Phoebe’s Shadow

"There’s a mirror I can’t look into without seeing her face. It’s been years, but the memories still cut like glass. The band keeps me tethered, sure, but there’s a part of me still wandering, looking for her in every reflection. I don’t know if I’ll ever find her—or if I even should. Some ghosts aren’t meant to rest, are they?"

Voices from the Edge: The Radical Truths of Hank Van Vice — On the Mental Health Crisis As a Symptom of a Sick Society

Interviewer: Ellie "Echo" Matthews, Mental Health Matters

Ellie: Hank, we’re seeing a rise in mental health issues across the globe—depression, anxiety, burnout. What’s your take on why this is happening? Do you think it’s a reflection of something deeper in society?

Hank Van Vice: [Sighing deeply, a mix of sadness and anger in his voice] Absolutely, Ellie. The mental health crisis isn’t just about brain chemistry or genetics—it’s a symptom of a society that’s fundamentally sick. We’re living in a world that’s constantly pushing us to the brink—more work, more stress, more pressure, more noise. They’ve created a system that’s designed to break us, to keep us running on empty, chasing goals that don’t even make us happy.

Think about it—everywhere you turn, you’re being told you’re not enough. Not rich enough, not successful enough, not pretty enough, not productive enough. And it’s all bullshit, man. They’ve set up this unattainable standard, and then they profit off our insecurities, our fears, our pain. It’s no wonder people are struggling. We’re being crushed under the weight of it all.

Ellie: How do you think societal values like consumerism and competition contribute to this crisis?

Hank Van Vice: They’re at the heart of it. We’ve been conditioned to believe that our worth is tied to what we own, to how much we produce, to how we measure up against others. But that’s a recipe for misery. You can’t buy happiness, you can’t measure your worth in dollars, and you sure as hell can’t find peace in a system that’s designed to keep you on edge.

Consumerism tells us that we’re incomplete, that we need more, more, more to be whole. But it’s a lie, man. The more you chase that, the emptier you feel. And competition? It pits us against each other, makes us see our fellow human beings as threats, as obstacles, instead of allies, instead of brothers and sisters. It’s isolating, it’s dehumanizing, and it’s killing us, one by one.

Ellie: How does QEA’s music address mental health and these broader societal issues?

Hank Van Vice: We’re trying to cut through the noise, to speak to the pain, the loneliness, the fear that so many people are feeling. Our music is a way to say, “You’re not alone in this. We see you, we feel what you’re going through, and we’re here with you.” It’s about creating a space where people can feel understood, where they can find some kind of release, some kind of connection.

But we’re also challenging the system that’s causing this pain. We’re calling out the bullshit, the lies, the toxic values that are making people sick. And we’re offering an alternative—a vision of a world where people are valued for who they are, not for what they produce; where connection, creativity, and compassion are the cornerstones of society, not money, power, and status.

Ellie: What advice would you give to someone struggling with their mental health in today’s world?

Hank Van Vice: First off, know that it’s okay to not be okay. You’re not weak, you’re not broken—you’re human. And in a world like this, it’s normal to struggle. But you don’t have to go through it alone. Reach out, talk to someone, find your tribe, your community. And don’t be afraid to seek help if you need it—there’s no shame in taking care of your mental health.

But also, take a step back from the bullshit. Disconnect from the things that are feeding your anxiety, your depression. Turn off the news, step away from social media, stop chasing the things that aren’t bringing you joy. Find what makes you feel alive, what brings you peace, and hold onto that. And remember, you’re not alone in this fight. We’re all in it together, and we’re stronger together.

On the Fans

"You don’t know what it means to see your faces out there. Singing along, crying, laughing, screaming. We built this thing for us, but somehow, it’s become yours too. That’s the thing about music—it’s not a wall. It’s a bridge. And you’re the ones who make the crossing worth it."

Voices from the Edge: The Radical Truths of Hank Van Vice — On the Algorithmic Puppet Masters & How AI Controls Our Choices

Interviewer: Samantha "Sage" Lee, Digital Dissent Weekly

Samantha: Hank, you've always been ahead of the curve when it comes to societal issues. Today, we're talking about AI and algorithms—how they’re subtly controlling our choices. What's your take on this digital puppeteering?

