Bianca Xunise Interview

CHIRP Radio Podcasts

This week Features co-director Marjorie Alford talks with cartoonist Bianca Xunise about their graphic novel Punk Rock Karaoke. The two discuss the confusion of early adulthood, finding grace for the people you love, how a lack of representation in the media lead to Bianca filling that void for themself, and most importantly, punk rock.

"I put so much of my heart and my own punk experiences into this story that I want to sit with it. I want to be with this beautiful piece of art that I made." - Bianca Xunise, on why they won't be rushing into their next project.

Bianca Xunise is a cartoonist based out of Chicago, Illinois. Their work primarily focuses on the plight, joy, and daily struggles of misfits within the black community. In 2017 Xunise earned an Ignatz for Promising New Talent for their comic Say Her Name, an autobiographical story of police brutality and social justice. In 2020 Xunise earned their second Ignatz for their contribution to Be Gay, Do Comics published by IDW. Xunise has collaborated with Vogue, The Washington Post, The Nib, and Believer Magazine. They are also a contributor to the book How We Fight Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance along with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tarana Burk, and Harry Belafonte. Bianca became the first nationally syndicated non-binary cartoonist when they joined the comic strip Six Chix in 2020 as their first black creator.

Punk Rock Karaoke is out now!

This interview features songs highlighted in Punk Rock Karaoke. Tracks included:

Lake Shore Drive - The Cell Phones

Waiting Room - Fugazi

I am A Poseur - X-Ray Spex

Photo Credit: Bianca Xunise