Nearly 25 years after they last performed, Portland’s Detestation continues to be held in great esteem, a “your favorite band’s favorite band” of the anarcho/crust punk world. Especially thanks to Saira Huff’s inimitable performance energy and unforgettable vocal delivery, Detestation has continued to serve as a defining band of the crust genre, influencing generations of bands for over two decades. This weekend, the band defies all expectations by reuniting for a one-off performance on the stage of C.Y. Fest, a spectacularly stacked event that will also feature Dropdead, Skitsystem, Haggus, Lack of Interest, Mob 47, M.D.C., and many more household names.
Huff, in addition to her work with Detestation, has dedicated her talents to such pivotal acts as Bloody Phoenix, Question, Røsenkøpf, and, most recently, Bastard Noise. Additionally, as an artist and designer, she owns and operates The Mr. She, where she specializes in couture fashion and motion picture costumes.
In the lead-up to the monumental C. Y. Fest, Huff generously spoke with Cvlt Nation about Detestation, art, and her impressive life in the world of outsider music.
Through your many diverse musical projects and through your boundary-breaking work with fashion, you have exhibited a powerful creative drive and talent. Did this creativity manifest early in life, and what were some early creative inspirations, musically and visually?
Firstly, thank you!
Creativity has definitely been a life-long passion. From my earliest memories of music I loved, and making things with my hands. My childhood was not glamorous or particularly happy, creating/imagining designs was an escape from the reality I was experiencing at the time, with music as the soundtrack. I spent most of my childhood making art with whatever I had at hand whilst confined to my room. My first sketch book was age 11. I would totally wear a lot of the stuff I came up with then!!
I grew up with early 80’s pop and 70’s rock mostly, and was enthralled by the music videos on MTV. I still love most music I listened to as a child. I loved music videos — the outfits, settings, stories…they were hugely inspirational.
There was no money for buying the clothing I wanted, so I started altering/sewing the things I had to look the way I wanted them to look. Punk really opened everything up for me. I ran away from home at age 13, and the punks became my new family and thus, way of life! I loved the idea of punk, creating and living the life you want as best you can as opposed to becoming or falling into familial/societal expectation or conditions. My first punk looks were made in lock-up age 14 in the open sewing class out of donated 60’s plaid curtains. I love the self-interpreted wild style of punk. There are no actual rules — do what thou whilst!
There is a lot to complain about with any “scene,” but without my interpretation/understanding of punk, I would not be the person I am today. Punk was like my real-life music video. Create the fashion, the music, the setting (venue). Create everything!
Where do you look for inspiration these days?
Life!
It’s everywhere: trees, birds, buildings, colors, flowers, people on the street, other artists, the leather community, the ocean….I usually look for things beyond what’s saturating our view. I’m fortunate to live in the culturally rich environment of central Los Angeles, so I don’t have to look far to be inspired. I’m surrounded by an array of bright colors, multiple languages, sun, foliage, music, noise, lights, art…..Also I enjoy flea markets — you never know what you’ll find.
Your bands have long been favorites among extreme music scenes. Now, with Detestation performing again, do you see the influence your early projects have had on today’s musicians?
I don’t see blatant influence, but I am constantly surprised by and appreciate the levels of interest people have had in projects I have been a part of. I hope that whatever I have participated in has helped other people want to participate in their own creative vision — whatever that may be!
What do you believe extreme and alternative artforms, be they visual or audio, offer creators and fans that more mainstream artforms lack?
Discovering the world of punk allowed me to feel like I could do anything. In our “outside” life we get to create our own experience — not have it dictated to us, freely expressing beyond the policed confines of mainstream anything. Doing vocals for a band was the ultimate therapeutic release, I literally yelled for several years straight and it was totally appropriate! The “mainstream” seems to exist with the end-goal of stardom/money with many rules, roadblocks, expectations all the way. The “alternative” is opposite — no money no rules!
Punk, metal, noise, and other outsider genres tend to pride themselves on being inclusive, but they are often susceptible to the same misogynistic, racist, homophobic, and otherwise oppressive ideologies that they claim to avoid. In your experience, are these scenes and spaces better than mainstream spaces, and what can creators and fans do to make them better?
