Born in the heart of New York City, Energy Whores are one of the most politically charged and artistically adventurous acts in modern electronic music. Starting out in the literal box of a Manhattan closet, it’s since flourished into a project that flows across genres and mediums, combining acute social commentary with cinematic soundscapes. Founded by singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and visual artist Carrie Schoenfeld, alongside guitarist Attilio Valenti, Energy Whores was conceived as both rebellion and reflection, a sonic and visual response to a world flickering between disarray and complacency.
Lifted from a 2019 song Carrie wrote about climate change, the name Energy Whores began as a furious critique of global apathy and that spirit of confrontation still burns through everything she creates. Where many artists avoid politics for fear of alienation, Carrie leans into it and her work shakes with friction while holding a mirror to power, propaganda and the emotional toll of modern life.
Carrie’s background makes her uniquely suited to this kind of multidisciplinary rebellion; as a filmmaker, screenwriter and fine artist, she’s built worlds that question reality from the dystopian satire of Asockalypse to internationally exhibited visual art that explores human absurdity and moral decay. Since the 2021 debut “No Angel,” Energy Whores has moved through the underground electronic scene with fearless experimentation, serving up a sound that’s equal parts electropunk, hyperpop and avant-electro, balancing melody with menace and rhythm with resistance. Following Attilio’s departure, Carrie has carried the endeavour on her own, steering it into new areas as a solo project.
That creative momentum takes shape in the new full-length album titled Arsenal of Democracy, a work that captures the tension of living through an age of permanent crisis. At once rhythm-driven and emotionally gripping, it’s an electro-art rock statement built on confrontation and understanding. Ultimately, the record’s mission is to examine how apathy, fear and manipulation shape the modern psyche and to do so without resorting to slogans, nostalgia or escapism.
Across fourteen tracks, Arsenal of Democracy traces the psychological and moral fallout of a world overwhelmed by information and disinformation. Thematically, it ranges from the personal to the systemic, folding grief, anger and exhaustion into a sound that’s as provocative as it is poignant.
Songs like the bright synth pop style opening track “Hey Hey Hate!” and the uptempo jam “Pretty Sparkly Things” tackle consumer culture and propaganda head-on, exposing how fear and vanity are weaponised into control. Title track “Arsenal of Democracy” rolls with bouncy percussive shuffles as stuttered instrumental elements buzz around Carrie’s expressive vocals to deliver the perfect showcase of her catchy sound instilled with profound concept.
“Mach9ne” and “Bunker Man” push further into satire, skewering techno-utopian fantasies and elite isolation with dark humour while “Two Minutes to Midnight” drops the irony altogether, confronting the spectre of nuclear escalation with stark emotional context. The rustle of pattering drums and pulse of grooving bass set up closing track “King Orange” as Carrie’s laid back vocal leads hover above the angular twang of synth lines and shimmering instrumental tones, shifting towards a gritty rock vibe to deliver a memorable finale to the record.
Arsenal of Democracy exists at the crossroads of art pop, electronic experimentation and punk attitude, delivering a musical experience that’s danceable, but never carefree, where rhythm becomes rebellion and motion becomes meaning. Moments of melodic openness contrast with stretches of dissonance and space, creating a listening experience that mirrors the tension of its subject matter, resulting in an LP that makes you listen not just with your ears, but with your conscience.
We caught up with Energy Whores to find out more about their musical journey so far, their new album Arsenal of Democracy and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Energy Whores below.
Hey Energy Whores, how’s things?
Pretty good, all things considered. Busy, a little chaotic, and honestly kind of overwhelmed by it all. New album out, people actually listening, and we are already deep into the next one. Besides that, no complaints because who is going to listen anyway?
What’s your earliest memory of making music?
Playing piano as a kid and realizing I could change the mood in a room just by hitting certain notes. I did not know what that meant yet, but I knew it was powerful. I would play for hours, even when I was as young as four years old. I think it probably drove my mom nuts though. Lol.
Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?
I am drawn to artists who mix melody with risk. People like Talking Heads and Brian Eno, and also PJ Harvey. I have not listened to her in a while, but she is one of those artists you carry with you whether she is on your playlist or not.
I am also really interested in the rare moments when modern protest music actually shows up and takes a risk, like YG’s FDT or Eminem’s anti Trump freestyle. Blunt, public, unapologetic. That kind of clarity is weirdly hard to find.
How else do you find inspiration for your music?
Paying attention. Watching social media, fake AI and all, reading, listening to the news longer than is probably healthy. Inspiration usually comes from the outrage I feel about certain events happening both in the US and anywhere else where there are dictators.
What was your highlight of 2025?
Finishing Arsenal of Democracy and then putting it out on January 9th, 2026. It was released exactly as intended, no smoothing the edges. Seeing critics and listeners actually get it was huge.
What do you love about the New York music scene?
New York does not let you fake it for long. You either have something to say or you do not. I appreciate that honesty. I have played music in listening bars in NYC and it is usually an art crowd from Brooklyn that shows up. Thank you.
What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?
Somewhere you can both think and move. Headphones at night, a long drive, or a dark room where the music is not competing with ten other things. It is not really background music and it wants a little attention.
How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?
I have learned restraint. Early on I wanted to say everything at once and just blurt it all out in anger and outrage. Now I trust melody and space to do more of the work. Saying less often hits harder. That said, it is hard to say less when there is so much happening that needs words.
Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?
People who come from different worlds and are not afraid of discomfort, someone like Eminem, YG, or Fever Ray. I appreciate collaborations that feel a little dangerous and intimidating.
How did you find making your new album ‘Arsenal of Democracy’?
Intense, but very focused. Once the tone was set, everything clicked into place. It felt less like making individual songs and more like building one long story about how insane things feel everywhere right now and tapping directly into your nervous system.
What message did you want to get across with this release?
Responsibility, but without preaching. It is more about observation than instruction. Looking at fear, propaganda, distraction, and admitting that we are not just spectators in all of this. I want people to wake up, smell the coffee, and with that caffeine take action.
What artist have you been listening to most recently?
I bounce around a lot, but I have been revisiting politically charged hip hop and electronic music. Songs that do not rush and do not soften the message.
What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?
A feeling they did not expect. Realizing we are all in this together. The emotions conveyed by some of the songs can be intense but clarifying. Hopefully people get pulled in and feel inspired. I am less interested in telling people what to think than in keeping them awake while they are listening.
What’s been your favourite live performance so far?
Any show where you can feel the room shift, when people stop chatting and actually listen. Those moments are subtle but unforgettable. I saw Radiohead at Radio City in NYC years ago and it was an amazing performance.
Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?
A lineup that should not work on paper but absolutely would in real life. Radiohead, PJ Harvey, and Eminem at an industrial warehouse in Brooklyn. Smaller and more intimate.
Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?
Do not rush to define yourself for other people. Figure out what you actually care about first. Also do not confuse attention with connection because they are very different things.
Finally, what do you have lined up next?
Another album is already coming together, hopefully in April. The title is not locked yet, but it might be called Army of the Insane. It is still Avant Electro, but more intimate and emotionally charged.
Listen to Arsenal of Democracy below
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