LYDIA LUNCH launches Genre is Death

In this episode of LaunchLeft, guest host Donita Sparks is joined by legendary no wave pioneer Lydia Lunch, celebrating her fearless artistry and the launch of Genre is Death. Lydia Lunch dives deep into her boundary-busting career, from her start in the 1970s New York underground to her influence across music, spoken word, and activism. The episode also shines a spotlight on emerging NYC band Genre is Death—members Taylor and Ty join the conversation, sharing their journey from Georgia to the NYC scene. Together, they explore the spirit of artistic rebellion, creative resilience, and the power of radical self-expression. Tune in for candid stories, inspiration, and a special performance from Genre is Death's upcoming album, Attractive People. What You'll Learn This Episode: ✅Lydia Lunch recounts her teenage escape to New York, driven by the inspiration of the New York Dolls, her formation of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, and the gritty, creative chaos of 1970s and pioneering "no wave" ✅Insights into Lydia's constantly shifting creative identities—from tight, abrasive bands to big band projects and experimental spoken word. She breaks down her approach to musical collaboration, creative ownership, and why she curates her own sonic universe. ✅Lydia and Donita reflect on giving back, including workshops for women writers, bringing newcomers onto the spoken word stage, and the power of solidarity among outsider artists. ✅From Lydia's ongoing podcast "The Lydian Spin" to new recordings, collaborations, and upcoming tours—plus tales of performing anywhere for the love of art, even in alleys ankle-deep in urine. There's also talk of legendary collaborations, archival ambitions, and what it means to keep hustling in independent music. LaunchLeft champions artists for whom radical creativity is a necessity. Support these artists by streaming, sharing, and showing up at live events. Donate to keep independent, left-of-center voices thriving. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to rate,

You can listen to LYDIA LUNCH launches Genre is Death online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

LYDIA LUNCH launches Genre is Death is an episode from LaunchLeft by Kast Media.

This episode is 57:26 long.

This episode was published on Jan 27, 2026.

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