Chat Pile confronts trauma and apathy through music
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In Oklahoma City, the noise rock band Chat Pile released their latest album, Who Loves the Sun, challenging listeners to address issues like climate change and labor struggles.
Lead vocalist Raygun Busch grew up with a family history marked by the Vietnam War, shaping his perspective on global conflict and inspiring his involvement in politics through art.
Busch credits films and music, bands like Dead Kennedys and The Clash, with solidifying his political awareness, particularly after the events of 9/11 and the subsequent invasion of Iraq. Chat Pile’s music directly addresses current events. Their single “Why” questions the conditions of those living in poverty, while their previous album Cool World condemned the war in Gaza.
The cover art for Who Loves the Sun features a scene in Oklahoma City, contrasting a charred building and a tent with the headquarters of Devon Energy, a company moving its operations out of the city. Busch expressed disappointment with Oklahoma City’s mayor, David Holt, for renewing a contract with Flock cameras, a surveillance technology, and praised city council member James Cooper for voting against the measure.
He also acknowledged the need to engage with political candidates, even if they don’t fully align with his beliefs, and urged artists to incorporate political commentary into their work, believing that collective dialogue is essential for driving change and resisting destructive forces. The band recently held a benefit concert to support Sisu, an identity-inclusive youth shelter in Oklahoma City.
