‘Music for Mutual Aid: Wildfire Relief in LA’ – BREAKFAST ALL DAY RECORDS INTERVIEW

Music thrives on community, and it is often in times of crisis that this becomes clearest. At Tempo, we feel it’s important to acknowledge the physical and emotional devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires this month. Breakfast All Day Records is a teen-run record label, based in Greater Washington, US.  I was lucky enough to speak with co-founder Sofia Guyer about their fundraiser CD, ‘Music for Mutual Aid: Wildfire Relief in LA’, as well as her experience at BADR as a young person in the indie music scene.

The idea for Breakfast All Day Records began the summer before Sophomore year. Co-founded by Sofia, alongside her close friend Tonito – who balance roles like marketing, finances, event planning, and artist outreach with the regular teenage responsibilities of school and extracurriculars. Similar to our Tempo ethos, Sofia shared, “Our initial goal for the label was to help foster community around the youth music scene in our area.” She also shared an idolisation of physical media, how “it can capture a moment in time”, particularly inspired by the old DC punk scene, with records that “illustrate just how vibrant and politically active that movement was”. Interest in how music offers an insight into the past, of political activism and social struggles seems to have inspired the label’s desire to continue the role of music within these scenes. BADR’s short history is largely composed of raising both funds and awareness for important causes, like $1.3k for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Their 2025 CD release marks the beginning of a longer-term project for the label, ‘Music for Mutual Aid’.

One thing I was keen to discuss was how important music is to fostering community, for example the shared interest sparked initial friendship between BADR’s founders. What drew me to write a piece on this project was how it radiated the touching connections music creates. Using the arts to look out for one another isn’t just bound to old punk records; inter-community bonds are still very much alive. Speaking on the fundraiser, Sofia shared how important it felt to continue to honour the music industry’s drive for change and empathy, considering America’s current political climate:

As our country is burning there are still people pointing fingers and trying to find anything other than themselves to blame. In times like this, I think it’s important to lean on others and do our part in helping those affected.”

Many communities within the arts feel driven to aid LA, Marc Jacobs’ Heavn recently collaborating with figureheads like Sofia Coppola, Sandy Liang, and Anna Sui for their fundraising efforts. As put by Guyer, Los Angeles is “one of the hearts of the American music industry”, as well as a home to the friends and family of many. It’s clear that friendship and community are what entwine to form these efforts, with ‘Music for Mutual Aid: Wildfire Relief in LA’ BADR partnered with another group, Teenage Riot. Sofia shared how inspiring and impressive the passion and dedication of the live aid organisation was, leading to a release show for the CD. The co-founder detailed how the efforts of various members of her local music scene add up to put on the show, something that “speaks to how this release truly comes from [their] community” and would not be possible without it.

Something especially evident within Breakfast All Day Records is the desire to honour these individuals. A highpoint of our conversation regarded a show done last summer, in her backyard. Highlighting two great musicians and friends, Holly Kane and Kalman Levitin, made the DIY show into one of Sofia’s favourites of the year. “No matter how big or official a show is… the energy and joy that comes from live music is truly unlike anything else.” Gratitude and unadulterated admiration filtered through all Guyer’s accounts – from the legal help of her and Tonito’s parents allowing the under 18s to begin their venture, to a conversation with PJ, her old boss. Owner of DC record store, Art Sound Language, was one of the first she confided with about her big idea. “He really believed in me, and I’ve always thought that it can only take one person believing in you to change everything. Every single event and every person who has believed in us has made the time, effort, and obstacles worth it a million times over.” In particular, Sofia recounted “a surreal moment”, when Joint Custody, the record store she’d been visiting since 11, bought and sold BADR’s first release. “Shoutout Ambrose!”

“He really believed in me, and I’ve always thought that it can only take one person believing in you to change everything. Every single event and every person who has believed in us has made the time, effort, and obstacles worth it a million times over.”

To conclude our discussion, I asked Sofia if there were any artists from her small community she thinks we should champion here at Tempo. Speaking of her musical connections and a great emblem for young people in music, James Norcross’ debut EP ‘Advanced Placement’ released late 2024. The lead single was born as a final project for high school AP Literature and every track is devoted to a book. She also noted Caroline Carter and their EP ‘I Did What I Promised’ as remarkable, both artists having “the biggest hearts [and] incredible music”. 

Looking to the future, Breakfast All Day Record hopes to “continue putting a spotlight on artists [they] believe in and do as much good in the world as [they] can, in terms of raising awareness and money.” During a time of near-bleak political and environmental uncertainty, let BADR be exemplar. Continue to surround yourself with music and its communities, and take inspiration to use your passions to support others. All proceeds from ‘Music for Mutual Aid: Wildfire Relief in LA’ go toward relief, and link to digital and physical preorders can be found below. Both BADR and Tempo are incredibly grateful for any financial aid or empathy you can offer to those communities outside your own during these times.

PREORDER ‘MUSIC FOR MUTUAL AID: WILDFIRE RELIEF IN LA’ ON: BANDCAMP

FOLLOW BREAKFAST ALL DAY RECORDS ON: BANDCAMP // INSTAGRAM // SPOTIFY