Photos and interview by Stacie Joy
It turns out Death becomes them.
In recent months, we've seen Genre is Death three times, including twice in Tompkins Square Park, and the duo has quickly become one of our local favorites.
The band, Ty Varesi and Tayler Lee, brings an experimental, no-wave aesthetic to their music. (As concert promoter Show Brain posted about the band: "Using loopers, synths, and distortion, you can expect a loud, angry, and at times melodic sound that continues the no wave tradition.")
Ahead of the release tomorrow of their first LP, Talk, we asked the two a few questions...
What is the band's origin story?
Tayler: We had been trying to come up with funny sayings to print onto t-shirts. We were spitballing variations of our current name — "Death to Genre," "Genre Death," "Death is Genre," and then Ty said, "Genre is Death," and we just looked at each other and were like, Fuck a t-shirt, that's our new band name!
Ty and I were playing music in Atlanta in a dead-end sludge band. We played music in that project for
four years and played maybe two or three shows? It was awful — a true creative death.
When we moved
to New York, we started making whatever came to us. Things started feeling right after that.
Ty: I would describe our sound as loose but also tight… Noisy? Hmmm… I'm trying to think of words to
describe it.
You frequently perform in the East Village and Lower East Side. What draws you here? How have audiences responded to your shows?
Ty: Honestly, we don't have much history in the Lower East Side or the East Village, or in New York for that matter.
We've only been living here for one year and playing here for even less than that. It really is our friends
(Show Brain and Boycott Sleep crews) who have brought us out to the LES, and for that, we are grateful.
Tayler: The reception to our performances has been largely positive. We like to maintain a mindset that
goes in without expectation but are happy that people are enjoying the music we are making.
What can people expect at your LP release party at Boycott Sleep tomorrow night?
Ty: People can expect a night of great music, DJs, and people. Boycott Sleep’s Julia Pierce knows how to
curate a night. From us, they can expect to hear Talk played front to back with a couple of new songs
on the setlist.
What's next for the band?
Tayler: We are looking forward to playing at the New Colossus Festival in March 2025, likely with a live
drummer.
