Originally forming in 1997 in Tyler, Texas, Eisley is made up of three sisters, a brother and a cousin. After initially beginning, they went on to build up a small fan base in their home town, playing local coffee shops and other small venues. This eventually led them to signing with Warner Bros. Records in 2003 and they ended up supporting Coldplay on their Rush of Blood to the Head tour. Since then they have parted ways with Warner Bros. in favour of an indie label. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist, Sherri just ahead of their autumn headlining tour to see how things are going at the moment.
Hello, Sherri. Thanks for chatting with LGO. How are things going in the world of Eisley at the moment?
We’re about to leave on our fall tour. It’s our first proper headlining tour in over two years so everyone is really anxious and excited. Plus, the new record will finally be coming out in late winter/ early spring so everyone’s morale is up pretty high!
We hear you decided this year that you were leaving Warner Bros. How was going back to being an indie band and do you think indie suits you better?
Without a doubt! The record industries has gone through so many changes the last few years; unless you’re a pop star or have that radio rock band sound, I think you’re better suited for an indie label. We’d rather be at a home where you can actually build relationships with the people you work with. I would tell any band, every band not to waste their time with a major label.
You’ve played with some great bands over the years, which tours stick out in your mind as the most fun?
I’m biased because we got to tour with my husband’s band Say Anything so, of course, for me it was them. But also, they were one of my favourite bands before we ever met and SO fun to see live; never a dull moment. Another favourite was the Mute Math tour. Again, it sounds biased because my sister, Stacy ended up marrying the drummer… but this was long before they even dated. Mute Math is one of the best live bands that exists right now!
Which places have you enjoyed playing that you may not have been able to go to if it weren’t for the band?
Everywhere! If it weren’t for the band and what our job requires of us (touring the country!), I would probably never have seen 90% of the world that I’ve been lucky enough to see. Hopefully in the future we’ll be able to visit the UK more than we have in the past. I think it’s such a cool place and so many of our favourite bands are from there.
Who are your musical influences and do you think that they are reflected in your music?
Music that has NEVER stopped inspiring me: The Beatles. I know that might sounds cliché but we all come to the point in our lives where we become somewhat burned out on so much of the music out there these days. Whenever I feel that way I can still always listen to The Beatles. Other huge musical/ vocal influences have been Radiohead, Bjork, Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate), Kashmir. A newer artist that I absolutely have been loving lately is Lissie; what a great singer/ songwriter.
How do you find touring, especially as you’re all family?
I find it bearable only because I have so much of my family there! It’s so helpful when you haven’t seen your husband for a month to have your brother and sisters there who are your best friends in the world right there with you.
Do you have any other family members (apart from Eisley members) who are into music?
All of them! Haha! My youngest sister Christie (age 20) is a self-taught singer/songwriter and my youngest brother, Collin (16) is a self-taught guitarist who plays in her band. They have toured with us in the past and are actually opening our headlining tour in the US this fall (Oct 9 – Nov. 27). It’s fun having a family all doing the same thing. Music pretty much defines our family.
How do you feel when you listen to your first album and compare it to how you sound now?
I still feel proud of it. Granted, it’s always hard to listen to your voice when you were 17 compared to when you’re an adult but everything on that record lyrically and musically is tied to such a special place in my memory that I could never dislike it. Those are some of the first songs, melodies and lyrics we ever wrote; they’re very whimsical and innocent and I love that about them. Still… I don’t typically put it on and listen to it.
How does the song writing process work for you?
It’s very odd for me personally because inspiration is such a fickle friend. I always write melody over music first with either a guitar or piano and let a snippet of lyrics inspire the rest of the song. The melody is the most important thing to me because even if you’re singing the most brilliant lyrics ever, who’d want to listen if it’s draped over an uninspired melody?
What are your favourite songs to play live and which do you think get the best crowd reaction?
My favourite to play live is Many Funerals because the rhythm is fun and it’s a very raw, emotional song. It also seems to get one of the best crowd reactions, probably due to the way the end of the song builds and stops abruptly. Invasion is also another crowd pleaser.
Do you think the internet is a good way to get your music heard or do you prefer the good old days of vinyl?
I was born in ’83 so by the time I was old enough to collect my own music, I was buying cassette tapes. I was never a big vinyl kid. I think it’s amazing and I definitely own a lot but I suppose I’m a product of the modern world. I think the internet is an amazing way to learn about new music and connect with people you never would have the chance to know otherwise.
What do you all do when you’re not touring and recording?
Well most all of us are married now except for our cousin Garron (I know, we’re so old, right? Hey, we’re in the South, everyone gets married before they’re 30! Ha ha) but we all live within the same twelve block radius so we still see each other almost every day to get coffee or lunch or grill hot dogs or hamburgers. It’s nice having family so close off tour too because when my husband or my sisters’ husbands are on tour (Stacy’s husband, as I mentioned, is in Mute Math), there are a lot of sleepovers; no one has to be alone in their empty houses. I’m also an illustrator/ artist and actually commission my work so that keeps me busy while we’re off of the road.
Do you have any plans for a new album/ EP any time soon?
Yes! We’re finally getting our deal release with Warner Bros and are signing with a cool indie so our third record will be out sometime in the late winter/ early spring. We’ve been playing/ touring some of the new songs live already.
Dear God, PLEASE. We would really love to. Major labels are supposed to build your band internationally. Sadly, WB didn’t even release Room Noises in the UK. Now that we’ll be on an indie, not sure. It just depends on being able to afford it somehow. So hopefully we can make it happen again soon!
Good luck with everything, and thanks for chatting with Lights Go Out.
You’re welcome. Thanks and good luck to you guys! Sherri.
Check out Eisley at www.eisley.com and www.myspace.com/eisley
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.Comments are closed.
© Lights Go Out – A punk fanzine from the UK. All rights reserved. RSS Feed | Best viewed in Mozilla Firefox
site by ledbyexample | admin