"Everyone Has a Responsibility Beyond Self-Expression" Says Peace Frontman Harry Koisser

The message from Worcester-hailing indie band Peace is clear: rock is about kindness. The quartet – which has been compared to everyone from The Maccabees and Foals to Vampire Weekend – started out in 2009 and released their debut studio album in 2013. That album, titled In Love, reverberated through indie rock circles thanks to its familiar early noughties vibe coupled with a psychedelic rock twist.

If the name wasn't telling enough, a cursory glance at the album's song names and lyrics makes it quickly apparent that chaotic destruction and anger is not the way this band rolls. Ahead of their gig at Omni Space on Jun 5, we speak to Peace frontman Harry Koisser about music, love, and what it means to be rock 'n' roll in today's musical age.

Rock music is often paired with rebellion, chaos, and general inappropriateness. But on your newest album, you sing, “Kindness is the new rock and roll.” Do you think the culture of rebelling and destruction in rock is a thing of the past? Is there more responsibility in being a musician nowadays than just self-expression?
Is it too much to say I think everyone on earth has a responsibility beyond self-expression? I’m going to sound like a real piece of work now but for me, it’s slightly paradoxical.

To my eyes, the spirit of rock and roll has manifested itself in a totally different form as of late. Channeling rock and roll energy in 2019 is being a kind and truthful person who tries to serve something bigger than yourself. That being said, smashing guitars is fun and so long as it’s yours to smash why not try it?  

You are very open about your personal rollercoaster of touring and being an indie star, going from heavy partying to retreating, then complete sobriety. Why did you decide to open up about the experience?
I have had some fun times enjoying the spoils of band guy life but also I think our reputation exceeds us slightly. A member of the crew joined our tour and after two weeks said to me “I heard you were like [the British TV series] Skins, but you’re just The Inbetweeners.” I can’t argue with that.

Someone said to me once that putting yourself through an hour and a half of sensory trauma every night has terrific effects on the mind. I think behind the thrill this is true. I guess at the time when I went sober I felt there was an expectation for me to be a mess and I became almost apologetic for it? Weird. I’m still unsure.  

There is also a lot of love in your songs: from the teenage craze in “Lovesick” to a more mature and inclusive “Choose Love.” Is it all about love? 
I remember when I was about 18 it was really uncool to write love songs. Everyone was writing hyper-pretentious post-rock songs where literally none of the lyrics made sense, which of course now I think is fantastic. But at the time I was so pumped up on that teenage punk rebellious energy that my truest "fuck you" to the world was writing the song "Lovesick." Ever since then I was a sucker for it.

When I sing all these songs of love and kindness there’s a spiritual middle finger being upheld to anyone who doesn’t agree. Another paradoxical nightmare. Let’s not turn aside and brood upon love’s bitter mystery. 

Your albums have progressed from the young crush spirit of In Love, to an upbeat Happy People and a deeper Kindness Is the New Rock and Roll. Are you telling a personal story or one of broader societal changes?
I’d like to believe the albums tell a personal story from a universal perspective. As I grow older, I think the songs have grown to engulf matters much further outside and simultaneously much deeper inside. 

Societal changes came naturally into my depth of focus. In Love was breaking out of my small town and feeling absolutely infinite after some ropey teenage years. Happy People flirted with coming of age and an abundance of personal confusions as my generation came into its own. And I guess Kindness is more about how it is to be one out of however many billion of us there are now.  

Besides music, what else are you passionate about?
I actually have nothing else. It’s quite sad. I just write songs and play guitar on my bed pretty much all day every day. I spent a lot of time in New York this year and I found I enjoy playing cards. But other than that not much satisfaction is to be taken from anything else.  

Get into the kindness craze with Peace on Jun 5 at Omni Space. Tickets can be bought here (RMB 120-180).

Never miss a gig: click here for a huge list of live shows in the city, updated daily.

Images courtesy of the band, NME