Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with Boris Budd for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from Yanni and Zamfir the pan flute player to cannabis music culture and Seattle’s iconic Hemp Fest. Boris shares insights on unlocking creativity, the hypocrisy of politics, and what it truly means to be “punk.” They also discuss his doomed radio show on Make.Shift, his band Los Bongquistadors, and his highly anticipated upcoming release, Animals Are Better Than People.

Boris Budd, originally from New Jersey, moved to Bellingham in 2001 after working as a bond trader on Wall Street, where he was laid off during the 2008 financial collapse. Following vision loss in 2004 due to an autoimmune disease, he began writing politically charged songs, gaining local acclaim with his band, The Waterborders, and several solo records, including Boris Budd for President and Capitalism Capitalize.

An advocate for cannabis legalization, Boris performed at Seattle Hempfest from 2008 to 2019 and hosted a political talk show on KZAX (2016–2017). He also wrote extensively for What’s Up! Magazine, reviewing over 250 albums and interviewing 50+ artists.

In 2017, he co-founded Los Bongquistadors, releasing multiple projects and performing with notable acts like the Supersuckers. His recent solo work includes Fake Love EP (2021) and the upcoming Animals Are Better Than People (2024). Now back in Bellingham, Boris continues creating, with Los Bongquistadors’ Anthology Vol. 3 set for release in 2024.

https://washingtonesrecords.com/

https://borisbudd.bandcamp.com/

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