IVY WRIGHT

“Veganism seems like the next logical step to take after claiming edge. Like, you have said no more to substances and taking control of your own body and mind, and ending the exploitation of yourself that tobacco, liquor companies and drugs do to people, so the next step is to help end exploitation for those who don't get a voice in the matter, being the animals without a voice to speak up.”

Hi, I'm Ivy. I'm a trans woman living in the deep southeast of Montgomery, Alabama. I play Guitar in Beneath All Mercy and Vocals in Xeroed. I'm extremely passionate about veganism and straight edge and do whatever I can to raise awareness to these movements in all that I do.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
The thing that pushed me toward veganism was the film "Dominion". It absolutely opened my eyes when it comes to veganism and animal rights and just how bad we as humans have been treating animals. As soon as I saw it, I knew from that moment forward I had no choice but to go vegan.

Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
Hardcore came first, then the straight edge, then discovering bands like Earth Crisis, Morning Again, World of Pleasure, xapothecaryx, and Times of Desperation (my favorite band right now, give them a listen) pushed me to do more research into the vegan movement and here we are.

Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
First was definitely Earth Crisis, I mean they are not only hardcore pioneers, but once I learned about their vegan message as well, I latched on pretty quickly. From there, it was like the floodgates were opened.

How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
When I first went vegan, I heard a lot of "I couldn't do it, I like meat too much" and sometimes it still gets to me when people say that, but I do understand we live in a non-vegan world, and all I can do is push more and more for people to understand its not just about taste of food but sentient lives. Some were overjoyed and even proud, which I will be eternally grateful for.

Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
Both Straight Edge and veganism were pretty immediate when I found them. I had a few slip-ups when it came to being vegan, just because I really didn't know how to cook and feeding myself in the beginning was a struggle, but that period didn't last very long and it has stayed that way since. And I don't see myself ever going back.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
Veganism and straight edge, to me, are 2 different things, but veganism seems like the next logical step to take after claiming edge. Like, you have said no more to substances and taking control of your own body and mind, and ending the exploitation of yourself that tobacco, liquor companies and drugs do to people, so the next step is to help end exploitation for those who don't get a voice in the matter, being the animals without a voice to speak up.

Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
Definitely veganism is an extension of straight edge in my eyes. It's the next logical step in my opinion.

How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
I’m very glad that someone takes accountability for themselves and claims edge at least, that's amazing. I accept that 1000%, I then try slowly to get people to think about animals in the same aspect, little by little, as to not drive people away from this already small community. I always try to do what I can to spread the message, whether that be just wearing merch, or in lyrics that I write.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
I've said it a million times now it seems like and I will continue to say it, Hardcore saved my life. Before the scene, I was drinking myself to death and getting high on anything I could get my hands on, it was horrible. Once I found the hardcore scene, I then found out about what straight edge was and what it means and I started working to quit everything, slowly until there was no more.

Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
Maybe it's just the rose colored glasses talking, but I think the straight edge scene is growing more and more, I'm seeing more and more edge bands pop up and it's absolutely amazing to see. Not many vegan bands unfortunately, but one day we will get there.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
With both my bands, Xeroed and Beneath All Mercy, I want to show people that people like us, being a trans woman in the southeast, can have their voices be heard. In a world that just looks down and diminishes transgender people, I hope that even one person sees me and gets that glimmer of hope that says, "hey, if she can do it, so can I" and gets their voice out there. Trans voices will never be silenced.
Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
As far as I know, no, or at least I haven't been told directly, but I sure hope that someone out there reads the lyrics and hears the guitars and decides to change their lives for the better.

Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
Music can 100% change behavior, it happens with every genre of music out there, rap, country, folk, hardcore, you name it. Like I said, harcore changed my life. I had no intention of quitting drinking before I found out about straight edge, and now I encourage others to quit as I have.

Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Veganism is absolutely political. Everything is political one way or another. We have the 40 hour work week due to labor unions in the 1800s fighting government legislation for workers rights, music and art are political because in some places around the world, some people don't get that right, and veganism is right there alongside, because we as vegans need to raise our voices to lawmakers because the animals have no voice to raise. Just recently, Ridgeland Farms was forced to close its doors due to the demands of activists raising concerns of animal abuse and it got all of those dogs freed. There are plenty of examples of this, in meat and dairy industries its not uncommon for a farm to undergo a lawsuit of animal cruelty due to the actions of whistleblowers and activists. it's because of the actions of vegans that these animals are getting one step closer to the life they deserve, a long healthy one free of exploitation and murder.

