Backstory:
Critical Credit is an energetic trio hailing from the heart of New York City. The band members, Jake Marshall (vocals/guitar), Eddie Hopper (bass/backing vocals), and Harry Lee (drums), met in a cramped apartment studio while struggling to make ends meet in 2012. Sharing an intense passion for music, they decided to form Critical Credit. The name was inspired by their financial struggles, as they were all constantly dodging creditors due to hefty student loans. The band views their music as a form of rebellious outcry against the system which they believe is geared towards indebting the average individual.

The band has been a local sensation ever since their first gig in 2014 at the legendary ‘CBGB’. Their raw energy, coupled with the honesty of their lyrics, quickly drew in a dedicated fanbase. Despite their growing popularity, Critical Credit remains true to their original cause: creating music that resonates with the struggles of everyday life.

Genre:
Punk Rock

Title:
“Anthem of the Debtors”

Full song lyrics:

[Intro]
Em C
Bounced checks and bitter regrets,
G D
Promises that hold no value yet,
Em C
Countless struggles and mounting debts,
G D
This is our anthem, lest you forget.

[Verse 1]
Em C
Days are long, pay is short,
G D
Living on borrowed time and support,
Em C
Remember this when you’re in your loft,
G D
We’re down here, fighting off default.

[Chorus]
Em C
We’re the debtors, can’t you see,
G D
Chained by papers, longing to be free,
Em C
We won’t bow to your decree,
G D
With our music, we break free.

[Verse 2]
Em C
Student loans and credit cards,
G D
Society’s convicts behind financial bars,
Em C
Look at us now, under the stars,
G D
Playing our chords, showing our scars.

[Chorus]
Em C
We’re the debtors, loud and proud,
G D
Singing our truth to the indifferent crowd,
Em C
We won’t be broken, we won’t be cowed,
G D
In the silence, our music is loud.

[Outro]
Em C
Anthem of the debtors, hear our cry,
G D
This is our song, our battle cry,
Em C
We’ll keep singing till the day we die,
G D
For a world that’s fair, under the sky.

Favorite Fan:
The band’s favorite fan is named “Lizzy.” Lizzy, a college student herself, identifies with the band’s message. She says, “Critical Credit’s music feels like a punch to the gut in the best way possible. Their lyrics resonate with my reality. They voice the struggles of an average student like me, living in a system that’s more interested in our credit score than our dreams.” She found them playing in a dingy bar in Brooklyn and has been their number one fan ever since, attending every gig and promoting them on social media.