Nicole Reko.Case

“***It’s vegan for the animals but also for myself and my own integrity. They showed me the path without even trying to. They probably don’t even know that.”***

Nicole is a Chicago-based creative who plays keys in Shadow Age. She’s passionate about subculture, veganism, recovery and her community.

Nicole’s also a DJ, model and has a Substack called “Traffic & Laundry”.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
After a violent crime happened to me, my whole world fell apart. Everything changed for me. It was someone in the hardcore scene I really respected they had clearly been through their own darkness too. And even though I was on the outside looking in I knew it wasn’t bullshit. They were the kind of person where, you can just tell life had actually broken them at some point and I remember being struck by the fact that they seemed genuine and happy now. Not fake positive, not pretending, just lighter somehow. That hit me harder than any record or slogan ever could.
They connected happy times in their life with veganism and straight edge. Not in a preachy way, sometimes with a bit of sadness but more like it was part of rebuilding themselves and learning how to live with intention after everything they’d been through. I think seeing someone who had fallen apart but somehow had managed to become strong again really opened that door for me. It made me feel like maybe there was a way to survive my own situation without turning completely numb or cruel.
It’s vegan for the animals but also for myself and my own integrity. They showed me the path without even trying to. They probably don’t even know that.
Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
I was raised vegetarian so shout out to my parents for making hard choices at a time where it wasn’t easy.
But the scene introduced me to people whose values made me rethink a lot of things.
Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
It was less about a specific band and more about conversations with people in the scene who were living those values.
How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
Most people were supportive, even if they didn't fully understand it. I use this viral reel of this goat to explain it to people. In the video, a goat keeps trying to throw itself into this fire pit and people keep pulling the goat back out. Like hey guys, I’m the goat, at every turn I keep try to self destruct. I need all of this structure and discipline in my life to keep myself safe and sane.
Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
This is a process and a practice but living the principles was an immediate commitment and a hardline.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
For me? Inseparable.
Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
Both. As a sober person in recovery and someone who is straight edge, I see veganism as part of a broader commitment to living intentionally, but it also stands on its own.
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
Everyone has their own journey, mine is super bizarre. I have no judgements of others. Humility is the ideal state.
What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
A huge role. It introduced me to people who challenged me to think beyond my own experiences and live according to my values.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
I hope people walk away feeling less alone, I’m in a goth band so it’s meant to be a cathartic place for sadness.
My band is not a vegan straight edge band but I think it’s cool to be an example of it in a non traditional space.
Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
Both. Sometimes it confirms what people already feel, and sometimes it opens a door they hadn't considered before.
Do you see veganism as inherently political?
It can be, but for me it starts with personal ethics and responsibility. And self discipline.
What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
Remembering why I started and the people who helped me when I needed it most.
There’s a line in the Big Book of AA that says half measures availed us nothing, vegetarianism is a half measure, being straight edge but not vegan is a half measure. I’m at a point in my life where I want no half measures.

Final Thoughts:

A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
"I won’t be a victim to the venomous ways around me.”
One misconception about vegan straight edge:
That it's about feeling superior to other people.
One non-negotiable value when being vegan straight edge:
Integrity.
One thing the scene needs to do better:
Show more compassion to people who are trying to change their lives.