My cultural awakening: a punk band told me quit drinking. So I did

Growing up in Aberdeen, I began drinking at 14 as part of a rebellious teen lifestyle, using it as an escape rather than seeking pleasure. This early experimentation eventually evolved into rejecting drugs and alcohol during my formative years. Discovering music through Kerrang! shaped my taste from nu-metal to independent bands like Fugazi, inspired by Ian MacKaye’s radical approach to both music and life. Today, living sober in Finland with my partner, where this lifestyle is celebrated and traces back to 80s hardcore punk bands like Minor Threat, has transformed my journey into a powerful rebellion without substances that continues to inspire me through the music I still listen to today.