By Thomas Vanderpol |

1.22.2026


Photo: Oyèmi Hessou

Nothing Works is a headbanger’s hardcore band from Berlin, Germany. Consisting entirely of FLINTA* (female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender) members, the band has been busy since its 2022 formation. 

Backed by My People Records/Booking, a DIY BIPOC/FLINTA*-focused agency known for its work with Tomar Control, Fuse, Derrumbando Defensas, and Dying For It, the band recently partnered with Refuse Records and Emancypunx, the band released their debut EP, Bold Talk for a Burner Account, last summer, but have been gearing up for the vinyl release with both labels.

I spoke with vocalist Lilian, who gave us the scoop on the band.

As a booker in the Berlin scene, you must have some pretty awesome bands come through. Who have you played with so far, and what do you have coming up? 

We’ve played with bands we admire, such as Curb, Punitive Damage, Yeahrs, Shoreline, Girls Go Ska, GO!, Dry Socket, and Tomar Control, to name some. Last summer, we joined Tomar Control on tour, playing 12 concerts across 5 European countries–3 of them for the first time.

Coming up, we’ve confirmed a couple of festivals, two tours, and a few weekend shows so far. In March/April, we’ll be playing in the UK with Without Love and Shooting Daggers, bands that are very dear to our hearts, as well as the lovely folks in Cold Shower. In April, we will also play in Poland for the first time at the Noc Walpurgii Festival. In June, we open for Scowl, Touché Amoré, End It, Hollow Suns, and Ursula at the great Berlin Breakout Festival, packed with amazing bands. June/July, we plan to tour Germany with our friends in Pacifist from India. Another killer band. 

We’ll round out our touring year in October by reaching Belgium and Scandinavia for the first time. We’ll play Dunderfest in Linköping, packed with the crème de la crème of the Swedish melodic and post-hardcore, emo, hardcore, and punk rock scenes, and Random Fest in Ieper—a city that is super important to some of us—as it’s home to one of the best vegan hardcore punk festivals out there.

Our year is looking pretty packed so far.

Bold Talk for a Burner Account by Nothing Works

What is the band’s message, and what’s the vibe been like at your shows?

Bold Talk for a Burner Account features four songs that give a clear sense of what we’re about and draw straight from lived experience: racism in punk spaces, fatphobic trolling, gender erasure, and the burnout of carrying other people’s weight in DIY scenes. It’s personal and political, calling out exclusion while reclaiming space.

We want to make people move, dance, and stage-dive while also raising awareness about political struggles and everyday resistance.

Irene (guitar): So far, concerts have brought an amazing energy, and it’s always very exciting to see FLINTAs at the front anywhere we play. In some cities, people were singing along, even though they’d never heard us before, which blew my mind!


Photo: Oyèmi Hessou

Nothing Works draws on a range of sounds and scenes. What are your biggest influences, and how do your members’ past and current projects inform what you’re doing as a band now?

Musically, we’re influenced by Drug Church (hence the name), Gouge Away, Jawbreaker, Scowl, Bikini Kill, a pinch of Angel Du$t, GEL, The Distillers, and At the Drive-In, to name a few.

Politically, intersectional and trans-inclusive feminism is super important to us, as well as anti-racism and anti-imperialist values. You will find our members playing or formerly playing in bands like Splitmilk, Curb, Swiss Pleasure, Jetlag, Bull Nakano, xConvictusx, Suave, Como Todo Mundo, and Eu Matei Pedro. 

Where can people pick up Bold Talk for a Burner Account around the world?

Cassettes are available via My People Records (MPR 007) but are sold only on tour by the band. The vinyl is available via Refuse Records (RR 220) and Emancypunx Records (EXR 041), in Black (out of 200), Red (out of 100), and Test Press (sold-out/out of 15). The digital is up on our Bandcamp. 

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Nothing Works on social media: Instagram

Tagged: nothing works

About the Author

Thomas Vanderpol

Thomas Vanderpol is a dad, HR professional, ethical vegan, straight edge since forever and sometimes a writer of music and words. Originally from Redding, California, he currently resides in Portland, Oregon. He is passionate about Youth Crew, straight edge, skatepunk, and making hardcore diverse and inclusive.