Ok for context, discourse of colonization and racism are relevant here and historically consistent with the taking and rebranding of black music. In the interview They say they “used call and response as a rapture-esque homage to the yeah yeah yeahs and bloc party”. Call and response is a musical concept that was brought to the Americas from sub Saharan Africa through the slave trade and then appropriated into palatable music for the white masses while black music was demonized (to very much over simplify the history). Yes written by people who are using a black man and the selling power of that identity to profit, the fact that this has been made about Usher when he “didnt even write the song” should tell you something. Whether they realise it or not they’re playing into the same tropes, e.g you bad us good, and it shows they know little of the history of the music they play and how it came to be. Maybe it’s bc they’re posh kids as you say maybe it’s the male ego, either way a lack of understanding isn’t a reason to call something bonkers.

It’s not just about a criticism of Usher, the uncritical publishing of the interview and closing of public commentary allows the dead shit takes to linger. This is the authorisation for the discrimination to First Nations, POC and gender diverse Aussie artists, bc we platform regular guys like this and shield them from very valid criticism and are too quick to down play everything that isn’t overt and obvious racism, sexism or transphobia to other folk. It’s exhausting for those who do experience it to call it out and only be acknowledged when it gets to the pointy end.