Beginner’s Guide to Global Punk: Start Here

Beginner’s Guide to Global Punk: Start Here

Introduction: Punk Is Way Bigger Than the U.S. and U.K.

If you’re new to global punk, welcome.
 This isn’t a gatekept club.
 It’s an open door with noise pouring out of it.

Punk exists everywhere:
 Peru, Japan, Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Nigeria… everywhere.

This guide is your starter pack — not exhaustive, but enough to light the fuse.

 

 

Step 1: Start with These Five Essential Global Punk Bands

1. Los Saicos (Peru)

Proto-punk chaos.
 Catchy.
 Wild.
 Historical.

2. Shonen Knife (Japan)

Joyful, cute, surreal punk-pop.
 The best entry point to Japanese punk.

3. Marjinal (Indonesia)

Street punk with political activism at its core.
 Real, raw, necessary.

4. Nova Twins (UK)

Afro-punk futurism meets heavy riffs.
 Modern, stylish, powerful.

5. Hog Hoggidy Hog (South Africa)

Ska punk with African flavor.
 Fun, emotional, alive.

 

 

Step 2: Choose Your Punk Vibe

Do you want:

Political Punk?

Try:

  • Marjinal

  • Bob Vylan

Cute/Surreal Punk?

Try:

  • Shonen Knife

  • Otoboke Beaver

Heavy/Hardcore Punk?

Try:

  • Ratos de Porão

  • The Stalin

Feminist Punk?

Try:

  • Nova Twins

  • Dream Nails

  • Bikini Kill

Joyful/Ska Punk?

Try:

  • Hog Hoggidy Hog

  • Operation Ivy (U.S.)

 

 

Step 3: Build Your First Global Punk Playlist

Start with:

  • Demolición (Los Saicos)

  • Riding on the Rocket (Shonen Knife)

  • Negri Ngeri (Marjinal)

  • Taxi (Nova Twins)

  • Sherry Anne (Hog Hoggidy Hog)

Then follow the recommendations on the sidebar of whatever platform you’re using.
 Algorithms are messy, but they’re good at finding cousins.

 

 

Step 4: Don’t Worry About “Knowing Enough”

Punk isn’t school.
 There is no test.
 You don’t need trivia knowledge to enjoy anything.

Punk is a feeling — the moment when the music lines up with your inner temperature.

If you feel something listening to global punk?
 You're already in.

 

 

Step 5: Explore Scenes by Country

Try diving into punk by region:

  • Indonesia (street punk)

  • Japan (noise, cute-core, hardcore)

  • South Africa (ska punk)

  • Brazil (hardcore/crossover)

  • Argentina (political punk)

  • Mexico (skate punk)

Each scene has its own accent.

 

 

Conclusion: Punk Is a Passport — Use It

Listening to global punk expands your world — literally.
 It’s one of the fastest ways to understand cultures, politics, humor, and youth movements across the globe.

You don’t need to understand every lyric.
 Just open your ears.
 And let the world in.