Turnstile issue statement following Grammy wins: “We’re existing in a time of heightened state violence”
Following their victorious night at the Grammys, Turnstile have shared a reflective message about their journey and the state of the world.
The Baltimore rock band were nominated for a total of five Grammys, and left the ceremony with the award for ‘Best Rock Album’ thanks to Never Enough, as well as ‘Best Metal Performance’ for ‘Birds’.
While several artists, such as Kehlani, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean were overtly political in their speeches at the ceremony, Turnstile didn’t opt for this approach. However, they have now done so in a new statement.
Alongside a video of singer Brendan Yates’ speech, they wrote in the caption on Instagram, “On Sunday our band won 2 Grammys for Best Rock Album & Best Metal Performance. We never thought we’d be in these rooms, but we are very grateful to be here.”
Turnstile reflected further, “This band has never been about the individual, but rather about a collective searching for a common thread in a world where those threads are being hidden from us.”
They poignantly added, “The world likes to tell us who we are and what we’re not, but the truth is we belong to nothing and we belong to everyone.”
The double Grammy-winners then turned their attention to the current state of the world and the atrocities taking place, continuing, “We’re existing in a time of heightened state violence. We are watching people be pushed out of their homes here in America, in Palestine, in Sudan, in Iran, everywhere, as if they don’t belong to them. As if we don’t belong to each other.”
They then powerfully wrote, “Music is a vehicle for voices that are buried, that are searching, that are alien. Turnstile has always existed as an alien thing.”
Turnstile concluded, “Thank you to our family, our friends, our partners, our peers for continuing to shape us and give us a sense of belonging. Thank you to anyone who has ever come to a show and swung in the dark with us. Thank you to our team who fight for us to be in the room. Thank you to Baltimore for giving us a stage. Thank you to everyone who has allowed this band to be a mirror for this community. Thank you.”
Their lengthy address about the state of the world comes after the band’s ex-guitarist Brady Ebert wrote in a since-deleted Instagram comment, “No one in Turnstile cares at all about ethics or social issues in general, they’re just pandering to their audience” after they called to “abolish ICE”.
Turnstile have not yet responded directly to Ebert’s comments.
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