BRIAR MOTH

“Hardcore showed me that the discomfort I felt about animal subjugation and consumption was also felt by others, who were willing to be super vocal about it; that I wasn't just weak for being upset by it. “

Hey, I'm Briar Moth and I make darkwave music as Vexagon. It's not heavy in the traditional sense but I have collaborated with members of Godflesh, Sect, and Primitive Man.

I was born in 1990 in Georgia, started going to hardcore shows in 2005, began Vexagon in 2018, and moved to LA in 2023.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
As a child, I always went grocery shopping with my mom, and the concept/presence of the meat department made me very uncomfortable. I didn't have any understanding of veganism or animal liberation, but the sanitized presentation of animal parts did not mask the horror behind it, even to me as a Southern Baptist kid in Georgia.
Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
After. In high school, some of the kids in my local scene were vegetarian and handed out flyers against KFC and places like that, which was my first exposure to the cruelty behind eating meat.
Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
Dropdead put the idea in front of me. Sect pushed me to commit fully.
How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
My parents didn't get it and I assume they still don't. My coworkers in Georgia made a point to be weird about it - but here in LA, no one has any real opinion.
Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
It came together over time for me, cutting out dairy, then alcohol, then fully committing several years ago.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
I think they are separate choices. Straight edge is primarily about the way you treat your own body & veganism is primarily about the way you treat the bodies which you have authority over (animals.) The two choices begin as parallel but can easily intersect conceptually.
Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
I see veganism as its own stance, as many people completely outside the DIY scene adhere to veganism without being straight edge, or vice versa. Again, they are connected but ultimately separate, in my view.
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
It could bother me but I choose to see it as hopefully part of an ongoing path of growth for them. Glass half full.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
Hardcore showed me that the discomfort I felt about animal subjugation and consumption was also felt by others, who were willing to be super vocal about it; that I wasn't just weak for being upset by it. That was a big deal for me growing up in the South, where having an aversion to meat was seen as a weakness. I saw a real strength of will in the people who chose veganism. It was so punk in the best way.
Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
Maybe slightly. There is more information available now than before about the bodily and environmental impacts of animal consumption. I don't think that veganism and straight edge will ever be synonymous with hardcore, but hardcore will continue to be a catalyst for turning people on to the ethical implications and repercussions of their actions.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
I hope that listeners will consider their perspectives on their selves, on others, on their surroundings, and on their choices.
Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
Not toward veganism or straight edge. I would love to be a part of someone's path in that way.
Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
We all have confirmation bias, but music shifted my behavior in a profound way, and continues to do so.
Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Absolutely. The perspective behind veganism – acknowledging the sentience and right to autonomy of subjugated beings – applies to all aspects of life, at least for me, and I don't believe it is possible to extricate that from my views on law and society. It is the duty of those with power, privilege, and influence to use those things to protect those without them.
How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
I struggle with that balance constantly. Vexagon is a very personal project, and its intent was not to be an outlet for political or social commentary. However, I would be ashamed to simply be silent in the face of the horrors inflicted on the living beings of the world. On one hand, I hope that Vexagon can be a respite from the horrors. On the other hand, if I'm not using this available outlet to speak against injustice, am I really living these values that mean so much to me?
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
In-fighting is almost a complete waste of time and energy. When the choice is between spreading good information or subjecting one another to endless purity tests, we have to forgo the desire to feel superior and simply support one another, as well as help bring newcomers on board.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
No, because the early material now serves to document the starting point of this project. I don't want to act like I've always had whatever knowledge or perspective I have now, because I didn't. It's a process of growth and I hope that that will show someone on the fence that you don't have to jump in with full militancy and start cutting cages on day one – though you totally can.
What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
I don't find it difficult, beyond my limited cooking skills. There really is no other path for me, and I enjoy being vegan.
Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
I see it going in two ways – more widespread, and unfortunately more corporate. As information spreads and social norms change, more people will likely choose these evolved ethics. As that happens, marketing execs will certainly try to capitalize on the movement, such as Hershey's having a plant-based bar available. I appreciate the sentiment to an extent, but the money is still going to a company that primarily uses dairy to make their products. I think we're going to see a lot of that, and we just have to maintain a critical perspective about what our money is supporting.
What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
Spend some time with someone who has already embraced these ideas. Most of the nerves around taking the plunge are about uncertainty – how can I make this change without completely up-ending my routines? Granted, some routines need to be up-ended, but that's easy to say from this side of the fence. Find someone you trust and talk to them about what you're feeling. Talking to Chris Colohan was a big help for me.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
Dropdead.
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
“...my brother, he's still hanging from a rope
My sister's got a hand around her throat
And the killing line runs a thousand at a time
Every hour of every day, but then you say
You're afraid I might "believe in violence"?
Sect – “Like Animals” from Blood of the Beast
One non-negotiable value:
Consuming animal products.
One thing the scene needs to do better:
Stop letting perfect be the enemy of good when judging others' choices.