We were lucky to catch up with Naomi Poesel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Naomi, appreciate you joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Being an all-girl queer punk band, we often find ourselves facing misconceptions and stereotypes within the music scene. People often make assumptions about our music, our identities, and our intentions based on their preconceived notions. However, we saw those challenges as opportunities for growth and advocacy. We believe that punk music is all about challenging the status quo and breaking down barriers. For the first year as a band, we faced so a lot of misogynistic comments about our musical abilities and appearance. Each member only had about a year of experience playing their instruments before we formed as a band. We knew we weren’t polished nor technically “good,” but we weren’t trying to be the best band in the world. We were pissed off about societal and personal experiences and wanted to express that through music.

We started performing a few days after forming the band. We were excited and decided to jump in head first regardless of how it may have sounded. Many people judged us for saying we weren’t “punk” enough because of our debut EP “Babe Haven” which was more mellow and pop punk. It is a stark contrast of sound to the music we create now and was only written as soon as we formed. During that time our previous bassist Ashley knew someone who wanted to record our EP for free. We used that as a learning experience to get used to the creative writing process together. It was not something to be taken super seriously, we were just getting our feet wet.

So, when we encountered misunderstandings, we used them as fuel to amplify our message and create dialogue. Ultimately, being misunderstood or mischaracterized in the music scene is a common experience for many marginalized artists. However, we firmly believe that our collective voice has the power to reshape narratives and challenge the norms. We embrace the punk spirit of rebellion and use it to pave the way for greater inclusivity and acceptance within the music community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

We’re thrilled to introduce ourselves and share our story. Babe Haven is an all-girl queer punk band that formed in the underground music scene of our city in Boone, North Carolina. We’re a tight-knit group of friends who came together with a shared passion for punk music, activism, and creating a space for marginalized voices. Individually, we each found our way into music through different avenues. Kat (drummer) had been in previous projects with other bands where she sang and played guitar. We met her through Facebook when looking for members. Lillie (lead singer) used to sing choir in middle school who is also an artist and has a father who is also a musician. Julia, our bassist the newest member of Babe Haven was also in previous bands “Cherry Etiquette” and “Kiss it Make it Better” and who is also a dancer. Naomi (guitarist) formed the band back in 2021 amidst Covid where she started learning the guitar. Being inspired by the small music community in Boone while in college and jamming with experienced musicians in the area gave her the courage to start a band. At the time, there weren’t many female artists or an all femme band. She wanted to be what was missing in the community and what her younger self wanted to look up to. Though some of us may had some formal training in music, most were self-taught. What brought us together was a love for the raw energy, rebellious spirit, and unfiltered expression that punk embodies. We were drawn to the DIY ethos and the freedom to challenge societal norms through our music.

As a punk band, our creative works are a blend of high-energy music, thought-provoking lyrics, and a fearless stage presence. We’re not afraid to tackle social and political issues head-on, using our songs as a platform for activism and storytelling. Our music touches on a range of topics including the experience of misogyny in a male dominated music scene in our song “Jaws,” to the Asian American experience heard in “Kung Pow,” to non serious topics such as “Slim Jim” which is about eating a Slim Jim on a roadtrip with your best friends. What sets us apart from others is our unapologetic approach and the authenticity of our lived experiences. We don’t shy away from discussing our identities, and we embrace the full spectrum of our queer and punk selves. Our music is a reflection of our personal journeys, and we’re proud to share our stories in a way that resonates with others.
Our latest album “Uppercut” is a project we are really proud of. It was the first collective project as a band that we felt portrayed our image and sound which was heavily influenced by punk, hardcore, grunge and riot grrrl styles from the 90s.

One aspect of Babe Haven that we’re adamant about is creating a safe space and an inclusive community. We strive to foster an environment where individuals from all backgrounds can come together, find support, and express themselves freely. We want to see more femme presenting and non-binary people getting in the pits. We know first hand how intimidating it can be when there’s just a bunch of big dudes getting aggressive in the crowd, we want people to feel comfortable having fun and trying something new.

For potential fans, we want them to know that when they connect with Babe Haven, they’re joining a movement. Our music is for those who seek empowerment, solidarity, and a sense of belonging. We invite them to embrace their own unique identities, challenge societal norms, and stand up for what they believe in.
We invite potential fans to join us on this journey, to be a part of something greater, and to use punk as a catalyst for positive change.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The best thing society can do to support fellow musicians is to simply share their music, go to a show, and buy their merchandise. Unless you have a song with millions of streams, artists are not really making money from music platforms. One $20 shirt is worth more than thousands of streams on Spotify. We spend a lot of time with creating our own flyers, album art, and shirt designs in addition to our songs. Making money is not our top priority as musicians; however, supporting us allows us to afford traveling, playing, and doing what we love the most.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being in a band, is the crowd interaction, support and feedback we get from our fans. There have been multiple stories where people tell us how we inspire them to want to start a band. We want to see more people like us in the scene, and it makes us so excited knowing we can create a space for that. With Naomi being the only person of color in the band, she has been touched by a lot of fans that approach her about how seen they felt as there are not many asian artists in the punk Industry. We love traveling to different cities and seeing people wear our merch or singing our songs. As we start to open for bigger artists such as Nova Twins, Teen Mortgage, Be Your Own Pet, Matt and Kim and more, we are exciting to share our music to larger audiences on bigger stages.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @babehavenband
• Twitter: @babehavenband
• Youtube: @Babe Haven
• Other: Tik Tok – @Babehavenband

Image Credits
From left to right – top to bottom 1. @kennyb.photography – Kenny Brown 2. @daverogersphoto – Dave Rogers 3. @bruisedgrapesphotography – Grapes Dove 4. @smokinnntoad – Lillie Della Penna 5. @whatisavisual – Bridger Flory 6. @rebas_art – Rebecca Stickler 7. @moshhmannproductions 8. @whatisavisual – Bridger Flory