I first connected with Toni P. back in 2006 when he sent me a demo CD-r of his band, Off My Chest, for review in one of my early zines. Since then, he’s been passionately releasing records through Positive and Focused Records, proudly carrying the slogan “My Choice, My Life, My Music.”
In 2008, Toni launched the first international Youth Crew 7-inch compilation, which has since become a bi-annual tradition, bringing together bands, scenes, and labels from around the globe. The compilation has become a hallmark of his label, and the idea was simple: to spotlight and support some of the best new Youth Crew bands worldwide.
Today, Toni is a cancer survivor, still screaming for change with Right On Time (a new band he started long-distance with members from the US), and a barber who left a long-standing corporate job behind. Despite almost giving up on the Youth Crew compilations at one point, the series has continued strong until today.
With Youth Crew 2024 comp on the horizon, I sat down with Toni to look back on the compilation series from 2008 to the present. Stick around until the end of the interview for a cover reveal and the band lineup for Youth Crew 2024!
The first Youth Crew compilation came out in 2008, well after the “Youth Crew Revival” of the late ’90s. That same year, The First Step broke up, and Have Heart released Songs To Scream At The Sun through Bridge 9. What inspired you to release an international Youth Crew compilation at that time?
At that time, my band Off My Chest had just broken up, and I was getting more involved with my label, Positive and Focused. I had a deep fascination with bands like Good Clean Fun, A Step Apart, Get The Most, and of course, The First Step. It felt like the right moment to start seeking out new bands in that genre. Compilations like One Kind Word (Cycle Records) also inspired me to move forward with this project.
The first compilation featured some of the biggest names of the time, like Mindset from the US and True Colors from Belgium, along with bands from Germany, South Korea, Sweden, and the UK. How many copies did you make and were you able to break even? Did you promote it on Myspace and message boards?
We pressed just over 800 copies for the first run and had three other labels co-release it with us. I’m still in touch with Johan from Monument Records, but I lost track of Behind You Records. As for the US label, Upside Down Records, I feel a bit misled. Initially, they didn’t join the first pressing, but they decided to do a separate US pressing later on.
We agreed to include each other’s logos on the cover, but he waited more than a year to release Youth Crew 2009, and he replaced Times Together with Right Idea. I sent him some copies of Youth Crew 2008 for Mindset and Fired Up, but he never distributed them. In the end, I had to track down my copies of his pressing, and I only received 50% of the copies we had agreed on. To top it off, he put my logo on the inside of the cover. That was the only bad experience I’ve had with these comps, though. Most people in the scene have been really great to work with.
The first compilation sold out quickly and was actually the first release that broke even for me. Back then, we promoted it on Myspace, AsIce, Bridge9, and some German message boards I can’t recall. Facebook quickly took over not long after.
We did a second pressing of 200 copies in 2014, some of which I used as a bonus for the Graffiti is Hardcore book I made for my friend J. The rest were sold separately with new artwork and center labels.
The second compilation in 2010 is one of my personal favorites, featuring incredible bands like Forever Young from Sweden, Staid and Half The Battle from as far away as the Philippines, and Rearranged from Russia, who were fantastic on their European tour. How did you connect with all these bands from such different parts of the world?
After the 2008 edition, I decided to make it a tradition and release a compilation every two years. By the end of 2009, I started searching for new bands, which is honestly one of the most enjoyable parts of the process—discovering exciting bands from around the world. I reached out to many bands via email, and this lineup came together. Over time, it’s become more word of mouth, and now bands often ask to be included in the next edition. I’m proud that the compilation has become somewhat of a staple in this small scene.
In the following compilations, you collaborated with even more international labels, some of which are no longer active. Can you share how you managed the coordination and distribution between so many labels within such a specific niche? Did each label focus on promoting their own bands?
Sometimes labels wanted to include bands from their own rosters, but ultimately, it’s the shared love for Youth Crew that connects us and determines the lineup. Coordinating everything is definitely time-consuming, but having labels from different countries and continents really helped the compilations grow, so I was happy to put in the time. Distributing vinyl is tricky, but I’ve learned the ropes over the years. My Positive and Focused BigCartel shop has regular customers, and I always try to collaborate with labels from other regions to avoid competition between us. This approach has helped build the legacy of the compilations to where it is today.
The only edition I released solo was Youth Crew 2012. Two other labels were supposed to co-release it with me, but I didn’t feel they were as committed, so I decided to go ahead on my own.
For the 2016 edition, I got some much-appreciated help from Nikolay (Ugly and Proud Records) and Robert (Commitment Records). That was when I had to focus on my new career as a barber after 20 years in corporate business. Over the years, finding labels to collaborate with has become pretty natural, and some have worked with me on multiple editions.
Has Javi (Al Mal Tiempo) been involved in the artwork for all the compilations so far? How do you manage the coordination of the artwork, layout, and all the other details that typically require a lot of time and effort?
Javi is a SAINT! He does almost all the artwork for my label, my barbershop, and my band. For the compilations, he’s done all the artwork except for the 2008 edition, which was done by an artist from Denmark named RAM. I know he worked on a project with the guys from Resolve, but I haven’t been able to track him down since. Javi works fast, and sometimes I do a bit of the layout myself. It’s all self-taught, but over the years I’ve learned a bit more, and I actually enjoy doing it now.
Was it a deliberate choice to have no band appear more than once in the entire series of Youth Crew compilations? Would you make an exception for a band that you really like?
Yes, absolutely! This series is all about young, new bands, and I don’t want any band to appear twice. There is some overlap with musicians who play in multiple bands, but that’s inevitable in such a small scene. Even though I have some personal favorites, I still wouldn’t feature them more than once.
