Featuring an international cohort of members and lyrics that span a multitude of languages, from Persian and Urdu to Hebrew and English, Berlin-based Zanjeer is no ordinary punk band.
Where are you from and how did you end up in Berlin?
We’re all from artificial nation states spanning Europe and Asia. The names of these places don’t matter, and these borders are wholly insignificant, especially to our anti-fascist sentiments. We all ended up in Berlin because we’re in the midst of a ‘great migration wave’, as some in the media like to spin it.
What does the name of your band mean?
Zanjeer means ‘chain’ in most languages in the South Asian and Central Asian belts. It’s originally a Persian word, and due to the highly Persianised cultures of these regions, it spread around. For me, the word symbolises both oppression and hardship, as well as unity and strength.
What topics do you deal with in your music?
We speak out against all fascism, whether it comes from Islamic extremists or from white supremacists. We show solidarity with both the oppressed communities in the East as well as in the West, and we also criticise regressive attitudes in our own left-wing camps, like the infamous anti-Deutsch contingent.
How important is punk music in these political times, particularly within Berlin?
It’s of paramount importance. What’s more important is that punks don’t just limit themselves to music, but do some real activism as well. Far too often, punk bands will use certain causes or ideologies as a kind of pin on their jacket. Berlin’s scene is my favourite in Germany. There are also lots of people from different parts of the world, making it an interesting melting pot.
What challenges have you faced playing in the city?
Finding a parking space and suffering from frequent public transportation delays! There really is a good scene here, but it’s important to keep fighting for these spaces to exist.
You’re described as being the only Urdu punk band in Berlin. Do you ever see this changing?
Even in Pakistan and India, authentic punk music sung in Urdu or Hindi is a rarity. Even then, I would see bands singing in Punjabi, Sindhi or Pashto. There are a lot of sensitive political issues regarding the imposition of Urdu in the country. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing language, but as time goes on, it becomes difficult to ignore government policies that promote Urdu and denigrate the indigenous languages of Pakistan.
What are your other favorite bands in the city?
There are lots of cool bands here. Some of the bands in my rotation at this exact moment are Terminal Filth, Spixe, Beritan, Nothing Works, Urin, Not Our Wars, Sihir, Mundo en Guerra, Indian Nightmare, Bobson Dugnutt, Industry… There are always great new bands popping up too, so it gets hard to keep up.
Zanjeer’s new LP Seher-e-Maqhoor will be released on April 3. Follow them on Instagram @zanjeerpunk.
