Preoccupations

Preoccupations are a Canadian post-punk band from Calgary, Alberta, active since 2012. The group begins under the name Viet Cong before adopting Preoccupations in 2016.

Line-up

The band includes Matt Flegel and Scott Munro. Flegel fronts the group on vocals and bass, and the original line-up also includes drummer Mike Wallace and guitarist Daniel Christiansen. Flegel and Wallace are former members of the rock band Women.

Style and work

The band’s music is described as post-punk with art punk, art rock, experimental rock and noise rock elements, and their sound is also characterised as labyrinthine post-punk.

Name controversy

The group faces criticism over the original name Viet Cong, with accusations of racism and cultural appropriation because of its association with the Vietnamese guerrilla organisation. A planned performance at Oberlin College in March 2015 is cancelled because of the name, and the band later says it wants to make music without causing pain or reminding people of past atrocities.