The HIRS Collective, formerly known as simply +HIRS+ (pronounced "heers"), is an American queer punk musical collective based in Philadelphia. Founded in 2011 by vocalist Jenna Pup and guitarist Esem, they have amassed over 50 releases, including two studio albums for Get Better Records, Friends. Lovers. Favorites. (2018) and We're Still Here (2023). Both albums drew media attention for their extensive high-profile featured artists, including Garbage's Shirley Manson, Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster, and My Chemical Romance's Frank Iero. The group has also been noted for their fluid lineup, short, abrasive songs, and radical queer/trans-minded politics. They have been branded "Queercore's resident supergroup" by Alternative Press.
History
2011–2018: Origins and early releases
The HIRS Collective, originally known as +HIRS+, was formed in 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by vocalist Jenna "JP" Pup and guitarist Scott "Esem". (The group's members are semi-anonymous and do not use last names.) Their name is derived from the eponymous third-person neopronoun, commonly used by non-binary people.
During the group's first few years, they issued a string of limited-release splits, 7" singles, EPs, cassette tapes, lathes, and a MiniDisc, as well as the 2012 compilation album The First 100 Songs. Earlier that year, HIRS appeared at Two Piece Fest with Trophy Wife and were a headlining act at Riot Fest, alongside Refused, The Promise Ring, August Burns Red, Off!, and BoySetsFire. They also joined the 2013 Philadelphia Ladyfest with acts including Screaming Females, U.S. Girls, Aye Nako, Priests, and Black Wine, and performed at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia in April 2014 with Perfect Pussy and Yamantaka // Sonic Titan. During the month of October, the group released a series of daily covers of acts including System of a Down and God Is My Co-Pilot. These were subsequently included on a split cassette with the band Slothspring, which Impose Magazine named one of the "Best Splits, Compilations & Collaborations of 2014".
The band came to the attention of SRA Records, which had also issued releases by Flag of Democracy and Trophy Wife and whose owner, BJ Howze, knew the members of HIRS from a previous band. SRA re-released The First 100 Songs in 2014, and released the group's follow-up compilation, The Second 100 Songs, on May 12, 2015. During this time, the group toured in Philadelphia, Australia, and the West Coast, developing a following in both extreme music circles and in the queer punk scene.
While recording a 2015 split with the group Peeple Watchin', the band brought in additional musicians due to Pup recovering from surgery, which led to the group taking a more collaborative approach going forward. Pup and Esem began characterizing HIRS as a collective rather than a traditional band, and by their 2017 EP How to Stop Street Harassment, the lineup had expanded beyond the original duo and they had renamed themselves The HIRS Collective.
In April 2017, the HIRS Collective performed at Get Better Records's 4th annual Get Better Fest alongside Soul Glo, Amanda X, Thin Lips, Pinkwash, and Radiator Hospital, which benefitted the Trans Assistance Project, Youth Emergency Services, and Women Against Abuse. They also appeared on the label's compilation album A Benefit Comp To Help Pay Medical Bills For Those Activists Fighting Against Fascism & Racism alongside Cayetana, Potty Mouth, Screaming Females, Sadie Dupuis, Worriers, Palehound, Mannequin Pussy, and Joe Jack Talcum. Produced in the wake of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the album's proceeds benefitted two "Defend C-Ville" fundraising efforts as well as relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey in Houston.
2018–2020: Friends. Lovers. Favorites. In February 2018, the HIRS Collective announced the release of their first full-length album, entitled Friends. Lovers. Favorites.. Released April 20 via SRA and Get Better, the album was noted for its long list of high profile guest artists, which included Garbage's Shirley Manson, Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace, Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster, Soul Glo's Pierce Jordan, RVIVR's Erica Freas, G.L.O.S.S.'s Sadie Switchblade, Limp Wrist's Martin Sorrondeguy, and The Bags' Alice Bag, a lineup that NPR wrote "truly ties together a long history of queer punk". Pup noted that, in contrast to prior releases that were written and recorded quickly, Friends. Lovers. Favorites. took around four years to assemble. The album was released with the group's out-of-print 2016 EP You Can't Kill Us, as well as a remix project titled You Can't Remix Us featuring mixes by Moor Mother, Kilbourne, and Lilium Kobayashi