Sextile

Name
Melissa Scaduto

What do you do?
I play drums in Sextile and own my own Vintage Clothing resale in Los Angeles.

Describe your style in three words?
Leather, fuzz, muppets.

Which subcultures have had an enduring effect on you?
Punk essentially - most things that came off the tree of it until the late 90's. It was nice to find out there were other people doing things I had no idea existed. The sound, the aesthetic, the feeling of going to school and knowing these normal kids didn't get or respect you but they didn't matter. The kids at the show did. I went to my first show at 13, dropped off by my uncle on a Sunday night to what was a gay bar but had all ages shows in Miami Florida. What actually introduced me to punk, college radio, anything showcasing the subculture, was actually very mainstream - Nirvana. I heard it at age 9, and it was my first time experiencing goosebumps from music or being awestruck, almost scared the first time I heard it. From Kurt Cobain spewing so much about music and it being pre-internet days, I absorbed every word from every interview I could find and it introduced me to Vaselines, The Pastels, Young Marble Giants, The Wipers, a lot of music that completely changed me. 

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
That's a tough one, lots of people I admire. I'd love to hang out with David Bowie, but I'm not sure I could be myself, whereas, with Iggy Pop, I think I could swing it gracefully! Kurt Cobain, I'd have to hang with him because I was so emotionally attached at the time of his death that it feels like I knew the guy. But I'm using this opportunity to include one of my most loved songs of all time by Golden god, David Bowie. I really can't stand that fantastic note. RESPECT FOREVER.

Another you? Any other career that would have appealed?
Fashion designer. If I had more patience or care, I've always designed clothing from when I was a kid and aesthetics have always been important to me. I am constantly complaining about modern poor trends and design.

Best Gig you have ever been to?
I've been going to shows since I was 13 and the loudest band I ever saw was My Bloody Valentine in 2008 at Roseland in NYC. I had seen Motorhead play a month before and MBV was louder than them. I finagled my way into the VIP section and Patti Smith was at the table next to me praying or meditating the entire show to this literal wall of noise. My ears rang for days after even with earplugs, it was unreal.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite, and why?
Right now Zebulon in LA is my favourite. The sound is amazing. The vibe is great and they pay well. They have my vote.

Sextile have been gaining a devout following in the US since forming in 2015. The band create genre-bending songs that combine the raw energy of ‘70s punk with the intricate and sophisticated structural elements of ‘80s post-punk and synth-wave. Their new album, 'Albeit Living' is a politically charged, introspective album of impassioned observations on the world today.

The band’s first ever European tour will kick off with two weeks of dates across the UK, before heading into Europe to play throughout February.