The Carps

What music are you listening to these days?

Jahmal: Nothing really, I go through phases where music is really meaningless, and I could care more for making fast cash or pawning my drums or sunbathing in Versailles.

Neil: The usual progressive rock (early Genesis, Gentle Giant), but currently enjoying a lot more electro stuff like The Presets, Justice, Busy P, and then there's the UK grime scene.

Why should young people vote?

Jahmal: Everything we do is affected by the decisions that an old white man makes. Politicians are elected by the people that vote. Simple, right? Old white men vote. So whether you are white, black, Asian, young people quite simply need to elect people that are going to listen to their concerns and cares.

What music are you listening to these days?

Jahmal: Nothing really, I go through phases where music is really meaningless, and I could care more for making fast cash or pawning my drums or sunbathing in Versailles.

Neil: The usual progressive rock (early Genesis, Gentle Giant), but currently enjoying a lot more electro stuff like The Presets, Justice, Busy P, and then there's the UK grime scene.

Why should young people vote?

Jahmal: Everything we do is affected by the decisions that an old white man makes. Politicians are elected by the people that vote. Simple, right? Old white men vote. So whether you are white, black, Asian, young people quite simply need to elect people that are going to listen to their concerns and cares.

What music are you listening to these days?

Jahmal: Nothing really, I go through phases where music is really meaningless, and I could care more for making fast cash or pawning my drums or sunbathing in Versailles.

Neil: The usual progressive rock (early Genesis, Gentle Giant), but currently enjoying a lot more electro stuff like The Presets, Justice, Busy P, and then there's the UK grime scene.

Why should young people vote?

Jahmal: Everything we do is affected by the decisions that an old white man makes. Politicians are elected by the people that vote. Simple, right? Old white men vote. So whether you are white, black, Asian, young people quite simply need to elect people that are going to listen to their concerns and cares.

Neil: Voting allows us to express our point of view and help democracy work. It enables us to agree or disagree with our leaders, and hence direct the future of our nation according to our differing points of view.

For you, is there a connection between music and democracy? What is it?

Jahmal: I'm confident everyone has brought up the most powerful issue of choice. But music needs democracy to exist. Did you know that in Russia you essentially HAVE to join the army for a stint after high school? I bet Vladimir won't get a hit single about how f***ed up that is.

Neil: For me there is a near obvious connection; words like concert, dissonance, and harmony have both political and musical connotations. Music in the form of national anthems, protest songs, military marches is used to develop solidarity amongst its listeners.

Why do you care about community when it is so easy not to?

Jahmal: My people live in government housing. Your environment changes the outcome of your life. Stephen Harper will NEVER go to Flemo or Regent Park in Toronto. I'm not affiliated with any gang except the gang of people who want peace in those communities all across this country. My community is one of diligence and intent, one that strives to make sure that kids don't get shot over a dime bag. God save us all.

Neil: I disagree with this statement - community is a part of one's identity whether one chooses to ignore it or not - the growth and development of a community is shared between all its members. All the members of a community have an effect on each other regardless of their role in the community -- one should thus deliberately care about his/her community in order to make this effect positive.

What do you look for in a politician?

Jahmal: Any dude that talks like he's not gonna get elected. He's probably telling the truth...

What do you expect from your elected officials?

Jahmal: What kind of question is that? I want a guy who makes sure my healthcare stays free, and that I don't die because of some stupid nonsense he decides is the 'best for the people' generally speaking. We are in good hands as long as we never get a Bush in power. Stephen Harper is more like a single ball. Just ONE testis.

Do you vote?

Jahmal: I do, and when I don't believe in ANY of the candidates, I choose no one. Because at least I can say my voice was heard. When they count my 'no vote' they realize I woke my ass up and took the time to say, "Go to hell, you all suck."

Neil: No, I can't because I don't have Canadian citizenship and I'm too detached from the UK for my vote to be relevant.
 
Why (and when) did you start voting? Or why don't you vote?

As soon as I could vote, I did. The very day I had the power to actually do something, I did it. If you complain about your bus pass price being too high, or the ugly condos popping up everywhere, or how much it costs to get your license, if you didn’t vote, please kindly join the line of degenerates, filths, slobs and clowns and ferme ta bouche! You don't count. You're not even alive.