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10-23 Lacey Leaves Flyleaf
08-02 New Flyleaf Song
11-22 Flyleaf announce new EP
03-16 Flyleaf US Tour Dates
11-09 Flyleaf Album Stream
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Alt Rock, Nu-Metal |
Heavy music and pained lyrics go together like cake and ice cream, and Belton, Texas quintet, Flyleaf, aren't about to break with tradition.
But while many loud rockers reopen old wounds by singing about their broken homes and broken hearts, Flyleaf confront past traumas to
heal old scars and prove in the process that hope shines brighter than despair.
"I used to be in a really negative band, and that seemed to almost fuel my emptiness because that's what the songs were about," says
charismatic singer Lacey Mosley. "That's why I think what we're doing is important because there needs to be ...read more
Heavy music and pained lyrics go together like cake and ice cream, and Belton, Texas quintet, Flyleaf, aren't about to break with tradition.
But while many loud rockers reopen old wounds by singing about their broken homes and broken hearts, Flyleaf confront past traumas to
heal old scars and prove in the process that hope shines brighter than despair.
"I used to be in a really negative band, and that seemed to almost fuel my emptiness because that's what the songs were about," says
charismatic singer Lacey Mosley. "That's why I think what we're doing is important because there needs to be something heavy out there
that has a positive message so people see that it's possible to get through the worst situations..
Flyleaf's self-titled debut album echoes with songs about abuse, neglect, addiction, and dysfunction, and messages about overcoming
adversity. And the band's wide array of brooding beats, atmospheric textures and lunging riffs compliment Mosley's emotionally revealing
lyrics, which range from breathy and beautiful to scathing and aggressive.
"I'm So Sick," starts with a moody bass line throbbing over a haunting ethereal vocal before guitars crash in like a rock through a plate.
glass window. The track see-saws between rage and reflection, guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartmann providing textural
flourishes and atmospheric touches that bridge the emotional shifts. "Cassie" layers stop-start guitars atop an urgent backbeat and builds
to an exultant chorus. "All Around You" augments a wall of power chords with evocative jazzy licks and "Fully Alive" is a cinematic number
with angry muted riffs that segue into another glorious refrain.
Flyleaf's infectiously heavy positivism is all the more surprising considering Mosley's struggles while growing up. "My mom was a young
single mother of six," she explains. "We didn't have money and things were hard for all of us. We moved whenever we couldn't make ends
meet in one place, and that happened pretty often so there was a lot of struggling, suffering, and character building."
"It's easy to get depressed when you're dealing with that kind of stress," she continues, "especially when it looks like things will never get
better. There was nothing constant in my life, and nothing to believe in. I got into some really bad stuff that I thought would make me feel
more loved, or maybe just numb, but it cost me everything that was important to me, and literally almost took my life."
When you take a dive, sometimes you have to hit the bottom before you can swim your way back to the top. For Mosley, writing songs about
survival helped her reach the surface and breathe again. "I had to lose everything to look up and see that there is a truly constant hope of a
happy ending and that's what we make music for," she says. "If my music helps one person, than it's worth having been through what I've
experienced."
Five years ago, Mosley started playing music with drummer James Culpepper. The two joined up with Bhattacharya and Hartmann, who were
in a local band that had just split up. "Our first practice together was awesome," Mosley says. "Sameer and Jared are really experimental
with melodies and pedals, and we all had different influences that were all blending together with the same passionate and hopeful heart, and
that brought out this beautiful feeling. It was magical." Bassist Pat Seals joined in 2002. "The doors were open and I just happened to walk
through at the right time," Seals says.
Flyleaf played anywhere they could slowly but consistently increased their fan base with local bands and national acts like Riddlin Kids,
Bowling For Soup, Fishbone, and Evanescence. Eventually they landed a show at Austin's legendary annual music convention South by
Southwest in 2003. Although their set started at the un-rock -n' roll time of 5 p.m., they rocked the house, which lead to a showcase for
various labels. After many meetings and much deliberation, Flyleaf signed with Octone.
In early 2005 the band's self-titled debut EP-- produced by Rick Parasher (Pearl Jam, Blind Melon) and Brad Cook (Foo Fighters, Queens
Of The Stone Age)--was released and listeners got a taste of the band's poignant song craft through tracks like "Breathe Today," "Cassie,"
and "I'm Sorry" (which also appear on Flyleaf's full-length). To support the EP, Flyleaf toured with Saliva, Breaking Benjamin, 3 Doors Down,
Staind. and Trust Company. Though many of the audiences had no idea who Flyleaf were when they started playing, every night their spirited
performances earned them new fans.
"We think about where we started and where we are and realize, 'Wow, we are playing in front of 1000 people tonight.' And then we just can't
be thankful enough to those bands who gave us a chance to play with them, even though we are sort of nobodies."
In spring 2005, Flyleaf recorded their full-length debut with acclaimed producer Howard Benson, who has previously worked with Papa
Roach, My Chemical Romance, P.O.D., and All American Rejects. Flyleaf stayed in Los Angeles for two months and worked on more than 20
songs with Benson at Bay 7 Studios. Together they decided on 12 of them to arrange, fine tune, and shape so they best reflected the group's
powerful messages and experiences.
"He really took an interest in what we had to say and helped put all the parts in the right places," Mosley says. "We were so used to
recording with our friends and finishing whole EPs in a few hours. So it was great to spend two months with Howard having this surreal
professional experience in every part of the process."
"A flyleaf is the blank page at the front of a book," explains Mosley. "It's the dedication page, the place you write a message to someone
you're giving a book to. And, that's kind of what our songs are: personal messages that provide a few moments of clarity before the story
begins."
With their tight-knit chemistry, compassionate approach ,and songs that haunt the mind hours after they've stopped playing, Flyleaf are
turning heads and leaving crowds wanting more. Indeed, their story has just begun.
Written by Record Labe.
From: http://music.yahoo.com.
I would just like to add that most people tend to be unforgivably ignorant towards Flyleaf's impressive musical ability, highly emotive lyrics
and passionate rythems. I agree that Lacey's unique and truly beautiful vocals are the main pull factor of the group, but this band has
something very special that many others do not have: Passion and heartfelt emotion. Rather than trying to rake in cash by putting on a
glitzy front, Flyeaf prefer to impress truthfully using their talent rather then their looks or pathetic lyrics which most bands resort to.
Mosely's heart clinching lyrics which express her experiences and the sad truths which she has learned from them grasp the listenrs
immediate attention, and evoke a surge of emotions which form a spectacular mosaic.
Lacey is a beautiful young girl, who is often ignored and overshadowed by "prettier", chirpier girls and mistaken as the ordinary. She is far
from this. Better than this.
Low ratings are not what they deserve.
I support you Lacey. You are beautiful and true to yourself and your music. Never forget those who love you. « hide |
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