I have had a mostly enriched experience in the punk world (I will only speak on this genre). Its existence — to my understanding — is to be the outspoken alternative to “regular” BS society. So it’s of course disappointing when I witness or experience oppression within. There have been many examples.
My first interactions with punks and skins was on the streets when I was 13. It was the vibe I was looking for, and I was excited to find people that claimed anti-racism (I’m from a mixed-race family and Portland is a predominantly white and highly racist place) and other supportive sentiments that I hadn’t encountered before. So I was really disappointed when I found that people who claimed to be against an oppression are not necessarily exempt from being shitty in other ways. The same people that were loudly anti-racist were often very anti-gay and misogynist. I wish I could say that it wasn’t still this way, but these sentiments are deeply ingrained in people, sadly.
I’ve been active in the punk scene for the past 30 years, participating in bands, venues, gigs, tours, events, etc, many of which I founded …. and SO OFTEN the credit either goes to or is presumed to belong to the men I’m participating with. It’s super annoying. I wonder how many (hetero) men get asked if their girlfriend wrote their music, started their band, or was responsible for their existence? How many were called sluts or whispered about for active sexual conduct? How many male vocalists have had someone tell them, “I just don’t like male vocals”? Or the more blatant “accidental” groping at gigs if you’re in the pit? Being considered “too aggressive” when being assertive? These are just A FEW examples of lame things that happen, and they pale in comparison to the experience of people less privileged than me.
I believe punk spaces intend to be inclusive, but we are all (myself included) responsible for educating ourselves on what inclusivity really means. Most of us with any degree of privilege (skin color, gender identity, inherited wealth, sexual identity, etc.) still exhibit oppressive behaviors even if we don’t intend to, out of ignorance and lack of consideration of people that are under-valued. To be inclusive, it must be a conscious and considerate effort. It’s not enough to say you are anti- “whatever” for it to be felt by the people it applies to.
I do feel that the spaces are safer, but safer does not mean exempt from misbehavior. I appreciate, though, that by the nature of these spaces being outside the accepted norm, you have a better avenue and outlet for expressing, pointing out, AND being heard when these oppressions are or need to be addressed.
Music scenes are still predominantly male, but I appreciate the increasing presence of women, MOGII+, ALAANA+ in these genres. I rarely find interest in projects that don’t involve the under-valued.
As a musician, you have been in bands with and collaborated with many different people in many different styles. What, to you, makes a good artistic collaborator? How can you tell when a project is going to be a positive experience instead of a negative one?
There’s so many varying degrees of experiences, so I can’t say that there’s an exact “recipe” for an enriching one. Of the people I’ve worked with in music over the years, I definitely prefer those with a wide range of interests/influence or that may be into stuff that I’m not familiar with. I like to keep an open mind about what I intend to do musically, because things may pan out in a way that exceeds expectations and was not pre-planned. As an artist, I tend to play around with design ideas and see what comes about as opposed to having a definitive sketch to start from. The same goes for music. The more options (influences) we have to work with usually makes the project more interesting, less predictable or formulaic. When approached with a band proposal, I can say that I steer away from a hard definition. If there’s a potential to bring some unusual blends, my interest will be piqued. Let’s keep it wild! I can’t wait to see/hear a band that blends the influence of Sodom, Funkadelic, and Bauhaus!
Music is a difficult medium — there are personalities to deal with and that can make for a difficult expressive environment. Its a working relationship, and sometimes relationships just don’t work out (even for the sake of the kids!). I like the trajectory my bands have taken, I can’t say that I’ve been in a band that I don’t like. I have preferred experiences, but even with bands that had “internal problems,” I was able to get lost in the live performance — an unmatched experience.
In a time of polycrisis and great political tension, what power does art have to create change? What change would you like to see?
I don’t know if there’s a definite answer for this. Creative expression can be intensely relieving. Distress can fuel great creativity, and statement-driven expression speaks to people that may not either “get” the message or “get” the art. Community builds movement and art draws community. I don’t know that it actually creates change, but it serves as an enriching outlet for frustration/tension with situations that seem or are beyond our control.
