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I am a French-Canadian living in Montreal, a welcoming and multicultural city in the province of Quebec, Canada.

I am the founder and director of Punk Empire, a DIY project created in 1994.

On our DIY Channel, we film and document different musical scenes such as: the punk and hardcore scene; indie-rock, roots-rock; jazz; soul; and just about any music done passionately. For us, music is universal. Creation is the only genre. Documentation is our contribution.

We've been archiving different types of artists our way for 15 years.

''Punk rock is not really a style of music, it was more like a state of mind.'' -Mike Watt

We document record collectors, record conventions, record stores, music history teachers, ...and the power that ignited passion in each and every one of them.

Our work is free for your viewing pleasure. Our activities are non-lucrative. We are proud to be an exemplary Do-It-Yourself (DIY)* organization.

''The art lover promotes culture as a universal value, because he can never own it'' -Jean Baudrillard

For those unfamiliar with DIY punk ethics, come have a look at an honnest, open minded, subworld not driven by financial gain but by sheer passion. We are sincere volunteers of our communities.

''You can play a shoestring if you're sincere.'' -John Coltrane

Like Folk music, our videos are made by the people and for the people. Like the Blues, they are raw and authentic. Like Jazz, they are improvised. Like Rhythm and Blues, we pour our hearts and souls into them. We do our best to capture the present moment on stage or on the street. Music is our biggest passion.

Our technique is easy and fair: A one-shot take, a tripod and an easy video edit. We wish to document authenticity this way. Less is more. Anyone can do this. We certainly are ! Freedom of expression. Do it yourself.

''I think the media is art''-Andy Warhol

We think a life worth living is a life worth documenting.

''If there's no audience, there just ain't no show.''-Chilliwack

And you and I are the audience. Artists go on tour and want to connect with us and we want to connect with them. We meet at a crossroad together.

Documenting is our way to give back and to participate creatively in the process. Everything we do is simple. We are here to support them and wish them the best because we think they sincerely deserve it. Not only do we support them but want to document how we support them. Just like a photo album.

It is often said that the vinyl LP was the last authentic feeling to get from Rock and Roll history. We hope our videos make people feel the same way someday. Every passing day turns our videos into music archives for tomorrow's new fan.

Videos are similar to the LP's; they become the living images of the past.

For the first time in history, it is possible for the music fan of today to communicate with the music fan of tomorrow. We hope kids in a hundred years get to watch our work and see what it was like to be kids like us. The phenomenon is already in motion. Kids worldwide, who weren't even born when we started this project and who are now between 10-16 years-old, are watching our videos right now, as you read this, and leaving us fantastic feedback.

PUNK EMPIRE members are more than music fans; they are missionaries. We hope our channel inspires you as much as these quotes inspire us.

''If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done'' -Ludwig Wittgenstein

Thank you for watching!

''I figured out that the interview and the media was a way of teaching. If you talk to people as if they were future buddhas that any bad karma coming out of it will be their problem rather than yours, so you can say anything you want, and you talk on about the highest level possible''-Allen Ginsberg
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*DIY:

Do it yourself, often referred to by the acronym DIY, is a term used by various communities that focus on people creating things for themselves without the aid of paid professionals.

DIY subculture encourages people to take technologies into their own hands to solve needs.

In recent years, the term DIY has taken on a broader meaning. Today, DIY is associated with the international alternative and punk scenes.

These subcultures strive to blur the lines between creator and consumer by constructing a social network that ties users and makers closer together.
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Authorizations received from the record labels, bands, concert promoters, who believe in our ideas. We thank you.
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WE'VE BEEN UNDERGROUND FOR 15 YEARS.

YOU HAVE TO SEARCH FOR US TO FIND US. THIS WAY, MONEY IS NOT INVOLVED ON OUR SIDE, ON YOUR SIDE OR ON THE ARTISTS SIDE.

WE ARE FREE.

WE ARE WORD OF MOUTH.