On Tyranny: Frontman of Canada’s Elephant Stone Says ‘Being an Artist Already Makes You Political’
“Canada feels more united than I’ve ever seen it.”
–Elephant Stone’s Rishi Dhir
When The Bad Penny caught wind that a band had released a song called “Fascists Killed Yer Rock ‘N’ Roll” as a single, we immediately invited them (Elephant Stone) to participate in our ongoing series On Tyranny, which focuses on how fascism affects artists artistically, emotionally and personally – and lets them set an example for other musicians that it is OK to criticize and protest the government.
Rishi Dhir, leader of the psych-pop squad from Montreal, graciously accepted our offer and answered some questions related to artists and the potential ways in which they interact with authoritarianism. We bring you the interview, which was conducted over email, on the eve of the 20-year-old group’s new album, ASHA, coming out tomorrow via Elephants on Parade in tandem with Little Cloud Records.
Dhir performs bass, dilruba, guitar, keyboards, percussion, sitar, tabla and vocals on the record. He is joined by Miles Dupire-Gagnon (drums); Jason Kent (backing vocals, guitar, keyboards); Robbie MacArthur (guitar); and Amy Millan (vocals). The band describes ASHA, titled after Dhir’s late mother (her name means “hope” in Sanskrit), as “a meditation on finding sanctuary within an increasingly dark world.”
In addition to “Fascists Killed Yer Rock ‘N’ Roll” – which is titularly reminiscent of the song “Kill Rock ‘n Roll” by fiercely anti-authoritarian group System of a Down – ASHA includes the singles “Everything Evil” and “I Got a Pill.” We’ve sprinkled videos of those songs throughout the piece for your viewing pleasure.
Snag a copy of Elephant Stone’s ASHA on their Bandcamp page.
Thank you so much for speaking out against the trend of authoritarian and fascist takeovers happening across the world. Do you recall the moment you decided it was time to stand up and say something?
Thanks for having me. In my humble opinion, the whole point of making music/art is to stand up and say something. The first song on our first album was “Bombs Bomb Away,” which was about the Iraq war.
Was everyone in the band immediately onboard with you going public with your opposition to the Trump regime or was there an internal debate, whether it was about the potential damage it could do to your career or otherwise?
Honestly, it wasn’t something we sat down and discussed as a band. Songwriters are empaths; you’re channeling what’s already in the air around you, not deciding to make a statement. We make art for art’s sake. If it lines up with how people are feeling, that’s not a strategy, that’s just doing the job right.
Are you gratified or disappointed by the number of musicians who are taking similar actions of defiance and speaking out, and the way(s) in which those who are voicing their opposition are doing so?
I find it strange when artists say they’re not political. Being an artist already makes you political, whether you engage with it directly or not. So when I see people speaking up, I’m not surprised, I think it’s just artists finally admitting what was already true. The ones staying quiet are making a choice too.
Can you talk about any instances in which the instinct to self-censor has arisen during the process of writing songs, booking gigs, addressing audiences or speaking publicly – even though I assume you probably quelled those instincts?
Not really. I’m not writing anything crazy, I’m just trying to describe how I’m feeling. If self-censorship means softening that, then no, I haven’t done it. The songs are honest before they’re strategic.
What are musicians not understanding in terms of the gravity of the situation we are all in, and the fact that artists are often among the first groups targeted by authoritarian regimes?
I can’t speak for other musicians, only for myself. I’m not in a position to say what anyone else is or isn’t getting.
What rays of hope, if any, have you seen since you started speaking out? The No Kings protests? The public refusing to support the Iran war? Protests outside detention facilities? That Olympian dude getting the DOJ’s case against him tossed?
I don’t really track the news cycle for signs of hope. If there’s hope in any of this for me, it’s simpler than that: It’s people connecting with the songs.
Are you optimistic about the future?
Yes, I’m always hopeful. Canada feels more united than I’ve ever seen it. I’ve never heard the national anthem louder than during the Canadiens’ playoff run this year. South of the border, I take real inspiration from people like Zohran Mamdani, James Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed, AOC and, of course, Bernie Sanders. That’s where the hope lives for me, not in the news cycle, but in the people actually stepping up.
Catch Elephant Stone on tour on these dates and at these locations:
9.15: Burlington, VT @ Foam Brewers
9.16: Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
9.17: Troy, NY @ No Fun
9.18: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
9.19: Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong
9.20: State College, PA @ Manny’s
9.22: Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
9.23: Detroit, MI @ Outer Limits
9.24: Toronto, ON @ Second Summer Festival
10.1 Montreal, QC @ Bar le Ritz
Go here to check out the ever-growing On Tyranny archive, which includes interviews with J. Robbins, The Locust, Gottlieb, Low Cut Connie, MyVeronica and more than 100 other artists.
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