Antillectual – Whose Streets? Our Streets!

Our new single WHOSE STREETS? OUR STREETS! is out! A skate punk anthem about our public space, how “public” it is these days, and who gets to use it. Where gentrification, hostile architecture and skate punk culture meet. Let’s crack a beer to that!

Lyrics

Our public space is not so public anymore
It started with the first line drawn on the floor
Our cities functioning as factories for rent
And even just peeing outdoors makes you spend

Commodification of the third place
Consumption required in the public space
You’re only safe from the purchase chase
In your own home base

I just wanna skate here
Chill and maybe crack a beer
All these rules to violate here
Keep it clean and keep it clear

Our parks, streets and squares; all at risk for causing litter
Preemptively all sold out to the highest bidder

Not in my front yard, I will escape this house arrest
Like I’m an uninvited guest
Whose streets, our streets
Ignoring those who’re dispossessed
To manifest is our protest
The difference between being now here and being nowhere is just space

These rules that I hate here
Please, can you keep it clean and keep it clear?

Liner notes

How “public” is our public space these days? Who gets to use it and who gets denied access? Where people should be able to live, recreate and move around freely without the interference of commercial enterprises or government yielding to those. At the crossroads of gentrification, hostile architecture and skate punk culture.

For anyone that couldn’t find a public bathroom when they needed one. For anyone that ever got a fine for having an alcoholic drink in public. For everyone that ever got kicked out of a public skate spot. And more importantly: for everyone that lives on the streets and depends on public services and accommodation for their daily life and livelihood