Somos Sordos

Abstract

This autoethnographic study examines powerviolence in the predominantly Hispanic unincorporated area of El Rio, California, from the perspective of a drummer in a local powerviolence band. The unique human geography of El Rio, characterized by its demographic composition, urban layout, and cultural practices, shapes sonic cartographies and influences how individuals understand sound. Situating powerviolence as a form of “borderlands noise-music,” this article investigates the intersection of sound perception and cultural identity, particularly for Chicano noise musicians. By exploring how powerviolence subverts dominant music constructs through its sonic, linguistic, emotional, and iconographic elements, this article highlights the transformative potential of noise-music in marginalized communities. Drawing on a sonic lineage from hardcore punk to powerviolence in California, commonalities among hardcore punk, thrashcore, grindcore, and powerviolence are illuminated, providing a basis for understanding powerviolence through sound. Furthermore, this study foregrounds the significance of powerviolence and noise-music as accessible forms of expression, particularly for aspiring musicians who lack the means to pursue formal study. By amplifying voices that may otherwise go unheard, powerviolence allows noise musicians to feel audible to dominant capitalist society.