High Tension's Karina Utomo Explains Her Unwavering Love Affair With Punk Rock

Following the first in our series of Converse mini-documentaries, which focused on lauded music photographer Kane Hibberd, The Music is proud to present another intimate experience with a remarkable figure of the Aussie industry, in this case Karina Utomo of High Tension.

In the video, Utomo explains her long-time, deep affinity for punk-rock, citing the scene's accessibility and sense of community as two of its most alluring factors, despite its rough-hewn appearance from outside its circles.

"My first experience of being exposed to punk music made me feel like I could do it as well," she says. "Punk has a real sense of primitive nature where it was about the sound and having a voice over composition and ability to play really well.

"It pushed me to a new level of experiencing what music could be; what I love about it is it pushes the audience and it requires of their participation as the band's itself, and to me that's the ultimate form of expression that I identified with."

As anyone who's spent two seconds around musicians will know, the professional touring life is undoubtedly a rewarding one, but it comes with its fair share of difficulties and low points, moments when everything seems like it's all too much and driving 1000 kilometres between cities is unreasonable and dreary and maybe you could just move back home and drive an Uber like your cousin Kevin because he seems to be doing well with it and your aunt won't shut up about his success… but, ultimately, Utomo says, those who want to pursue music with real heart and passion accept — or have to learn to accept — that the bad is an inevitable sidekick to the good.

"I think what makes it worth it is the fact that you've got an incredible opportunity, and you have this platform — you know, the band is a vessel, and people are listening to what you've got to share, and participating, and it's about honouring that opportunity," Utomo says in the documentary. "So the preparation and the hard work and the time and bleeding to make it happen and continue is just a consequence and part of it, I guess; it's essential, and that's why we do it."

Regardless of whatever obstacles or challenges may arise for Utomo and her bandmates, she's adamant that she's found her calling, and will be hopefully sharing her voice with appreciative audiences for a long time to come.

"It might be a human desire to constantly have that hunger to want to connect through something," she says of keeping the flame alive. 

"I've always had this desire to play music, to perform, and I just can't imagine stopping," she continues. "I have a voice and I want to use it."