically it is the division of a single entity into two or more parts and the regeneration of those parts to separate entities resembling the original. If humans want to reproduce it can’t be by fission. This phenomenon only happens in bacteria and yeast. I will stop rambling and look forward to seeing 108 on October 21.
Hey! As with most statements, there is nuance and context to Thorn and the statement "sex is suffering". At that time in my life it very much was a true statement especially in context to what sexuality represented to me at the time. What I was seeking most in life at the time was to feel a real connection to the world and people around me via sexuality and it was a painful experience as it did anything but; it exasperated my feelings of loneliness. Sexuality wasn't the problem; the problem was my own traumas and emotional roadblocks. What that statement means to me today is quite different, especially with respect to the role that sexuality plays in my life, but with that said I still see value in the sentiment. Anyhow, I look forward to meeting you in October!
Rob I was planning on going to the 108 show in Brooklyn on the 21st but because of the current state of the pandemic and the rise of COVID I will probably not go. I hope we can meet some other time. Best wishes John
Mr. Fish I have a tendency to ask a bunch of questions to the point that people feel like am pestering them. So if you feel like “who is this guy John imperio and why does he feel the need to keeping asking me questions.” I will stop (trust me people have told me to stop) but I remember when songs of seperations came out (I believe it came out in 1994 I could be wrong) but I remember playing songs of separation” to a friend of mine who liked the descendants, etc and I used the phrase check out this punk band great lp it is called “songs of separation” and his response was “this isn’t punk it sounds like slayer.” And we got into an argument about what punk is. I believe punk is not just a sound but something else. My friend and I definition of what punk is was completely different. I know I’m not the first person to ask you this but what is your response to people who say 108 weren’t punk but a metal band?
Mr. Fish or can I call you Rob? I look forward to meeting you too in October. A professor in college once told me “John you a clearly one of the most brightest persons I ever met but you clearly walk to a different drummer.” I’m strange but am not dangerous. As Dustin Hoffman once said in the movie “straight time” “am not a menace to society.” So if a weird guy approachs in at the Brooklyn monarch in October (that being me) don’t get frightened.
This was such an engaging interview, but that is no surprise at this point. I think it was before Initiate was formed, but I still remember the first time I saw Crystal take the mic during Free's set at Sound and Fury 2016. It's been cool to observe how Initiate have developed as a band and I appreciate getting more insight on who she is as opposed to someone I'm aware of because of their being in a band or seeing them at shows.
This really was a remarkable interview and such an engaging and inspiring read. Thank you Norm and Crystal.
Amazing conversation!
I once saw 108 at the wetlands in nyc. opening for earth crisis. And 108 starting playing the song "thorn" and 500 kids started singing in unison "Sex is suffering" And I think I was 18 and I thought that is so cool. Now that am 48 and founding out that you are a father I started thinking maybe sex isn't suffering. "When I see people in the crowd not smiling I think to myself it is my job to make them smile. But then I think if someone told me to smile I get upset So not only am a I hypocrite and an assh@le." Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill. I apologize for being so uncharitable and it is very easy for me to say this in the safety of my apartment. But am still a big fan of 108 and plan to see 108 open up for Judge at the Brooklyn mirage. maybe we can talk about this more on October 21st in a fair less hostile environment then the internet. I mean in person.
Sex isn't necessarily suffering, but it can lead to suffering...
I remember that show in particular because there were Hare Krishnas giving out pamphlets outside the wetlands which were explanations of 108 song lyrics. I distinctly remember the explanation for the song “thorn” I guess the thorn is a metaphor for sex. If a camel is in the desert and all there is to eat are thorns he will eat the thorn which will cause great discomfort for the camel but he will brainwash himself into believing it is good for him. But as Dan O’mahony once said, “people aren’t toys” (I think this is a better analogy for the pain sex can bring.)
I'm awfully fond of the death/sex dichotomy, but im weird like that. I'll leave it at that...
Mr. Fish I’m relieved that you liked my comment. (I was going to call you rob and then I realized we have never met I only know you through your music. Plus am huge film buff but I don’t know if you ever have seen the movie “Falling Down” starting Michael Douglas (as Foucault once said film is popular memory) but the scene where Douglas is in the fast food restaurant and points out the absurdity of name tags by saying to the employees “Rick, Sheila wait why am I calling you by your first names What is this an AA meeting? I don’t even know you. I have been working for my boss for over ten years and I still call him Mr.” But anyway back to “thorn” I always thought that song was cool (and still do by the way) but there is a concept in biology called Fisson; basically it is the division of a single entity into two or more parts and the regeneration of those parts to separate entities resembling the original. If humans want to reproduce it can’t be by fission. This phenomenon only happens in bacteria and yeast. I will stop rambling and look forward to seeing 108 on October 21.
Hey! As with most statements, there is nuance and context to Thorn and the statement "sex is suffering". At that time in my life it very much was a true statement especially in context to what sexuality represented to me at the time. What I was seeking most in life at the time was to feel a real connection to the world and people around me via sexuality and it was a painful experience as it did anything but; it exasperated my feelings of loneliness. Sexuality wasn't the problem; the problem was my own traumas and emotional roadblocks. What that statement means to me today is quite different, especially with respect to the role that sexuality plays in my life, but with that said I still see value in the sentiment. Anyhow, I look forward to meeting you in October!
Rob I was planning on going to the 108 show in Brooklyn on the 21st but because of the current state of the pandemic and the rise of COVID I will probably not go. I hope we can meet some other time. Best wishes John
Mr. Fish I have a tendency to ask a bunch of questions to the point that people feel like am pestering them. So if you feel like “who is this guy John imperio and why does he feel the need to keeping asking me questions.” I will stop (trust me people have told me to stop) but I remember when songs of seperations came out (I believe it came out in 1994 I could be wrong) but I remember playing songs of separation” to a friend of mine who liked the descendants, etc and I used the phrase check out this punk band great lp it is called “songs of separation” and his response was “this isn’t punk it sounds like slayer.” And we got into an argument about what punk is. I believe punk is not just a sound but something else. My friend and I definition of what punk is was completely different. I know I’m not the first person to ask you this but what is your response to people who say 108 weren’t punk but a metal band?
wow, Crystal sounds like an amazing person! great interview, thanks for introducing me to Initiate <3
Mr. Fish or can I call you Rob? I look forward to meeting you too in October. A professor in college once told me “John you a clearly one of the most brightest persons I ever met but you clearly walk to a different drummer.” I’m strange but am not dangerous. As Dustin Hoffman once said in the movie “straight time” “am not a menace to society.” So if a weird guy approachs in at the Brooklyn monarch in October (that being me) don’t get frightened.