Punk Black To-Go: New Music highlights for the New Year

On Punk Black To-Go, “City Lights” music contributor Von Phoenix brings us highlights from artists of color performing in various music and art arenas — many of which break stereotypes and expectations. 

Phoenix’s mission with Punk Black is to create a radically inclusive space for BIPOC artists, musicians and cosplayers, expanding the vocabulary of what it means to live in the punk world. This month’s edition serves up a selection of today’s can’t-miss radical creators on the edge of the BIPOC scene. 

This month, Von Phoenix shared the origin story of Punk Black, founded in 2015 by himself, the musician Arkkade Kult, Kharis Ellison, and featured artist Jamee Cornelia. “We had no idea what we were doing,” said Phoenix. “We did not know if it was going to be like what it is now – we had no intention of that. We wanted to throw one house party, and that’s how Punk Black started.” The enthusiastic reception earned by this inaugural house show convinced the collaborators that “this is good for the community, this good for us, this is good for our bands and our artists. This is just good for everybody.”