InEffectHardcore.com - Hate 5 Six (Parts 1 & 2)

Graphics by: Bas Spierings

To many, filming a band’s set may not seem to be anything more than just that, filming a band. However, to Sunny Singh, it’s the physical documentation of a very specific time and place. Over the past several years, Sunny has recorded over 2,000 sets of live hardcore music with an almost obsessive dedication; generating a video database of shows that remains unrivaled in any genre. Through his efforts he has brought the live show experience to so many worldwide who are unable to attend shows because of geographical location, physical limitations, or simply the inability to find a babysitter. His site, HATE5SIX.com has become a jumping off point for many to find new music, check in on a band, or relive a favorite show. Although a one man operation, there are many moving components to HATE5SIX which keep this BMX riding scientist constantly busy; as there are always more shows to document, audio to synch up, film to edit, and finalized videos to release.

We met with Sunny at his South Philadelphia apartment in late January, hoping to dig into the brain behind the lens and get to the core of this scene historian.

Interview by: Josh Derr, Filmed by: Rob Holtzinger, Edited by: Colin Feeney

Lurking out of frame/Camera flashes: Evan Vellela and Jake Gordon

http://hate5six.com

Anne Spina, West Chester, Pennsylvania

“I remember the first time I saw him filming a show. It was at A Time We'll Remember Fest in 2008. Here is this skinny kid filming everything going on. I had no idea then how much he would change hardcore. He is so dedicated to documenting the current scene and also tracking down old footage and making it available. He is a hardcore anthropologist. Who else would figure out algorithms and apply that to searching for bands that you might like based on videos you have watched. Sometimes I swear he has invented something that slows down time because I don't know how he fits everything he wants to do into 24 hour increments. And on top of everything else he is a super nice guy. He will take the time to talk to anyone about what he does, how he does it, how they are doing etc. Definition of "Good dude, backed hard".

Jai (Overthrown), Yishun City, Singapore

"Hate5Six has been giving kids here in the Asian region a virtual experience of what shows in the states are like. By watching the videos, all those movements from the stage to the moshpits that Sunny captured have been “copied” and brought over to shows here. At least the newer kids know what to expect or do at hardcore shows. I feel that what Sunny is doing is important to the hardcore scene because the documentations are definitely a form of learning points for the kids here. For me, watching the videos gives me the urge to fly over to experience the shows there in the states first hand."

Steven Cergizan, Highland, Indiana

"Sunny doesn't sleep. I think 10 of the maybe 15 times that I stayed with him while he was filming a fest I woke up from my 3 hours of sleep to find Sunny standing at his command station editing videos. He is committed to his craft to a borderline unhealthy degree. He is one of the most inspiring people that I know and wherever he goes I see people appreciating what he's doing and drawing their own inspiration from him".

Chris "X" Striegel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"What Sunny is doing with Hate5Six is actually preserving our legacy. Hardcore kids of the future will be able to look back and see how it was back in the day, the way our generation marks out over those old VHS tapes from the '80’s and '90’s. He's capturing it on every level, from the basement shows to the big fests, to that time he came into my room and woke me up dressed in a turban, dancing and singing in Indian. Important documentation"

Roger Blocken, Brussels, Belgium

“I do like the Hate5Six page a lot, the guy always gives us good quality videos of what a real hardcore show is and doesn't follow any trends. It is pure passion and I share his posts online like I share everything I like. If I can reach one person every 100 posts who will dig it for all the good reasons I'm happy and his videos do reach people”.

Marc Greene (Timebomb), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"For almost a decade now I've watched Sunny and Hate5Six grow into this monster of a documentarian. Not only in just the tri-state, but worldwide now. Sunny has always pushed me to front a band and now that I finally have, he's filmed us plenty of times. He has gotten us more exposure than any other media outlet and for that I am eternally grateful. Sunny doesn't have to do this, he's not getting paid, this is his art and passion and for this small moment in time we get to reap the spoils of it."

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH PART 1 OF OUR 2 PART INTERVIEW WITH SUNNY SINGH OF HATE5SIX

RUN TIME 16:19