Unsigned Spotlight: Toxins
Formed in the lost year of 2020, the members of Toxins have all been active in the San Diego Punk scene for years.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Gui -Drums
Ale - Bass
Branson - Guitar
Matt - Vocals
Sean - Guitar
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Toxins? How long has the band been around?
Toxins was formed in late 2020 but we have all been part of bands our entire lives. While our previous and current projects are very important and special to us, Toxins feels very much like a home.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Toxins is the original name for the group. No real story to it haha. We had been tossing around ideas and one of us said "what about Toxins?" Pretty much it.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
We all contribute musical content to the group while Matt is definitely the main lyricist. Usually someone will bring a riff or an idea and we build on it, while songs like "Watch me Struggle" came about at practice very organically as a full band. Naturally we expect both our music and content to change and evolve as our musicianship grows and the world around us gets more fucked up.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
All of us are into a lot of different music and our inspiration is always changing. The 90's and early 2000's punk and hardcore scene plays a prominent role in our sound at the moment. Although we caught Sean listening to Counting Crows.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect ...
Whatever it takes to keep us loose and focused.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Everything is all very new and seems to be gaining momentum. Just the overall reception of the band's beginning stage has been really awesome for us to see. Having some artists that have inspired us for the last 20 years commend what we are doing has got to be a highlight of sorts for sure.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Fuck, where to even begin...