In 1996 I didn't know what "emo" was. I was writing music for my band and was listening to some bands that seemed to have similar influences. I never identified as being emo. These were just exciting new rock bands at the time. Labels like emo are created by the people who aren't making the music. The music we wrote just came out of us. For a long time after I quit my band, I couldn't even think of listening to any of this music. I resented my band being called emo. Until now I hadn't heard the majority of these records for 15 or so years. Hearing these songs now, I can smell the practice space, feel the possibilities of this "new" music coursing out through our instruments. In retrospect I am happy to have been making music in the midst of it. Even if it was emo. How "eem" is that?

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