Pe Lu and Marco Serra discuss the political identity of emo

Musician Pe Lu, formerly of the band Restart, and event organizer Marco Serra discussed the political identity of the emo genre during a conversation on the program ‘O Povo Quer Saber’. Pe Lu argued that associating emo with right-wing politics is “contraintuitivo” (counterintuitive) due to the genre's genealogical roots in hardcore and punk.

Serra supported this view, suggesting the genre aligns with the left or center-left based on its cultural trajectory. The discussion also addressed the economic challenges facing the music scene, with Serra noting that culture is often among the first areas to face budget cuts during economic downturns, impacting venues and events.

Pe Lu further critiqued the broader rock genre, noting that it has often defaulted to conservative behaviors, including sexism and homophobia. He suggested that rock tends to be insular, which can hinder its ability to innovate and collaborate compared to other musical genres.