Cait

“My decision to go vegan was an immediate overnight commitment. Once a person accepts reality and chooses to take off the rose colored lenses and see the cruelty that animals and our Earth are subjected to, it’s impossible to see any other way.”

Hi! My name’s Cait and i’m the vocalist and songwriter for xOUTLASTx. To me, living a prosperous and resilient life is my personal meaning for why I am here. I made the decision at a young age to embrace the vegan lifestyle and naturally claiming edge followed suite.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
A memorable experience that pushed me towards veganism was coming to the realization that the deer head that was mounted above my grandmother‘s fireplace used to be a living being thriving in the wild! As silly as it may sound to some, that moment at the age of 15, I realized that my love for animals stemmed far too deep for me to continue consuming an animal diet.

Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
Veganism for me came before a hard-core or straight edge. I’ve always been a very empathetic person, so as a young girl a plant-based diet peaked my interest.

Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
There’s a lyric from “Eden’s Demise” that tends to always stick with me: “There's no excuse for violence against nature or for the innocent to be killed.” To me, when I was first interested in veganism and watching documentaries, the cross between environmentalism and animal cruelty paved the way for my choice to go vegan. Hearing music for the first time that touched on topics that were always so important to me enlightened me heavily.
How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
When I first made the choice to go vegan, it was very difficult due to my surroundings. I was born and raised in the deep south where hunting, fishing, and drinking were common activities normalized and accepted as part of southern living. My decision to go vegan came with scrutiny from others around me. Family members called me “bunny rabbit” for choosing leafy greens over deer meat. Many people thought it to be impractical and taboo. This only fueled my commitment to the lifestyle.

Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
My decision to go vegan was an immediate overnight commitment. Once a person accepts reality and chooses to take off the rose colored lenses and see the cruelty that animals and our Earth are subjected to, it’s impossible to see any other way.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
To me, veganism and straight go hand-in-hand. Once you embrace one, it’s easy to embrace the other. It’s about discipline.

Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
Veganism is definitely an extension of straight edge ethics.
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
My response to people in the scene who are able to embrace one, but not the other is to simply be a form of support and knowledge. People tend to dislike what they don’t understand. I’d like to imagine I can offer a different perspective in that instance. Having the opportunity to speak openly about things not often spoken of, can be an eye opening experience for some, especially the youth.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
I found that I was comfortable being able to proudly express my vegan edge lifestyle. I’m not someone who is easily swayed by negative opinions and predispositions from other people. Hardcore allows me to embrace who I am and be authentically me.
Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
I definitely feel like the scene today is more aligned with vegan straight edge values, being that it is more spoken of and accepted. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t people within the hardcore scene who view the vegan straight lifestyle to be excessive and useless, only that there is a much stronger and larger supportive system within the XVX community. That is something that makes me very happy.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
I hope that our band offers individuals the opportunity to be seen and heard. To understand that they are not alone. That all the endeavors in their life that they desire are still attainable. Addiction once claimed my life, but being vulnerable enough to never allow it to take control of me again was the most powerful thing I could do for myself. Living a clear strong life is achievable. I hope that our message is to help people realize that it can be done.
Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
Yeah I have. I think after our first or second show I had someone direct message me telling me that they like what we’re doing and that they’ve been thinking about going straight edge. That meant a lot to me. It’s all about community. It’s all about being there for one another.
Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
Music is such a powerful form of art and can make people feel things in large capacities. Friendship and music are what shifted me towards being straight edge, along with the common interest of veganism. Music is an amazing thing.

Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Yes 100%. Climate change and animal rights to me are huge topics of concern that I feel are not largely spoken about or taught.
Environmental activism and animal exploitation are often not taken seriously.
There’s an article by SentientMedia.org that’s very insightful:The Revolutionary Potential of Vegan Politics
How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
I’ve never had a problem boldly speaking out on veganism or straight edge alike. I believe the less we try to conform to the normal standards or what is common, the more likely we are able to be comfortable expressing our values and ideas concerning activism.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
Definitely the stigma that comes with standing up for what you believe is right.
For me that is animal rights.
More often times you will get people that disagree with you than agree with you, but it’s up to you to decide at that point if you’re willing to succumb to disagreement or to stand up for your beliefs.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
I don’t think I would ever approach my message differently. I’m proud of the person I am and who I continue to become. I do what I feel is right for me.
What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
When things tend to become difficult or isolating, the sheer fact that I have not swayed my beliefs or broken my promise to myself, keeps me moving forward. Life is definitely about up and downs, but something that remains consistent and never moves, is my decision to take my health and the suffering of other living beings seriously.

Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
I foresee that it only expands from here. As we progress as a society, plant-based is the future.

What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
Don’t knock it till you try it!

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
Youth of Today.
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
A lyric from one of the first songs I ever wrote “Dissent”:
“This pool of self pity, no longer drowns me
flourishing, body and mind
ITS FUCKING GROUNDING!”
It was kind of one of the first times I was just like “yeah I’ve taken action in my life. I’m finally in control. This feels amazing.”
One misconception about vegan straight edge:
That we are judgmental. Some of the most open-minded kind hearted people I’ve ever met, are those of the vegan straight community!!!!
One non-negotiable value:
Always be helpful and kind!