Hank Van Vice: [Leaning forward, a sardonic grin tugging at his lips] Oh, the Algorithmic Puppet Masters—they’ve got us all doing the dance, haven’t they? It’s like we signed up for this grand social experiment without even reading the fine print. Every click, every like, every swipe—it's like we’re feeding breadcrumbs to a digital beast that’s quietly learning how to lead us around by the nose. And the wild part? We’re thanking them for it. ‘Thank you, Algorithm, for showing me exactly what I didn’t know I needed but now can’t live without.’ It’s diabolical, really—brilliantly subtle, but diabolical all the same.

Samantha: Do you think people are aware of how much control these algorithms have?

Hank Van Vice: [Smirking, with a hint of mock disbelief] Aware? Oh, sure, they’re about as aware as fish are of water. Most people don’t even realize they’re being led—like sheep to the slaughterhouse of consumerism, happily bleating all the way. The scary thing is how they’ve made it feel like a choice. You’re not being controlled, you’re just ‘enjoying personalized content!’ But let’s be real—it’s not personalization; it’s a velvet-lined cage. And the more you tap, scroll, and share, the tighter those bars close around you. It’s the most polite form of mind control we’ve ever invented, and we’re all too busy taking selfies to notice the strings attached.

Samantha: How does this tie into your music and the message of QEA?

Hank Van Vice: Our music is the sledgehammer trying to crack that damn screen. We’re not here to spoon-feed you another catchy hook that keeps you comfortably numb. We’re here to be the glitch in the system, to make you question why you’re so comfortable being told what to think, what to feel, what to buy. We’re not just a band—we’re the red pill, man. We want you to wake up and see the algorithms for what they are: puppeteers dangling your reality in front of you, hoping you don’t notice the strings. If we can shake even one person out of their algorithm-induced stupor, then we’ve done our job.

Samantha: What steps can individuals take to resist this subtle control?

Hank Van Vice: [Nodding, but with a challenging edge] First off, stop acting like lab rats in their data maze. Understand what you’re up against. These algorithms aren’t your friends—they’re not here to ‘help’ you. They’re here to predict you, to own you. Start by taking back your autonomy. Be intentional about what you consume, question the sources, the motivations behind what you’re being fed. Limit your digital footprint—treat your data like gold, not confetti.

And on a bigger scale? Demand transparency. Demand accountability. These tech giants have more power over our lives than most governments, and we just let them waltz in and rearrange our minds. It’s time we start asking the uncomfortable questions, start holding them to the fire. Because until we do, we’re all just puppets, dancing to a tune we didn’t even choose. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not interested in being anyone’s marionette.

Silence Between Notes

"Music’s weird, isn’t it? It’s not just sound—it’s the spaces between. That silence between notes? That’s where the magic lives. Life’s kind of like that too. We’re all rushing to fill the gaps, but maybe the gaps are the whole point. Next time you’re caught in the quiet, don’t panic. Just… listen."

Voices from the Edge: The Radical Truths of Hank Van Vice — On the Cult of Celebrity & Fame as a Modern-Day Prison

Interviewer: Maya "Muse" Carter, Culture Clash Magazine

Maya: Hank, you’re someone who’s seen both sides of fame—rising from the underground scene to becoming a global icon. What’s your take on the cult of celebrity that seems to dominate our culture today?

Hank Van Vice: [Laughing, with a hint of bitterness] The cult of celebrity, man—it’s the biggest con they’ve ever pulled. They lure you in with promises of freedom, of power, but the truth is, it’s just another kind of prison. You get trapped in this image they create for you, this persona you’re supposed to live up to, and before you know it, you’re not even living your own life anymore. You’re just a puppet on their stage.

Maya: Do you feel like that’s something you’ve had to fight against personally?

Hank Van Vice: Every damn day. They want to turn you into a product, something they can sell, package, and market. But that’s not what I’m about, and that’s not what Queen Elizabeth’s Abortions is about. We’re not here to play the game—they know that, and it scares the hell out of them. But the more you resist, the more they try to tighten the noose, y’know? Fame becomes this double-edged sword—on one side, you’ve got the platform to speak your truth, but on the other, you’re constantly battling to keep that truth from being distorted.

Maya: How do you think celebrity culture affects society as a whole?

