In this interview, we talk with two members of Cat Crash—Cecil Yang and Briar Chung. Cat Crash is a three-piece Riot Grrrl band based between New York and Connecticut, blending the spirit of queercore with a pop-punk edge. They shared their experience performing at Make Music Day and the journey that brought them to where they are now. With their fierce sound and unstoppable passion, Cat Crash is more than ready to take over the coolest stages.
Can you tell us how Cat Crash started? How did you all meet and start playing together?
Cecil: I started Cat Crash in July 2022 with a former friend. We decided we needed a guitarist and a drummer. I actually didn’t know how to play any instrument, but I picked up the bass so I could be the bassist. We put out an Instagram post saying we were looking for a drummer and a guitarist. Brett reached out via Instagram, auditioned for drums, but didn’t get the position at the time. A couple of months later, the former guitarist left Cat Crash, so I asked Brett to fill in—and he’s been with us ever since. He kind of became an official member around February 2024. Then, Briar and I met in the summer of 2023 during a filmmaking class. We became friends there and worked on music together—she’d already helped with Cat Crash stuff and even filled in on guitar once. But it wasn’t until our drummer dropped out—literally a month before our first tour—that I texted Briar. And without even really thinking about it, she was just like, “I’ll be your drummer.”
Briar: I think it’s kinda funny how the three of us all sort of knew each other before the band. Like, Brett and Cecil went to the same high school but didn’t really talk. I’d been friends with the band and helping behind the scenes for years before joining as a member. So it feels deeper than just auditioning and getting a spot—it’s all these weird, overlapping connections.
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it?
Cecil: I’d call it Riot Riot Grrrl. We’ve got the energy and attitude of Riot Grrrl, even if not every song’s subject matter fits that exactly. Our actual sound is probably more like pop punk.
What artists or bands inspire your songs or your sound?
Cecil: My top three are Fall Out Boy, Mitski, and Bikini Kill.
Briar: I think it’s cool that a lot of our influences aren’t even in the same genre. So we definitely pull from all over—it’s fun to draw from artists far outside our lane.
What’s something fun or unexpected about being in a band?
Cecil: I always say a band is like a relationship. It takes a lot of communication and commitment. We’ve had a lot of members come and go. Honestly, other than me, Brett’s the longest-standing member—and we had a different drummer up until December.
How did you come up with the name Cat Crash?
Cecil: It came from a Reddit comment where someone misspelled “car crash.” I thought it sounded like a cool band name. I wrote it down in this Notes app doc of potential band names and sent it to my former bandmate. She liked Cat Crash, so it stuck.
Let’s talk Make Music Day. How did you first get involved?
Cecil: Back when we were a smaller band, it was harder to get gigs. We heard about Make Music Day, where anyone could sign up to play at a local venue, so we did!
How was the experience performing at Make Music Day?
Cecil: It was great meeting other bands in the area, seeing people from our town come out to watch. A lot of our friends came since the venue was literally just down the street from our house.
And what do you think makes Make Music Day different from other festivals?
Cecil: It’s super open—it’s happening all across the town, and anyone can get involved. There’s no gatekeeping. You don’t need to hit a certain threshold to be part of it.
What’s next for Cat Crash? Any upcoming projects, tours, or releases?
Cecil: We’re competing in the Vans Warped Tour Battle of the Bands. Honestly, we don’t even know how we’re doing, but it would be a dream to play at the event, especially since a lot of festivals near us don’t have the most diverse lineups. Vans Warped has been like that in the past too, and I think it’d be really cool for a queer Asian band like us to play there. Besides that, we’re also planning a summer tour in July and August and working on our debut album.
Finally, what advice would you give to new musicians, especially in punk and queercore?
Cecil: The biggest thing is commitment. Like, just show up and put in the work. So many people get tripped up because they love the idea of being in a band, but not the execution. And in punk or queercore, my advice is—don’t let the haters get you down. There are gatekeepers who don’t want you there. But it’s about finding the people who do want you there—and letting them know you want them there too.