We are proud to premier the new music video for “Inside featuring Crow Jane” from California peace punk band, Human Issue.
Human Issue is a politically charged punk band that formed in 2021, uniting musicians from across California and Texas. Fronted by drummer and songwriter Hunter Martinez from the San Francisco Bay Area, the group also features members hailing from San Antonio, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. Their diverse backgrounds and shared ethos give Human Issue a raw, urgent sound rooted in the tradition of peace punk while pushing forward with modern urgency.
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Though relatively new, Human Issue has quickly gained attention in underground circles for their uncompromising message and relentless live performances. Embracing the DIY ethic, they’ve carved out their place as a vital voice in modern punk, proudly accepting the label of “peace punks” as both identity and mission.
Human Issue – Q&A with Hunter Martinez
Q: Where do Human Issue originate from, both geographically and culturally?
Hunter Martinez: I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area. One member’s from San Antonio, Texas, and the others are from Orange County and the Inland Empire. Some people call us Peace Punks, and honestly, I’m good with that. We are myself and:
Dylan Moore
Sam Mankinen
Matt Watkins
Ryan Marino
Emmett O’Reilly
Q: How and at what point in time did the band first come together?
Hunter Martinez: Human Issue really started in 2021. I was recording songs that would end up on our first release, the Faceless.Nameless. EP. At first, it was just an idea to write songs and invite different musician friends to play on them—kind of a collective thing instead of a traditional band.
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We had some amazing contributions: Rikk Agnew from the Adolescents played guitar on it, and Bryan Lothian from A Global Threat sang backups on a couple songs. That blew my mind. After I shared the recordings with friends, they encouraged me to turn it into a live band, not just a recording project. That was the push to make Human Issue real.
Q: What other projects or bands have current members been involved with?
Hunter Martinez: Between all of us, the list is pretty long. Members of Human Issue have played in Toxins, The Last Gang, Negative Blast, The Dwarves, Decent Criminal, Slaughterhouse, and Doc Hammer. Everyone brings different experience and influences, but it works together naturally.
Q: Is there now a consistent lineup, or is it still shifting?
Hunter Martinez: We’ve got a set lineup now. That feels good, because honestly, it takes a lot for people to commit to a full-time band these days. We’re lucky to have the right people in place.
Q: You and Heather covered a Rudimentary Peni song. What drew you to that track in particular?
Hunter Martinez: I knew I wanted to cover something from Death Church, because that record was my introduction to Rudimentary Peni. The song we chose is only about a minute long, but it’s got that repetitive chorus and really intense lyrics. It just felt like it could fit into Human Issue’s sound better than any other Peni track.
Heather and I both love that band, so when we rehearsed it together, it hit right away. We looked at each other and thought, “Fuck, we should record this.” And we did.
Q: Would you describe your music as politically charged, or does it come from somewhere else?
Hunter Martinez: For me, it’s really personal. The songs come from observing day-to-day life, emotions, love, loss, family, friends. They’re about trauma bonding, about dealing with substance abuse at a young age, about living in the world I was born into.
Maybe it sounds a little vague when I describe it, but there’s a lot under the surface. It’s not about waving a banner, it’s about being honest.
Q: What’s next for Human Issue? Any shows or releases fans should know about?
Hunter Martinez: Yeah! We’ve got shows coming up this December in both the Bay Area and Southern California. And the big news is that we finished an LP. The plan is to release it early next year. We’re excited for people to finally hear it.
Q: Where can listeners go to hear more of your work and stay updated?
Hunter Martinez: The best places are our Bandcamp and Instagram pages. That’s where we share new music, updates, and info about shows.
Music Video Filmed, Directed and Edited by Jessica Moncrief
Recorded at Sun Sick Studio by Alex Jacobelli
Mastered by Nick Townsend at Townsend Mastering
