The Muslims

Durham punk band The Muslims formed in 2016 to create a “rageful, tender, fun outlet” for the trio, all Muslim queer folks, to express their emotions and experiences. 2019’s white-supremacy takedown Mayo Supreme explores ecosystems of oppression on tracks like “Fuck The Cistem” (sample lyrics: “I say me too and it’s fuckin sad / I’ve gotta prove that shit to you / Though I’m sure you had a clue / There are predators in your crew”). The Muslims share a different side of their activist artistry in inspired music videos like the fantastic “Muslims at the Mall”, which features a figure in a flashy Lilly Pulitzer burqa strolling nonchalantly through Southpoint Mall while shoppers gawk. And they’re a tender bunch indeed, grinning big while performing, and clearly stoked to have nurtured a micro-community of musical agitators. Samurai Shotgun and Jooselord Magnus also perform.