Hank Van Vice: It’s a distraction, man. They use celebrities to keep people hooked on superficial crap, to keep them from thinking about what really matters. It’s all about making you aspire to this unattainable lifestyle, so you’re too busy chasing dreams that aren’t even yours to realize you’re being controlled. And the media plays right into it, feeding the beast, keeping the focus on who’s dating who, what someone wore to the latest award show, instead of the stuff that really matters—like what’s happening to our freedoms, our planet, our souls.

Maya: What advice would you give to other artists who are on the rise, facing these pressures?

Hank Van Vice: Stay true to yourself, no matter what. Don’t let them turn you into something you’re not. They’ll try to mold you, to shape you into what they think will sell, but that’s a one-way ticket to losing your soul. Keep your integrity, keep your message pure, and don’t be afraid to push back when they try to put you in a box. Remember, fame isn’t freedom—it’s just another trap, unless you take control of it.

Maya: Do you think there’s any hope for changing the way society views fame?

Hank Van Vice: I hope so, but it’s gonna take a lot of people waking up and realizing they’ve been fed a lie. Maybe we’re starting to see a shift, with people getting tired of the fake, the manufactured, and craving something real. That’s the future I’m fighting for—a world where we value substance over status, creativity over celebrity. It’s a long road, but we’re not backing down.

Blade’s Solo Rebellion

"Blade’s been banging on the drums like a man chasing demons lately. The other day, I walked into the studio and found him playing alone in the dark. No lights, no crowd, just rhythm. I asked him what he was doing, and he just said, ‘Talking to myself.’ Honestly, it’s the most punk rock thing I’ve seen in years. How often do we take time to listen to our own noise?"

Voices from the Edge: The Radical Truths of Hank Van Vice — On Education as Indoctrination & The System’s Failure to Foster Real Learning

Interviewer: Charlie "Challenger" Green, New Thought Weekly

Charlie: Hank, you’ve been pretty outspoken about the education system and its shortcomings. You’ve even called it a form of indoctrination. What do you mean by that?

Hank Van Vice: [Smirking, leaning back with a glint of defiance in his eyes] Oh, it's simple, man—education is just the world's most elaborate babysitting service, isn’t it? They sell it to you as this grand opportunity to "expand your mind," but really, it's about turning you into another cog in the machine. They dress it up in diplomas and GPAs, but underneath? It’s a giant conveyor belt designed to stamp out any spark of originality.

They don’t want thinkers; they want followers. The second you start asking questions, the gears grind to a halt, and they can’t have that, right? No, they need you to memorize, to regurgitate, to blend in with all the other neat little drones. It’s not education; it’s indoctrination with a tuition fee. They’re not teaching you to be free—they’re teaching you how to fit into your box, lock the lid, and call it a career.

Charlie: How do you think this affects the way people think and behave as adults?

Hank Van Vice: It’s like they’ve got everyone on this leash, right? By the time you’re out of school, you’re already trained—fetch, sit, roll over. They’ve beaten the curiosity out of you and handed you a script: 'Here’s your job, here’s your mortgage, here’s your two weeks of vacation if you’re lucky.' You don’t rock the boat, because you’ve been taught that the boat doesn’t rock—you just keep paddling in circles and convince yourself you’re going somewhere.

And that’s exactly how they want it. A population that’s too tired to question anything, too scared to think beyond the status quo. They’ll keep feeding you just enough to keep you quiet, to keep you from realizing you’re in a cage of your own making. It’s diabolical, really, and the worst part is, most people never even notice the bars.

Charlie: How does QEA’s music challenge this system?

Hank Van Vice: We’re that annoying alarm clock, man—the one that won’t shut up no matter how many times you hit snooze. We want people to wake up, to realize there’s more to life than what they’ve been spoon-fed since kindergarten. Our music? It’s a weapon, a megaphone, a middle finger to all the lies and half-truths that keep people in line. It’s not about being loud for the sake of it; it’s about being heard in a world that wants you to stay silent.

We’re not just preaching rebellion for kicks—we’re demanding you start questioning everything. Why are you doing what you’re doing? Who told you that’s the only way? We’re trying to strip away the illusion, to show people that real freedom comes when you stop letting someone else tell you who to be. It’s messy, it’s uncomfortable, but damn if it isn’t real.