I try to lean towards creating the world/environment I wish to live in to the best of my ability, circumstances warrant. We as a capitalist-dominated world don’t seem to be living in any semblance of a natural life, but WE as a COMMUNITY supporting each other’s life-affirming efforts can be effective on a more definitive scale. Life is hard! Compassion helps.
What do you love about extreme music scenes today? What difference would you like to see?
I love that they are more inclusive! I would love to see more attempts at experimentation/innovation than mirror-imaging! GO DEEP! Expand your vision!
Who are some current bands/musicians that you are excited about?
I love a rowdy show where I can get jostled around, a band with an interesting, catchy sound or style, or something so loud it literally hurts! THAT’S exciting. Some bands I like that are currently playing, but maybe aren’t new: UNARM, TOZCOS, ABISM (just saw them in NYC couple weeks ago, sick sound), local fav- DEPARTMENT OF DESCRIPTIVE SERVICES.
Can you talk a little about the decision to reunite with Detestation? What inspired that choice, and what has the process been like?
For me it started when the 20 yr break-up anniversary hit, it seemed like something that could be fun as a one-off benefit gig. That was 2018… Nacho from Corrupted Youth (CY Fest) asked last year if we would be interested in playing the fest, and it felt right to say yes. LA area (we actually never played LA proper when we were functional, just Long Beach/OC) was a favorite place to play, so reuniting here seemed best.
It had to be a benefit, partly because we literally had a song about punk bands coming back from the dead to make money and partially because benefit gigs were a 90’s band staple, of which we played MANY. It’s been interesting and sometimes difficult to look back so closely on a creative endeavor from 24 years ago. Some things that seemed like such a big deal at that time are not so important now, thoughts/ideas/impressions have changed as we have grown and progressed, tastes and styles have refined. I wrote new lyrics for one song to express a more current view of the subject that has been enhanced by years of life experience.
Playing the songs together in rehearsal has been great — I’m really excited to perform them live! We have had a lot of work to do, the current members living across the country (Brian Hopper, (original) guitarist, lives in Portland; Anja, bassist, and Joe B, drummer, live in NYC; and I live in LA) has made it a challenge. It’s been great to play with Brian again, Joe B and I played together in QUESTION for many thrashing-years and Anja is my current fav bass player (also she’s a Portland native), so the power is definitely PRESENT.
Can fans look forward to any more reunion performances?
Initially, I only wanted to do this one gig. It’s taken a lot of effort to get up to speed, which has made me consider other potential gigs. We are not “getting back together” — that would entail writing new music and from my own perspective, new music is not what I would want to hear from a reunion band. Though playing the songs has been a good time, I like to write and play new material. Forward, not backward!
We only have the CY Fest booked as of writing, if we add any gigs it would definitely be in locations we did not play in our functional days.
Are there any other projects you have in the works that fans should be aware of?
In 2021, I established my current label THE MR SHE which features heavy-leather gear, accessories and clothing. I recently opened a shop at my atelier in DTLA. If you are in LA, stop by! Find us at the fab FOLSOM STREET FAIR (the best!) in SF one week after CY fest!
I have been a part of BASTARD NOISE for most of the past 9 years, looking forward to playing again after Eric’s surgeries (Contribute to his surgery fund here)!
I’m always looking to start new music projects! We shall see!
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I hope that anyone reading this is living life as close to their dream-reality as possible, whatever that dream may be. If you’re not living it yet, I hope it is because you are in the process of pursuing it. I hope that you all seek to grow from challenges worked through and wish to share this progress with those it would help. I hope that if you are struggling with life (life is hard!), you find the strength to reach out to someone and be vulnerable — I truly (naively?) believe that people want to help when called upon to do so. I hope you have people in your life that you support and that support you. I hope that the capitalist poison-machine is crushed and the working persons that carry the weight of the world experience collective power. I hope for the glory of the under-valued in every life-form. I hope you find the creative highway that leads to spiritual freedom.
I’m excited to share this piece of our punk experience and look forward to wildly vibing with all present. Being nice and supportive are often not seen as “cool” but I never wanted to be cool anyways!
