Probably in an unconscious attempt to make the experience of my initial Discunt listen as extremely punk rock as possible, I played the cassette tape T&A Renee (also known as the 'œWavelength Period Stain Girl'? who won last year's Halloween costume contest) gave me -- with all it's heart-wrenchingly adorable and awesome cassette-tape-ness and photocopied artwork and liner notes -- in my shitty decade-old walkman that basically doesn't work. That it doesn't work is astounding considering how reliable analog is supposed to be, regardless of what your digital-loving 'œI have no patience for obsolete technology'? friends will tell you. Old walkmanster has faithfully played the Minor Threat discography in the only form I've ever owned it for years, and only upon the Discunt initial listen is it failing. Or maybe that's how it's supposed to sound. These three tuffs answered some questions via that internet mail system thing.

HOW DID DISCUNT GET TO BE WHAT IT IS AND WHY IS IT? Matthew: Bennett and I started jamming on some simple D-beat tunes for fun, and then Renee joined and we dreamed up the whole concept of Discunt whilst shopping. T&A Renee: Discunt started in the Eaton shopping centre as a hilarious idea to name a Discharge band "Vaginal Discharge" -- I said I would sing about my vag -- and here we are -- everything vag related. We are probably the best band in Toronto right now. That's a fact. Bennett: We're just friends fucking around, having fun together.

EXPLAIN TO GREG COLLINS (WHO SAID "I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR OBSOLETE TECHNOLOGY") WHY CASSETTE TAPES ARE EXCELLENT AND/OR SUPERIOR. M: Patience is obsolete. Cassettes are nice. B: Old school always wins. T&AR: I'll send him a Discunt demo.

I HEARD THAT YOU HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN LADIES AND LADYKIND. PLEASE EXPLAIN.
T&AR: Ladies are so bomb, and are so under represented in every aspect and/or field in our society, so this is why I am a feminist (duh) and I have been trying to figure out the best way to go about destroying people's notions of women as second class citizens. Punk rock, as a sub/counter culture, worked for me as means of "countering" and challenging mainstream values and ideas, such as classism, racism, whatever-ism, and sexism. A challenge to this is the fact that punk rock, as a subculture, glorifies everything masculine. It's a total boy's club. That, and it's white as fuck. For years I was one of the only girls who stuck around, and I constantly felt (and still do) that I had to prove myself as a women, being constantly aware of my gender. I have personally felt the ramifications of being a woman in a punk rock "scene", being sexually assaulted by a fellow punk kid. What followed was a classic 'œblame the victim'? scenario. Everyone in the St. John's (Newfoundland) scene turned their backs on me and I was left with no support and basically kicked out of the scene. The guy who sexually assaulted me, is obviously still a huge and supported part of the scene. Violence against women/sexual assault is a gender issue, it exists within our homes, at work, is generally tolerated, and it exists in punk rock. I moved to Toronto to find a new punk rock community -- where I have been working and fighting, with a group of other awesome local ladies -- to make punk rock and hardcore a safe, encouraging, and empowering community for the ladies, fags, and whoever the shit else wants to fuck shit up with us. Start bands. Write zines. Host radio shows. Dance up front. Organize shows. Join our punk rawk baseball team. GO!

HOW OFTEN IS RENEE DAY AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT MAKING IT A NATIONAL HOLIDAY? B: Every day is Renee Day as far as I can tell. T&AR: Ladies, in particular, tend to put everyone else's needs before their own, and as a result, not enough time is spent indulging in life's pleasantries without feelings of guilt. So, my personal strike against such foolishness is to set aside at least one day out of each month and dedicate it to me. This involves spending the full day completely alone. If roommates are not home, unplug the phone. Blast Missy Elliot, bedroom dance naked -- all while eating MANY baked goods, masturbating and napping periodically. Maybe throw in a Bollywood movie or two. Read luscious lady books. Journal. Reflect. Take myself out on a date to a wicked awesome vegan restaurant. Hang out at Chapters reading their books drinking caramel soy steamers. All things pleasurable. I'm working on making it a national holiday through LiveJournal. M: Tuesdays, 9pm, hot tub.

By Star DT