She’s an authentic human being, and even better, one who’s brave enough to broadcast that to the world, or at least to the internet. Izzy is hilarious, she’s passionate, and she’s punk rock as hell. I’m honored that she took the time out of her day to talk with me. 

M: Can you tell me a little about the podcast, and if you want, yourself? 

I: I started a podcast, Never Mind the Broadcast, because I wanted to present good music out there. I feel like a lot of great music is underground, and a lot of people are missing out on it. Everyone is like, “I’ll just go to Spotify,” or they’ll go somewhere else, but I wanted to bring [underground] bands to the forefront because they’re not being promoted enough. They’re not being able to showcase their talent. People just don’t give them a chance. 

[When I realized that,] I was like, hell no! Let’s bring that shit up. Let’s bring them everywhere. 

I come from bands. I was in Damn Broads, an all-girl punk band, and we toured. I was also in The Rats and we pissed off a lot of people, but I was in that band. 

I know what it’s like to have music and have nobody care, nobody promoting it, and I was like, you know what, if I love these bands and I love these songs, it’s because I believe in them. I feel like they have talent. And that’s why I wanted to start the show.  

Where are you pulling these songs from? 

It’s me contacting certain bands, and a lot of bands send me their songs. I’ve just been falling in love with new bands that way. Some of them – I’m like, holy shit, I’ve never heard of you before! Why? This is awesome! 

You’re playing things from far afield, too – I think I heard you play a California band in your last episode. 

I want to go all over the place! There was a band from Italy recently. I want to showcase bands from anywhere! Even if it’s in your mother’s basement, I will showcase [your] band. It could be in a basement in Iceland or Greenland, too – just give me your song, and I’ll play it. 

Where are you based? 

Right now I’m in Torrington, Connecticut, and it’s not really fun here. It’s boring, like most towns. We used to have a good scene for music, but that died down. Good ol’ Torrington. 

What you’re doing is starting a scene in a small way, don’t you think? 

Thank you! And yeah! Eventually I want to do interviews.

I know that my podcast is probably not going to be anything huge, but who knows? I really fell into the groove of it. It’s fun for me. It really is great to have all these bands I’ve never heard of [contact me], and [then] become a fan. 

How did you get into punk music?

It was a long time ago. I initially started off as a jazz guitarist. I was studying to be an actual musician, but I ended up talking to punks who introduced me to the music, and it just changed my life. I was like, I don’t have to be perfect? I can have an attitude? I can say fuck, and shit, and damn? And make music? 

Fuck this jazz noise. 

I threw that whole thing away and started creating shitty punk bands, and that’s just how it happened. I fell in love with punk, and I still love it. 

I found that a lot of punk musicians actually come from a classical music background. 

Yeah! I think it’s because in all these classical genres there are all these rules you need to follow, and we’re like, why the fuck do we have rules? No. No no no. 

I’m glad I left and met the punks I know, or else I wouldn’t have gotten my head out of my ass. 

Thank you! That’s the thing! I would still have my head firmly up my ass if I didn’t meet them, if I didn’t have a chance to listen to the music. I mean, I got a Misfits CD and it changed my life. I was like, holy shit. This is amazing. 

Do you have any collaborators outside the bands? 

It’s just little old me, and anyone who wants to send a song, they can. I’ll listen to it and I’ll probably play it. 

You make your own music – what made you turn to broadcasting?

Well, the only way to receive is to give. I wanted to talk and spread the world. I want bands to know about each other.  

I’ve always loved the camaraderie when I go to shows, talk to other bands, and [have the opportunity to] become friends. I feel like we’re building a community. I want to add onto that with my podcast, where I can go out, see them play and say “oh, I played you on the show!” 

Do you get out to shows very much? 

I just became sober, [so] I’m slowly getting back into show mode. Before I’d be a mess, and I wouldn’t even be paying attention to any bands. Now, I feel like there’s a whole new world because I’m a sober person. I’m actually listening to the songs and seeing the artists play.

It’s really interesting. Not only that, it’s life changing. I feel like I’m back to being a fan of music again. 

That’s amazing! 

It’s the best feeling in the world. Going from what I was to now, it’s a complete difference. 

Do you have a favorite genre within punk?

I’ve always been into street punk and hardcore punk, but now my brain has been blown wide open with all [the] different punk subgenres out there. I’ve started to grow to like different groups and different genres. It’s nice to get a piece of everything, to know what everyone else is doing, and what they’re listening to. I’m educating myself that way. 

Do you think we need more women in punk? And why is the answer yes? 

Never! We never need women in punk! No, I’m just kidding. 

I would definitely love for more women to be into punk, but I want them in the bands. Not just paired up or anything. Start yourself a band! We have more to scream about than men do. What do men have? 

They don’t get a period, they generally don’t get pregnant. They don’t get any of this shit. They don’t go down the street and get hit up by some guy, and they don’t worry if he’s going to attack them or not. So like, we have more to scream about. For sure. 

Do you have a favorite female punk artist? 

I know I’m going to sound really generic, but she’s been a huge influence of mine. I have to say Joan Jett. I know it’s basic, but the first time I saw [one of] her music videos, like when I was young, it changed my entire life. 

This is an impossible question, but what’s your favorite thing about punk? 

The reason why I love punk is because I’ve met some of the best fucking people I’ve ever met in punk. But not only that, there’s such creativity and individuality [there], and the whole LGBTQ+ community being involved as well makes this so much more badass to me. 

Do you consider yourself punk rock? 

Absolutely. I don’t have the crazy mohawk or anything like that, but I wear my faux-leather, I wear my pins. You know, I live for it. It’s been within me for such a long time – I love it. I love it so much. 

You told me you want to start doing interviews – what else do you think is on the horizon for Never Mind the Broadcast? 

I’m not sure. I’m just flying by the seat of my pants, winging it. I’m down to do anything. I’m down to make it different. I want to record a practice out of a van or something. I don’t know how that would work, but I want to try! 

You’re on all platforms now, right? 

Yeah. Apple, Spotify, oh god, I can’t name them all – but yes, I am! 

Is there anything you want to plug, or anything you want to say to someone looking to get into podcasting? 

Well yeah! I definitely want to plug you, because you’re doing a great job.

Thanks! 

And for podcasting and starting a band, just do it. You don’t have to be perfect, and there’s no such thing as being perfect. Even if you’re wrong; I say fucked up things wrong all the time. I don’t speak that great of English. So just do it! 

You know, English is my second language, so I’m not going to say some things correctly. That’s the thing, a lot of people get scared and stay in that overthinking mode. Just do it. Go for it. 

It’s really impressive that you do the podcast in English when it’s your second language. 

Thank you. I didn’t know any English until the third grade. My parents are Puerto Rican.

I want to close by asking, if someone wanted to send you their music, where should they do that?

If bands want to send me music, my email is izzysmut@gmail.com!

//

I had an amazing hour with Izzy. The punk ethos she lives by really speaks to me. It’s why our print magazine is so DIY, why we lay out the book by hand. 

Izzy’s doing something similar with her podcast. She’s picking these bands from genuine obscurity because they’re inspiring to her and fun to listen to. She’s doing it herself, and following her instincts. 

There’s a lot we can all learn from Izzy Smut, and I’m just lucky that I got it firsthand.

Author:
Milo, Editor