Charlie: What do you think needs to change in the education system to foster real learning?

Hank Van Vice: [Laughs sharply] Change? We need to blow the whole thing up and start over. There’s no 'fixing' a system that was designed to keep you complacent. You want real learning? Get rid of the tests, the grades, the factory model. Stop turning kids into data points and start seeing them as individuals with minds that need to be challenged, not caged.

We need to make space for creativity, for exploration, for failure without punishment. Teach people to think for themselves, not just follow the recipe. And for once, stop treating education like it’s this checklist for creating 'productive members of society.' We need to start asking, what does it mean to be human? What does it mean to live fully, to think freely, to question everything? Because until we do, all we’re doing is mass-producing more of the same. And I’m not interested in more of the same—I’m interested in revolution.

What the Pineapple Said

"Yeah, I keep bringing up that talking pineapple. It’s not a joke. It’s also not the whole story. That thing didn’t just give me life advice—it asked me if I could ever truly forgive myself for things I didn’t even know I did. Heavy, right? So, here’s a question for you: What’s your pineapple? What’s out there, staring you down, demanding answers you don’t have? And are you brave enough to face it?"

Echoes from the Abyss: Hank Van Vice's Most Notable Tweets

1. "In a world full of masks, I’m just here trying to find the faces behind them. #RebelVision"
   

2. "Sometimes the loudest echoes are the ones we never hear. Listen carefully. #WhispersInTheVoid"
   

3. "If you find yourself in the dark, remember: sometimes shadows are just a canvas for light. #ShadowsAndLights"
   

4. "The world spins on the axis of our doubts and dreams. Keep spinning, keep dreaming. #AxisOfAmbiguity"
   

5. "They say reality is a construct. I say it's a stage for the absurd. #ConstructsAndStages" 
   

6. "Every beat, a question. Every lyric, a search for answers we never knew we needed. #QuestionsInRhythm"
   

7. "Not all storms are meant to be weathered. Some are just meant to be danced in. #DanceInTheStorm"
   

8. "Truth is a labyrinth, and we're all just wandering minotaurs. Follow the echoes. #LabyrinthsAndEchoes"
   

9. "If the road less traveled is a myth, then I'm lost in the legend. #LostInLegends"
   

10. "Every note a secret, every chord a revelation. Decipher at your own risk. #MusicalMysteries"
    

11. "Dreams are the debris of reality. Collect them or let them drift away. #DreamDebris"
    

12. "The finest art is often hidden in the chaos of our minds. Paint with your thoughts. #MindArt"
    

13. "Time’s just a shadow of the moment we’re in. Blink, and it’s gone. #EphemeralMoments"
    

14. "Fiction and truth are lovers who cheat on each other. Welcome to their messy affair. #TruthAndFiction"
    

15. "We’re all walking paradoxes in a parade of contradictions. Enjoy the view. #ParadeOfParadoxes"
    

16. "The moon doesn’t question its phases. Why should we? Embrace the change. #LunarWisdom"
    

17. "Conformity is a cage with invisible bars. Break out before it’s too late. #BreakTheBars"
    

18. "Sometimes the best way to find your path is to lose yourself first. #LostAndFound"
    

19. "Chaos is the seedbed of creativity. Water it well. #ChaosToCreation"
    

20. "In a world of noise, silence is the true rebellion. Dare to be quiet. #SilentRebellion"
    

21. "The horizon is just a line we’re told not to cross. Cross it anyway. #HorizonsUnbound"
    

22. "Every word is a spell; cast yours wisely. #SpellsAndWords"
    

23. "Life is a series of unwritten stories. Scribble on with reckless abandon. #UnwrittenStories"
    

24. "The past is a ghost whispering in your ear. Sometimes, it’s best not to listen. #GhostWhispers"
    

25. "History’s just a game of broken records. Spin your own tune. #BrokenRecords"
    

26. “Hey Novak:  Shut. The. F. Up. #YouAreTheRealVillains”

The Day the Echo Broke

"There was this one gig in Berlin where the echo in the venue was so perfect, it felt like the room was alive, breathing our sound back at us. It wasn’t just music—it was communion. Ever wonder if echoes are the universe’s way of reminding us we’re not alone? Or maybe they’re just ghosts of everything we’ll never say."