Track Review: ‘Conspiracy Theories’ by Gauche

The entertainment industry has undergone a great deal of change since Donald Trump became the President of the United States back in 2016, specifically in music.

The political strife generated by his election has ushered in new material for artists to work with. Now more than ever, musicians use their voice as a mechanism for expressing their deepest concerns. This voice represents a nihilistic assessment of a nation in turmoil, tuned to the genre of post-punk.

Ironically, Washington D.C. has seemingly become the mecca for up-and-coming punk musicians looking to find that rebellious audience seeking an outlet of a disconnected expression. As the newest signee of Merge label, Gauche fits this bill, communicating their message through minimalistic production and simplistic songwriting. 

On their newest song, “Conspiracy Theories,” the D.C. collective (made up of Jason Barnett, Mary Jane Regalado and Daniele Yandel) takes their aesthetic to a whole new level of absurdity. Rather than taking aim at the Chief of Staff, Gauche instead points their aggression towards Alex Jones, the outspoken ringleader of conservative conspiracy theories. 

 Gauche projects their grievances through stark realism, depicting the corruption of the modern-day news media. At face value, their noisiness on the track can grow tiresome, especially with its incredibly drawn-out chorus. However, the boisterous nature of the production – specifically the frenzied guitar riff – correlates nicely with the chaos of our country, and how it’s been operated recently. 

There’s something quintessentially refreshing about a strong female vocalist yelling, “Fuck Alex Jones!”

Sure, the statement exhibits a transparent quality to it, but the sentiment behind those words reckons an extreme side of leftist thought that is rarely explored in say, a modern-day hip hop song. In rap, many socially conscious artists spend their time reflecting on their personal experiences, rather than acknowledging what side of the political spectrum thy are a part of.

Still, Gauche presents their position a with great compulsion, and just like the rest of us, they’re sick of fighting for their right to speak up.