Pauli responded to the questions in Spanish, we used Google Translate to translate her answers
Tell us about yourself.
I’m Pauli, 37 years old, straight edge and vegan since I was 16. I have a beautiful family. I’m married to Federico and we have 3 children: Pelu, 12, Chispi, 10, and Pedrito, 5. We have 3 dogs and we’re very happy. Currently, Federico and I have a band called Distante, and Federico and Pelu have the band Mariscalx. We play almost every weekend. I have a busy and fun life.
It’s not a hobby, but it takes up a lot of my time, and it’s recycling. I clean, dry, separate trash, compost, and make eco-friendly bricks. I don’t love doing it, but it’s very necessary. I also have a recycled clothing business. Every now and then, I rescue a lost or abandoned animal. I don’t have a foundation or a sanctuary, but we organize with neighbors, and we have a network to help each other. And then, of course, my aspiration is to continue playing hardcore and leave my mark. All of Distante’s songs have an inspiring message.
What’s currently on your playlist?
Since I share Spotify and YouTube with my kids, my playlists can be very incomprehensible. I have everything from Praise and High Vis to Sprunki Vibes (which is what Pedrito is currently listening to). But anyway, the last thing I’ve been listening to are some friendly bands: Trusthc, Disputa, and Bajo Control.
How do you define straight edge?
I see straight edge as a name, a label that makes you want to do the best for yourself, choose what feels good to you, love and respect yourself. Even before I knew about sxe, I’ve always been a very respectful person with my body and my mind, and if there’s anything I can do to take care of them, I’m going to do it. If that has a name, I’m going to use it and tell people how good it feels to do it. I also know that belonging to a crew is good for us mentally, and if your crew is something that emanates positivity, even more so. Being sober and not being sxe is fine, but it’s not something as fun as sharing it with your friends, sweating and shouting it out every weekend. I love the concept of straight edge; it’s what my life is based on, and I’m doing pretty well.
How important is music to your relationship with straight edge?
I first became aware of straight edge through music. At first, I liked the bands, but I didn’t understand what the lyrics were referring to. Later, after reading fanzines or talking to people, I began to find out, and I fell in love with the idea. So I think it’s very important. I also know artists who don’t make music but still promote straight edge with their designs, photos, or videos.
https://www.instagram.com/kiwipunx
https://www.instagram.com/alexis.suedehead
https://www.instagram.com/fidelskuller
https://www.instagram.com/ravla.cam
What’s your straight edge story?
Basically, music started to catch my attention, hardcore bands had something that the other bands I went to see didn’t have (I went more to punk or hc punk, alternative concerts, but there were no hc bands in that neighborhood scene). I really liked seeing so many people together, they all seemed like friends, the meetings at the doors of the concerts and all the camaraderie, it was something very striking for me, and I also wanted to be a part of it, although I didn’t know what it was about.
My turning point was coming back from a club and seeing my friends or acquaintances on that train completely drunk, unable to stand, unable to speak normally, some of them completely out of it, and you know what that looks like. I didn’t want to see myself in that situation, or in that environment, it’s not right for a 15/16 year old teenager, and since I already knew what sxe was about, and I liked a lot of sxe bands, I just played along, until I understood how good it was for me to be so aware of myself and my surroundings.
How has straight edge influenced your relationships ?
When I became SXE, some of my friends became SXE too, as well as veganism. Then they went their separate ways and I continued. As for family, my parents were super happy that I didn’t smoke marijuana or drink alcohol, haha. But as for my greatest relationship, it has to do with my husband. We met because I was going to see one of his bands, it was an SXE band, and from the first time we saw each other we fell in love. We loved each other and we have a great family, so I owe everything to SXE.
Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?
I don’t really understand the SXE skull, fire, or gothic lettering. I’d try to change that, but it’s a bit of a joke. I wouldn’t change anything, because I’m where I am thanks to how things turned out.
True or False: “If you’re not now, you never were”?
They are not commandments, it is not a sect, it is only a concept, an idea to improve oneself as a person, and it is only for oneself. As long as each person is free to choose, let them choose what makes them better.
Have you encountered any challenges or misconceptions about being straight edge?
Not at all, quite the opposite, SXE has made my life much easier, in every area.
Do you feel that your gender or age has influenced your experience within the straight edge and hardcore scenes?
When i started going to hardcore shows there weren’t that many girls, let alone sxe girls, so making friends who didn’t want more than to be friends was a little difficult sometimes, but since i went with a crew of friends, they looked after me and made sure no fool came near jja obviously there was the odd fool trying to make me feel uncomfortable or like I didn’t belong, because my look wasn’t that hardcore, I came from a more alternative scene, and I liked how I looked, I still listen to bjork, and stuff like that, I’m a little weird for conventional HC jajaj, I still wasn’t going to change, and I didn’t change for others, but those were other times where people were a little less cultured, and/or empathetic
How inclusive is the straight edge scene?
Today in Argentina the straight edge scene, or the hardcore scene is more open, more relaxed I would say, and it continues to evolve, we always try to talk or make people talk if they have something to say, if they feel uncomfortable, or if they don’t feel safe in a space, or with someone, we are changing the scene for the better, and I feel very proud of that, that it is not like when I started going to concerts, I would not change anything because we are on the right path.
Have you observed any evolution in the straight edge scene regarding acceptance and diversity?
Yes, as I said before, we are working on it continuously, to have a scene that suits everyone equally.
