In the age of AI, algorithms and tech bro domination, what’s the point of writing a punk rock song about it?
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Speaking to Big Issue from the city of Iqaluit in Canada’s north-east, Hutchinson explains that the idea of financial success from music has long since passed but connecting with others is its own reward.
“It’s an anti-billionaire song. It’s using Davos to get there just because that’s so well known. It’s almost become a trope. I made fun of it just because it came to me,” he says.
“Billionaires as a class of people should not exist. They should be taxed out of existence. The whole idea that we have a system that does that is psychopathic, right? It’s time to rise up. Take back our power as need be.”
Hutchinson adds: “Success is just knowing that it’s out there. And people listened to it. Love it or hate it,” says Hutchinson.
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“If you hate it? Cool. Are you still against billionaires? OK, we’re still on the same side.”
We are cheating slightly here: Asthma Kids consider themselves “genre atheists” rather than defining themselves as punk. Hutchinson talks about dabbling with country and a wish to take on classical music and even Gregorian chanting.
But Davos and last year’s EP The Meek are Getting Ready undoubtedly has its roots in punk.
“I bounced all over the musical map, but punk was my first musical love, the first music that became mine,” says Hutchinson, whose day job is a chief financial officer for a social enterprise helping remote, rural and indigenous communities grapple with tech.
“It pissed off my parents, which I think is really important with music. I’m still waiting for my kids to piss me off.”
Asthma Kids plan to continue making music and tapping into the immediacy of punk rock to get their songs out there: another recent song is based on the US’s recent inroads into Venezuela.
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Sometimes a platform to share ideas, connect with a community and shout about what’s important to you is all you need.
“I believe and advocate for social change, but to me, if we make that a dour academic process that change will never happen and it’s doomed,” says Hutchinson.
“It can’t just be academic. It has to be about community and art, dancing, all of that is essential to community in my opinion.”
Davos by Asthma Kids and Craic Killers is available on Spotify and Bandcamp now
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