The Choices
Interview By: Ginger Coyote
The Choices are an old-school punk band that resides in both Canada and Paris, France. They were asked to perform at the upcoming Rebellion Festival. I would like to thank the wonderful Nhell Monsterz for making me aware of The Choices.
Please enjoy my interview with them.
Punk Globe: Where in France do The Choices live?
The Choices are based in Paris, France. However, the singer Jenny Woo currently lives in Canada so the group splits their time touring between Europe and Canada.
Punk Globe: Tell us about your band name The Choices. Is it in feminism that you are pro-choice.
The Choices took its name from the idea that we all have choices in life, and the choices we make determine who we become in life. It’s about liberation and responsibilities, ownership of who we are, and the freedom to choose who we want to be.
Punk Globe: Who is in the band? Tell us what they do in the band.
Our bass player Nicolas Ferradou has played in punk bands around Paris for the last 30+ years. Notably, he played bass in Killing the Pig and Nineteen Again. Cambouis is our drummer and he has played in legendary punk and oi! Bands since the 80s in France including Parabellum and Les Souris Déglinguées. He also famously played with Johnny Thunders. Our guitar player Damien plays in French Garage band The Slickers, and last but not least our singer Jenny Woo has a solo acoustic oi! Project and also plays in feminist oi! Band The Athena Project and Canadian ska band The Divetones.
Punk Globe: How long have The Choices been together?
We created the band in early 2019 in Paris, and after some hard luck with the pandemic we are still going strong after releasing 2 full-length albums on Randale Records as well as an EP, and after touring extensively in Europe and also touring in Canada.
Punk Globe: Tell us some of your influences.
We are heavily influenced by 1977 punk such as The Clash and The Nips, and have some US influences such as The Ramones.
Punk Globe: Do you play mainly in France or do you perform all over Europe?
We play often in France but we have upcoming gigs in Germany and Belgium. We have also toured through Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Spain, the UK, and Canada.
Punk Globe: By chance have you performed in America?
Not yet but we would love to! For anyone interested in organizing some gigs our contact is thechoicespunkrock@gmail.com.
Punk Globe: Describe The Choices music for the readers of Punk Globe.
We are a ‘77 punk-influenced band, with charged and energetic riffs often influenced by The Buzzcocks, The Clash, Slaughter and the Dogs, and The Stranglers. Our vocal lines are melodic and often are accented by bright harmonies often found in power pop bands such as The Nerves. The themes covered by the band include the classic subjects of heartache and sorrow, but also move towards themes of sisterhood, the decline of reliable media, and questions of how we determine morality.
Punk Globe: Does the band have any recordings out?
Yes, the band released our first EP “Owner Of My Heart” in 2019 on Randale Records, followed by our first album “Beautiful Days” also on Randale Records in 2021. Our second album “Vice and Virtue” was released on Randale Records in 2023 and features a bassline of Jah Wobble from PIL.
Punk Globe: Does the band have any videos released?
On the Randale Record YouTube channel we have official videos released for Beautiful Day, The Morning After, Nervous Breakdown, and Owner of My Heart. Another video from our new album “Vice and Virtue” will be released in 2024.
Punk Globe: What is in store for The Choices any big shows coming up?
We are touring Germany, France, and Belgium in January 2024. In August 2024 we will be playing the legendary Rebellion festival in Blackpool, UK alongside legends such as the UK Subs and Cocksparrer.
Punk Globe: Tell us about Subculture Spirit Fanzine.
Subculture Spirit Fanzine is the fanzine of singer Jenny Woo and existed between 2007-2012. It focuses mostly on the mod and skinhead subculture while also touching on skinhead reggae and Northern Soul.
Punk globe: How many issues does Subculture Spirit Fanzine have out?
There were 7 issues of the fanzine released and only print copies.
Punk Globe: Tell the readers about some of your favorite shows that The Choices have played.
One of our favorite gigs was playing the Punk for Pam festival in Manchester in 2022 alongside GBH. For us, it was an honor to return to the birthplace of punk and to play alongside such legendary bands while at the same time raising money for cancer. Additionally, we recently supported Jenny Woo as her backing band at the Rock Al Parque festival in Bogota, Colombia in November 2023. It was surreal to play in front of 30,000 people live and to have been selected to play at the largest rock festival of Latin America.
https://albertomiramora.blogspot.com/2023/11/jenny-woo-y-su-presentacion-en-rock-al.html?fbclid=IwAR2YrvUNo9dsvn
Punk Globe: Congratulations that is so rad. Do you have any Internet addresses you would like to share with the readers?
Yes our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/thechoicespunkrock
Our Instagram is @the_choices_punkrock please follow us for updates on new music and upcoming gigs.
Our records are available at https://www.randaleshop.de/en
Punk Globe: Please describe yourself in three words.
Friends, poetic souls, punk rockers.
Punk Globe: Any last words for Punk Globe readers?
Thank you so much for this great opportunity and the interview. Punk isn’t what you wear or who you know, it’s not what you purchase. It’s how you think and what you bring to this world. Remember to question what’s out there and to dig deep to find your own truth.