Julian Pratt: Finding Radical Love Amidst Loss
Julian Pratt, the frontman for the abrasive, genre-defying punk-rap outfit Show Me the Body, has a surprisingly gentle request: he wants to show you the pigeons. The 32-year-old vocalist and banjoist is walking through Astoria Park in Queens, New York, with his two-year-old daughter, Surey. It is a chilly May day, and the city’s iconic birds are scarce, but Pratt—who possesses a deep, intuitive connection to the local pigeon community—has come prepared with a bag of feed. As the birds descend, Surey giggles, mimicking the chaotic energy of a mosh pit. It is a scene of domestic tranquility that feels worlds away from the aggressive, politically charged music that defined the band’s 2022 release, Trouble the Water.
A New Chapter of Radical Love
Pratt admits that his life has undergone a profound transformation. Once known primarily as an angry voice shouting against authority, he is now balancing his artistic output with the responsibilities of fatherhood. “A lot’s changed, dude,” Pratt says, settling into a local coffee shop. “I used to be able to get by on just touring. Now everything is serious. The future is real.”
The shift is evident in the band’s upcoming fourth full-length album, Alone Together, set for release on July 10. Produced by Kenneth Blume and Klas Åhlund, the record features a tighter, more focused sound while maintaining the band’s signature intensity. The album’s title and themes are deeply personal, born from a period of significant loss and reflection. Pratt speaks candidly about the death of friends and mentors, including the recent passing of Noble Spell, a key figure in the band’s creative circle, whose voice is featured on the new record.
“Life is just loss happening over and over again, and your friends just get smaller,” Pratt reflects. “But having my first child, realizing that this is not only my child but the whole crew’s child—this is the gang baby—and the amount of love that everybody feels for her, has changed my life.”
The Philosophy of Corpus
Despite the personal evolution, Pratt remains committed to the radical politics he has championed since his youth. He continues to operate Corpus, the youth-oriented organization he co-founded as a teenager, which provides studio space and self-defense training to local youth. For Pratt, this is not just an extracurricular activity; it is a form of “radical love” that compels him to fight against the systems he views as oppressive, including capitalism and imperialism.
“I think that through the mistakes of my life, through leading with fear and hate, I have realized that love is the only thing to make sure there is an abundance of,” he explains. “Make sure that there’s a lot of love between you and your friends and your family, and those you call family, and you’ll lead a good life.”
As he looks toward the future, Pratt acknowledges the tension between his radical ideals and the realities of modern life. He still works a day job, he still grapples with the loss of those close to him, and he still feels the weight of the world. Yet, he finds solace in the community he has built. “I think he would be hyped because Corpus started as just some lost kids hanging out, going to shows, and writing graffiti,” he says of his 16-year-old self. “Now it’s a small network of real friends that’s like a real family. And that’s what I’m most proud of in my entire life.”