How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
I see music as a form of activism for sure. Aside from speech, people listen to music more than anything else. So getting that message out there for people to listen to is absolutely activism. Get the word out as much as you can and spread awareness to these problems going on and shed light where factory farms are hiding their atrocities from the world.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
I think one big problem that isn't talked about enough is seeing veganism as just a diet. It's the farthest from it, it's a lifestyle choice and dedication to respect and treat animals with decency and respect. Veganism isn't just about cutting out meat and cheese for health benefits, which are there, yes, but it's about raising your voice for the voiceless so that they can be heard finally. Veganism is not a diet, period.
Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
Honestly, I have gone about showing what I believe wrong in the past, and it made some people wanna stay away from me because of it. I would definitely not take such an aggressive approach, especially with being straight edge. I would be less aggressive and snoddy with it when my friends drink around me, and more so just bring awareness to the cause and what alcohol and drugs do to your body. Be a lot more gentle with the approach, rather than just take an aggressive one.

What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
Being around those who are also aligned with the movement helps me immensely. Iron sharpens iron, and straight edge sharpens straight edge. Veganism is much the same, and it gives an opportunity to share knowledge about things as well, as it's an ever evolving movement.

Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
I can see straight edge getting more and more popular, but I think veganism and animal rights will absolutely explode. We have had major breakthroughs in animal rights recently and I hope we can continue to ride this train until the wheels fall off.

What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
If you are on the fence about embracing straight edge or veganism, I would say just dip your toes in a bit. Get sober for yourself for a while, see how much better you will feel. And veganism, take small steps at first, cut out red meat, then all meat, then eggs and cheese. Do your research on what veganism actually is and how it can save thousands of lives every day, just by choosing not to have meat on your plate or leather in your wardrobe. It does wonders and makes a much bigger impact than what you believe it.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:

The first band that I can think of that made me wanna go vegan was World of Pleasure. Both Domination 1 and 2 really jump started it for me, just reading the lyrics made me wanna do more research and jump further into the vegan straight edge side of music. Then it was Earth Crisis of course, and I think from there is when I really decided that I was done.

A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
One that sticks out to me is "Between Their Crying Eyes" by XmiseryisabutterflyX, which says, “the sun doesn't rise like it used to. It just replaces the moon and hopes we don't forget to fight for what we tried to get yesterday" and damn does that hit. To me that really just hits hard about how going through the motions of the day can really dull what the message is really trying to say, and it gets to me every time. We need to be just as passionate about these things as the day we started to believe.

One misconception about vegan straight edge:
One misconception about veganism as a whole is that its expensive to eat vegan. It's really not, you just have to know where to get your food and how to make it. Tofu is very cheap, usually at $2-$3 per pound in my area, beans are very plentiful for just a few dollars, as well as lentils. Frozen veggies are just as good as the fresh stuff and usually last a bit longer too. Sure the Vegan cheese and vegan meat is pricey, but those things aren't necessary to be vegan, they're just luxuries made to mimic meat that everyone else is eating.

One non-negotiable value when being vegan / straight edge:

A non-negotiable for me when it comes to veganism is its not about a diet and it's not about you. It's about the animals. Always and forever, vegan for the animals. Having a plant based diet and not standing up for animal rights is just a slap in the face to the animals, especially if you still wear leather or fur and maintain a plant based diet, it's unacceptable.

One thing the scene needs to do better:
One thing the scene needs to do better is be more accepting. We're all outcasts in one way or another, who's to say one is better than the other on the island of misfits. Hardcore is for anyone, but not everyone. Obviously if someone is a problem, racist, xenophobic, pedophile, yea get them the hell out, you're not welcome here. But just because someone looks a little different, sounds different, that's no reason to gatekeep and ostracize them. Some people find this community when they are at a very low point, we need to be that hand that reaches out and gets them back to a place where they feel like they belong.