Last fall, Baltimore metallic hardcore band Sharptooth released the Imperfect Animal EP with new vocalist Marissa Ward (of Backswing) after longtime vocalist Lauren Kashan left the band, saying that Sharptooth “became an environment that was damaging, and violated my values and the very ethos of what I believed Sharptooth to stand for in the first place.”
After that, the band went quiet, and then announced a breakup without comment two weeks ago, and removed Imperfect Animal from streaming platforms. As Lambgoat points out, Marissa Ward issued her own statement on the breakup, saying that she “experienced very similar circumstances” to Lauren. “Behind the scenes I was belittled mocked, disrespected, and tokenized as a means to further someone else’s name.” It reads in full:
I wasn’t going to say anything, since I didn’t have anything nice to say in the first place. Sharptooth broke up months ago very quietly, and I have done my best to distance myself from it since. Not being “my” band, I didn’t feel it was proper to speak out on its ending, but realize now that some things must be communicated. First off, Lauren and I are friends. There is no bad blood between us. Secondly, she was absolutely on point in her initial statement when she left Sharptooth, I experienced very similar circumstances. Behind the scenes I was belittled mocked, disrespected, and tokenized as a means to further someone else’s name. My likeness and “image” were used to define something I had no control over or say in. Even the breakup announcement went without any previous member knowing or having any say. it was an absolute pleasure to have connected with fans of Sharptooth and to have been accepted as a part of its legacy. It’s always an honor to create, even if it’s with less than savory circumstances. I truly hope moving forward to distance mysefl further and further as myself and others heal from what can only be described as silly bullshit. Love y’all.
As far as we can tell, the other band members have not publicly responded.
