JUSTIN REDINGTON

***“It’s all about doing as little harm as possible, however that may be. Throughout the years I’ve become more and more dedicated and involved in the movement.”***

Hello, I’m Justin. I currently play bass/vocals for Tunnel Jumper and guitar/vocals in an upcoming project Khaal Baccha in Denver, CO.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
I grew up in Alaska, in a prominent dog mushing family on one side and some trophy hunting on the other, so I’ve seen a lot of deplorable shit. One thing that really shifted my perspective was having to go to my grandpas house for christmas and stuff. The entire house was filled with exotic animal heads and skins. Every wall. Every room. He would always boast and show off videos of him hunting these animals, which I always thought was weird and made me super uncomfortable and if I ever showed any sign of being uncomfortable, I was bullied. One day when, when I was like 10 or 11, I saw a new zebra skin on the wall. It had cuts and holes in it. I asked what those were and he said that those were probably scars from being attacked by predators. This really bothered me. After all of that energy spent on survival, some fat dipshit with a bow comes to your house and takes your life for your skin. Something about that specific moment has always resonated with me. It was pivotal in my journey. It really opened my eyes at such a young age. The more I rebelled against any type of animal cruelty, the more I was bullied. But for some reason it didn’t stop me, it only made me feel more secure. I could be the only one in the world who felt this way and that would be enough.
Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
Vegan ideology started to manifest at a pretty early age. I was never sure what to do with these thoughts and feelings until I was ultimately exposed to hardcore music, as a few artists I looked up to were vocal about Animal liberation and stuff. I started to realize that I wasn’t alone in having these types of feelings and that was extremely validating.
Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
DROPDEAD was and always has been a huge inspiration for me. I think they were the first band I discovered that directly spoke on animal rights and stuff. It was huge, I finally felt seen. To hear someone getting so pissed off about the same things that piss me off was amazing and truly inspirational.
How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
Horribly, as you can imagine up in Alaska. But honestly, it was super eye opening and only made me want it more. I saw just how stupid and brainwashed people really were. I was fueled by that resentment.

Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
I started with a vegan diet. I had good intentions and it was going pretty well for a bit but at that time I was a homeless teen and honestly I had no idea how to manage that. I did not have a lot of options. I didn’t have a job and I had little to no support from my peers. I didn’t know anyone vegan and there sure as hell wasn’t any vegan restaurants or anything like that anywhere near me, so I regrettably started eating eggs and dairy again. It was all I could manage to maintain during that time while couch surfing and mooching off of everyone at such a young age. I was vegetarian for a few years until I was finally able to take back control and made a full on switch to back to Vegan. I still regret taking the easy way out during that period in time, I could have probably tried harder and done better, but I can at least say I haven’t eaten meat in over 20 years now and have been fully vegan for the majority of that time. All of that brought me to where I am today and that’s what is most important. It’s all about doing as little harm as possible, however that may be. Throughout the years I’ve become more and more dedicated and involved in the movement.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
I believe they’re connected in a lot of ways. They’re both an addiction. I think it takes a lot to stand up to the machine and to ignore the pressures of tradition. Animal agriculture, the alcohol industry and the marijuana industry are extremely profitable machines that are harmful to our society and are absolute poison for the body and soul. Not to mention gateways into heavier shit. These industries are glamorized and commercially supported. Becoming sober has opened my eyes to how deep shit really goes, in the name of profit, and it’s truly disgusting.

Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
I think they are ultimately independent of each other, but do share the same ethics. One will lead to the other at some point (if you’re paying attention)
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
Everyone’s journey is different, as much as I want to judge, I’m not one to talk. Substances are tough. Most people are unhappy with their existence and are looking for a way to escape it. Drugs masquerade as a quick fix and people are jaded by that. It’s an easy way to dim the lights but ultimately makes your problems worse. I can speak to that from experience. So I try not to be too harsh because everyone deserves a fair shot. Veganism is easy, but that’s just my perspective. I wasn’t addicted to meat and I never had the urge to harm animals. Not everyone is the same and I’m not sure if that matters as long as you’re conscious to one or the other, they’ll always come back around and find each other. It’s up to people like us to help show them the way. Some people need to be pushed off the ledge and others just need a hand to hold.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
It’s helped me open my eyes to all of the injustices of the world. It has taught me discipline and is a huge outlet for me and managing my emotions.

Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
I definitely see more vegan bands/artists these days, which is awesome. I think there’s something big about speaking up in that department and using it as a platform. Seeing as how most of the population see vegans as ‘weak, docile or lesser than’. It’s sick to see heavy bands adopting the title and proving them all wrong. There’s nothing like going to a scary hardcore show and seeing a bunch of pissed off vegans throwing down. That helps tear the wall down and debunks a lot of the stereotypes. That is a huge inspiration to me. I used to feel so alone and it’s nice to know I’m in good company now.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
I hope that I can prove the masses wrong and inspire my community to keep fighting the good fight. I hope that someone else sees me up there putting my body, heart and soul on the line and is inspired by that. I hope it shows people who are lost that they can be found and that it’s never too late to make a change and fight back.
Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
Not necessarily because of my music but I have influenced a handful of people to go both vegan and sober. I’m not always the easiest person to get along with. If I can manage to influence people, so could anyone else.
Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
Both, unfortunately. Depends on what kind of person we’re talking about. People will listen to you if you’re eloquent enough. It’s our job to pull people out of the dark but some people just want to stay there.
Do you see veganism as inherently political?
It always has been for me. It’s hard not to be when you really dig into it all. The meat and dairy industries are backed and regulated by the federal government and often receive grants, bailouts and subsidies. So…
How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
I believe music IS direct action. In hardcore, we aren’t typically bound by a label telling us that we can and can’t say. Hardcore is raw, unapologetic and brutally honest. I’m just trying to use my platform in the scene to bring awareness in anyway I can. Whether it’s constantly posting on social media, talking to someone at a show or wearing or a pin on my vegan guitar strap. I’m going to show up and speak up any chance I get.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
A big one right now is that being “plant-based” is not enough. We think we’re doing enough by just ‘being’ vegan when animal agriculture never stops. The op never sleeps. Doing the ‘bare minimum’ is just not enough anymore. They are going above and beyond to fight us every step of the way and roll back any of the progress we’ve made with frivolous lawsuits like suing plant based companies for using the word “milk” to bills like the “save our bacon act” and more. They’ll do anything to protect their pockets. These people have big money and are actively spreading misinformation and bribing to have laws written/changed that further protect their business. Just choosing to not buy their product is only making a dent. We need to fight back. Honestly, we probably need to stop being so kind and understanding to people who support this shit, even if it’s inadvertently. We need to educate and stand up taller, yell louder and fight if we have to.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
I don’t think so, I’m playing the long game.

What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
Reminding myself what I’m doing this for and sometimes pure spite.

Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
Hopefully becoming louder and more prevalent.
What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
I won’t tell them, I’ll show them. I will support any step in a positive direction, even if it’s just eating at a vegan restaurant with me once in a while or grabbing a soda instead of a beer. You really can’t tell people anything, you have to show them.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
DROPDEAD
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
“Empathy guides to the compassionate way
Vegan for the animals until my dying day”

One misconception about vegan / vegan straight edge:
That you can’t be healthy on a vegan diet. I swear to god, almost every time I tell someone that I’m vegan they turn into a nutritional expert with a PhD.
One non-negotiable value:
Perseverance. You gotta be strong to fight this war.