Interview: Worry Bead Records on 'True Names' and Showing Up for Trans Youth
We spoke with Matt O’Connor of Worry Bead Records about 'True Names', a powerful musical project that supports trans youth.
Artwork by Sami Martasian
Worry Bead Records brings together a community of artists to raise funds, awareness, and hope for trans youth through the compilation True Names. Every dollar raised supports the Trans Youth Emergency Project, an organization providing urgent, direct assistance to trans youth and their families.
We spoke with Matt O'Connor, the person behind Worry Bead Records, about the power of names, the spirit of collaboration, and how music can be a form of care and resistance.
Chris Roditis, Musicngear: The idea of ‘True Names’, drawn from Ursula K. Le Guin's work, feels so deeply personal and powerful. How did you come to choose this as the title for the compilation, and what does it mean to you personally in the context of supporting trans youth?
True Names in Le Guin's Earthsea series are the most secret, sacred part of your identity. And to share your True Name is an act of radical vulnerability and courage. It felt like the perfect title for this comp.
Musicngear: From what we’ve read, True Names brought together a wide community of artists from Boston, New York, Philly, and beyond. Could you share what the process of organizing and curating the compilation was like behind the scenes?
Lots of texts, emails, and Instagram DM's. But it didn't take long to get a tracklist together. I'm lucky to have made many talented friends over the years.
Musicngear: The compilation features unreleased B-sides, demos, and live cuts; songs that often hold a lot of personal weight. How did artists respond when you reached out to them about contributing to this project?
Everyone was very enthusiastic to take part in the comp. It was exciting to hear unreleased work from artists I love, and I'm grateful they all agreed to do it.
Musicngear: You’ve emphasized that True Names was a true team effort. Can you talk a bit about the spirit of collaboration you felt from the artists and how that sense of community shaped the final album?
The contributing artists obviously played a huge part. But there were also a few important players behind the scenes. Sami Martasian (from Puppy Problems) did the artwork, Matt Brady (from Hole in the Wall Mastering) mastered it, and Jamie Halliday (from Audio Antihero) did PR.
Couldn't have done it without them.
In times like these, it's on us to lift each other up
Musicngear: Worry Bead Records describes itself as family-run and community-oriented, values that feel very present in this project. How do those core principles guide the work you do, both day-to-day and when taking on a project like this?
I come from the DIY music world, where everything is about community. You play house venues, tour on your own dime, and self-release everything. Without a robust and supportive community, none of that would be possible.
Musicngear: The Trans Youth Emergency Project provides critical support for families facing tremendous barriers. How did you first connect with TYEP, and what made you choose them as the organization to benefit from this compilation?
We wanted to support an organization providing immediate, vital support to trans youth. We chose TYEP for their targeted, specific methods of support: providing guidance for families navigating the healthcare system, and giving $500 grants to pay for medication, travel expenses, etc.
Musicngear: It’s impossible to ignore the urgency of the current moment, with so many harmful laws being passed across the US. What role do you think music and independent labels like Worry Bead Records can play in supporting vulnerable communities during times like these?
Like I said, community is everything. Our little label's benefit comp won't undo the harm our country is doing domestically and globally. But it does serve as a reminder: in times like these, it's on us to lift each other up.
Musicngear: For listeners who will be discovering True Names for the first time, what do you hope they take away from the experience, both musically and emotionally?
Buy the record knowing your money is directly supporting trans youth. And who knows, maybe you'll discover your new favorite band while you're at it.
Musicngear: Looking ahead, are there any hopes or dreams you have for Worry Bead Records or the communities you’re part of, especially when it comes to creating more spaces of care and connection through music?
Worry Bead Records is a new project, but we're excited to see where it goes. Our next release is the upcoming Tuxis Giant album, out 8/15. And we've got a few other ideas for releases down the line.
Whatever we do, we'll always hold to our community-first mission. Stay tuned.
Connect with Worry Bead Records
Bandcamp / Instagram / X
About Chris Roditis
Chris Roditis has been an active musician since 1995 in various bands and projects across a variety of genres ranging from acoustic, electronic to nu metal, british rock and trip hop. He has extensive experience as a mixing engineer and producer and has built recording studios for most of the projects he has been involved with. His passion for music steered his entrepreneurial skills into founding MusicNGear in 2012.
Contact Chris Roditis at chrisroditis@musicngear.com
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