While all countries have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, some experienced more hardships than the U.S.
With the added crises of natural disasters, some world leaders displayed a lack of care for their citizens.
This premise inspired La Armada’s new single, All We Know.
The band released a statement following the drop of the single which read in part, “Our singer came up with the lyrics after having lived through Hurricanes Irma and Maria, devastating earthquakes, and the pandemic, all from his native town in Yauco, Puerto Rico. It’s an angsty first hand account of the indifference and corruption that surrounded the government response to these disasters and a reminder that at the end of the day, this is how it’s always been, and that one way or another the people will always get by.”
The anger from the entire band is felt, with instrumentation that is metal and punk influenced and lead singer Casper Torres’ strong vocals.
The video starts with Torres staring down a white man in a suit (likely representing the “white collar” Torres will later tell you not to depend on) as he feasts. Behind the white collar is a screen that plays video of hurricanes, showing complete apathy for the disaster behind him as he snickers in Torres’ face.
“This is all we know// I am the crumbled, crumbled, crumbled southern coast// One more lockdown?// This is all we know”
With lyrics telling of a tired but still standing Torres, listeners know that while he may be discouraged, he still has a message to deliver.
The rest of the band is shown wearing masks, clearly representative of the pandemic that still threatens all people, but especially those in impoverished countries.
“That’s all we’ve ever known// They say the testing kits are where now?// They’re probably in a fucking warehouse”
Despite Torres attempting to release some of his frustrations by breaking the man’s glass and porcelain plates, it does not amount to the damage a person in power commits when they leave their citizens to fend for themselves.
“Wash your hands and walk away// Then it’s us who gotta pay”
While La Armada currently calls Chicago their home, their roots are in the Dominican Republic, meaning they all share the frustrations and trauma Torres sings about.
Living through a pandemic has revealed to citizens around the world what leaders are prepared to protect their citizens, and which leaders will deliver little hope from the safety of their own homes.
La Armada is here to apply pressure with songs of protest, and seem to be getting their message across.
All We Know is available for streaming now.