In 2019, you released a special box set celebrating 10 years of Youth Crew compilations. Can you share a bit about that project and your decision to stick with the 7-inch format for all this time, which also happens to be my favorite for hardcore records?
Oh man, that box set… I’m still recovering from all the folding, stamping, and hand-numbering! It was Gijs’ idea—he suggested doing a box set of the first six editions, and Javi created alternative artwork for each one. It turned out so cool in the end. By that time, Danny had joined me at the label (he came on board in 2016), and together we handled all the work. Sticking to the 7-inch format was a no-brainer. I know it’s trendy to do 12-inches, but for this series, it will always be 7-inch.
Looking at the tracklists for these compilations, I notice many bands with political and social themes, as well as moving away from the macho and jock stereotypes often tied to the original Youth Crew scene. Who are some of your all-time favorite Youth Crew bands? As someone from the Netherlands, do you feel a stronger connection to the European Youth Crew Revival bands of the ’90s, like Mainstrike or Sportswear?
I believe Youth Crew songs should touch on social awareness or serve as a mirror for humanity to look into. My all-time favorites are Better Than A Thousand, The First Step, Good Clean Fun, Mindset, and Get The Most. Hoods Up from Hamburg also have a special place in my heart—I was really happy to share the stage with them at our final show with Off My Chest. Organizing a show with True Colors was also an unforgettable experience.
When it comes to Dutch Youth Crew heritage, A Step Apart stands out as my favorite. It’s hard to explain what strikes a chord with me sometimes. As for recent bands, I really like Absolute Truth, Distante, Remain, Supernova, and Step By Step.
I’ve noticed some featured bands don’t identify as straight edge, or at least have members who don’t claim edge. Do you think Youth Crew has evolved beyond straight edge? Do you personally see Youth Crew and SXE as inherently connected?
I’ve always felt a strong connection to straight edge, and both Danny and I are straight edge, but we don’t preach it religiously. Many of my friends aren’t straight edge, and that’s fine—it’s a personal choice. I don’t find the idea of losing control appealing. Youth Crew doesn’t have to be straight edge, but I think it adds a bit more meaning when it is.
Your own band, Urgent Kill, was featured on the 2022 compilation. Can you tell us a bit about your band and the current Dutch hardcore scene? Are there any other active Youth Crew or straight edge bands in the Netherlands right now?
Urgent Kill… that’s a story. After being diagnosed with NET cancer, I had major surgery (Whipple) in December 2022, and I’ve been recovering since. In early 2023, I was so excited to play again that I organized Positive Outlook Fest in Amsterdam, with Urgent Kill, Remain, Alive Inside, One Step At A Time, Sovtr!, and Antillectual. It was great, and I set up another show with Urgent Kill, Dying For It, and Tomar Control.
Unfortunately, it was too much, and I had a scary relapse. I did one more show after that, but I decided to focus on my recovery and step back from live performances for a while. So, the band is currently in a sort of hibernation. Plus, one of our members is frequently abroad for work, which doesn’t help.
As for the Dutch scene, bands like Hometown Crew are worth keeping an eye on—they have a new album coming soon! Swell is another standout. When it comes to Dutch Youth Crew Straight Edge, these are uncertain times, but there’s hope. No Way from the south are carrying the torch, and with their average age of 16, they truly embody the spirit of Youth Crew.
The Youth Crew 2024 compilation is coming soon. Can you share some details about the bands featured on it—where they’re from and what makes them stand out? Your new band Right On Time is also featured in YxC 2024?
YEAH! I’m really happy about that. My good friend Thomas Vanderpol is coordinating this edition, which I truly appreciate as it gives me more time to recover. The focus for the 2024 comp is to showcase racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ diversity. Javi created a fantastic cover with a playful nod to Wide Awake.
The compilation will be released with the following labels:
- Our Pride (United States)
- Speedowax (United Kingdom)
- 24 EdgeWear (Belgium)
- Jama (Poland)
- Positive and Focused (Netherlands)
The line-up is:
- Supernova (UK)—A great new straight edge band from London, mixing stomping Youth Crew with mid-2000s melodic hardcore. But it’s Lindsey’s vocals that really grab you by the throat.
- Mariscal X (Argentina)—This is definitely a thing: 12-year-old Pelusa on vocals, with his mom Pauli and dad Fedex on bass and guitar, and Diegui on drums. As for a reference, just one band says it all: Ten Yard Fight.
- No Way (Netherlands)—Dutch Youth Crew Straight Edge with an average age of 16. They embody the genre, influenced by all the ’80s and ’90s classics, delivering with intensity and urgency.
- Step By Step (US)—A multigenerational hardcore band from Tehachapi, California. Step By Step combines the best of early ’00s Boston with ’80s New York City—a mix of all my favorites mentioned earlier in this interview.
- Bajo Control (Spain)—Madrid straight edge outfit with a radical, political message. Featuring great two-step parts and breakdowns, they’re a “hungry” band ready to hit the road. They’ll be touring Europe with Distante in early 2025.
- Right On Time (US/Netherlands)—I’m stoked about this new project! After Urgent Kill was paused, I felt a bit down, but I’m thrilled that Charles (LA), Thomas (Portland), and I came together for Right On Time. We likely won’t play live, but we’ve poured our shared love for Youth Crew into this, and I channeled my illness into the lyrics as my mantra.
- True Fight (Japan)—True Fight brings high energy and positive lyrics—the essentials for any great Youth Crew band. They stay true to their sound in an era where hardcore is increasingly influenced by metal and beatdown.
- Fine Equipe (France)—Though not a straight edge band, Fine Equipe draws influences from bands like Get The Most, The First Step, and Carry On from the Teamwork Records era. As a side project of Oi-punks Syndrome 81, you can count on their quality.
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