[Interview] FLYLEAF

Having recently replaced original vocalist, Lacey Sturm, out the front of FLYLEAF, KRISTEN MAY opens up to ASHLEE KELLEHEAR about being the new frontperson of an established band, and her hopes for their upcoming Ausutralian tour.

You’ve had some pretty big shoes to fill. So, was the challenge to that eagerly approached or did you have some insecurities coming in to Flyleaf?
You know, Flyleaf, the audition process and everything, the call even about me auditioning for this band, came as a surprise to me. I was in a previous band and we broke up and then I started to do some solo stuff. I started to write with other people and so I was then in a decent place to be asked to audition for this band. I wasn’t prepared for it by any means, I didn’t even know Lacey was going to be stepping down. And then I went and I hung out with the guys and I just thought you know, ‘what the heck, I’ll give it a try’ and it felt, like really natural. It felt really good for where I was at that point in my life and I got to learn a new band that I hadn’t spent much time listening to their songs so I really got to study them. Of course there’s big shoes to fill but I don’t really think of it that way. I think of it as an opportunity for this band to continue making music that they love and for me to continue making music, so it’s good.

That’s great. Well, my second question was going to be ‘how have you found settling in to them’ but you kind of just answered that for me as well. It seems like it’s going really positively for you guys. I’ve been watching all these live videos and you’ve kinda just taken to them so naturally and it’s amazing to see they’ve continued on. I honestly thought that was going to be it, that they were going to call it quits and you know, that was a bit worrying for a little bit there. It’s amazing to see they’re still going and that you’ve, you know, jumped in so easily and so naturally, so that’s great.
Oh, thank you.

You’re voice is so surprising. When the rumours were going around that you going to be taking the place of Lacey, your band before was Vedera, right?
Yeah, Vedera.

Yeah, I kind of had a listen to a few songs and your voice was really ear catching. The vocals before were really very different but you’ve really brought this new aesthetic to the band. So are you just continuing on with your style or are you making a conscious decision to sound a little different from the previous vocals?
I think it’s a good balance. For me even, just when doing this audition, they sent me four songs and I’d heard ‘All Around Me’ and’ I’m So Sick’, so I was familiar with those but I wasn’t familiar with any more of their catalogue so, I just went ahead and listened and meditated on what their story was and ‘cause once I got the gig after the audition, I thought this is more serious than just playing a couple of shows, I really have to understand where they’re coming from. So I spent a good amount of time kind of experiencing their story and then thinking in my life, how these lyrics relate to me and what I feel God has brought in me to share with this band and I just think the only way we can really evolve and write new music together is if I bring my own perspective to it. But I can’t help but be touched by what Lacey has done. I’ve listened to her vocal stylings on these demos for so long that I kinda have that in the back of my mind. So we’ll see what happens as we kind of progress forward.

Have you got a clear favourite to perform live yet or are you still figuring that out?
Gosh, I think of their new songs, ‘Cage On The Ground’ has been so fun to play, and ‘Great Love’. They’re kind of all on a higher register on the chorus’ that kinda let me belt a bit and do the kind of the pop thing that I like to also do as well as rock, so I think their songs and the lyrics really speak to me. I feel really connected to the lyrics. We also play ‘Broken Wings’, that song’s theme is so intimate, compared to the rest of the songs that I know of by Flyleaf. So, I would go down in to the crowd and just sing that song with the crowd and try and make it as intimate as possible. So, as far as a live songs goes, that, that was a really touching song because you can feel people connecting to it when you get in to the crowd.

It’s definitely one of my favourites as well. Now, I know you probably get this a lot but the screaming side of Flyleaf, is it something you think you want to get lessons for or explore? I know I’ve watched a couple of interviews and Sameer [Bhattacharya – guitar] was saying you’ve kind of just started to push them out and it’s sometimes a bit unexpected and the guys are taken a little aback because you’ve just managed to produce something so deep. So, is it something you want to try and get lessons on?
I haven’t decided yet because I don’t know how committed to the scream I am yet. I totally think it sounds rad on the recordings and stuff when I hear Lacey do it and at some shows. I definitely know what that feels like to feel that kind of intensity and the emotion and it can really be drawn out of you. I can’t decide yet what scream I want to do, how to make it sound good and also not kind of wreck my voice. I think that’s a big thing which is, of course lessons would help if I learnt how to do them well on tour. But yeah, I’m still kind of figuring that out.

Yeah, well you’ve got Pat [Seals – Bass] to also help out in that department so you’re not having to take it all on.
Yeah.

So, touring in the US, is a bit different to touring here. You guys just came off a pretty big string of shows and are now coming all this way and you’re playing just a handful of shows. Do you think these shows will be more intimate and perhaps a chance for the band and fans to get reacquainted and for you even, to be introduced?
Yeah, I think it’s a huge opportunity. I’ve never played Australia before so, that is in itself a positivity and an inspiration and an excitement that will stand on its own. So, that’s going to be awesome. And yeah, I think you know, it’s kind of a similar thing when we play regional shows and we only play like one or two shows, or three of four and this will be for a completely different country and a different culture and so, I think it will be really exciting and I think we will be really focused ‘cause we’ll have the three or four shows and we, hopefully we’ll spend time with fans and have a really great time.

That’s great, I’m really excited!
Awesome!

Yeah, super excited ‘cause I mean, I’ve loved the band probably since late 2005/early 2006, so it’s definitely one of those bands that really, really helped me get through, you know, high school and the baggage that comes along with that. So, I kinda have a really deep feeling for this band so yeah, I’m really excited.
That’s so cool.

So, you’re coming in August and I love August. We’ll just be coming into Spring and it will be really nice weather. Like, beachy weather. So, have you planned your agenda between shows? Perhaps go to the beach, or see certain sights or even just go to zoo’s and see our animals?
I mean, I love the beach and I’m from the middle of the country, so I only see it when I’m on tour and I’ve heard amazing things about Australian beaches! So, I mean, I would love to do that if we have any time. It’s going to be interesting with our schedule what we’ll be able to do but I mean, oh man, if we could go to the beach and yes, the zoo would be amazing too! I’ve heard some awesome things about that too. I just saw some pictures from Tegan and Sara going to Australia not too long ago…that would be cool. But also just going to the city and just being in a new city would be awesome, in a new country would be fantastic.

Definitely. I’m in Sydney right now and it’s a great place to visit. I’m from a few hours away and it’s already a really big difference, so I can only imagine it will be an even bigger difference from a whole country away.
Can’t wait!

So, new material? Have you guys started doodling anything down, you know, chucking out ideas or are you still just in that album cycle mode, just trying to tour New Horizons as extensively as you can?
We did one writing trip before the last tour with Drowning Pool and Stars In Stereo. We went to Texas, I’m from Kansa City so it’s just a little flight over to Texas and we wrote about four or five songs just kinda our first time writing together and so I think it was a little bit of a first meeting and a first take as far as song writing goes, so we kinda just all put out little bits that we had out there and we worked on some stuff and you guys might hear some stuff. We’re kinda just deciding because we’re going to do another writing trip before we go to Japan, here in the next week and so I’m really excited because I think, anytime you come off of a tour, it’s a very unique experience with everyone and you really get to know each other better, so, I’m excited to see what we write.

I’m really looking forward to seeing where the band goes and where you’ll go with them. There’s this optimism, I think, to even hear a different side of Flyleaf and that might come with you guys becoming a new unit or a new band, almost. Do you think there’s an ambition or a drive to be better and stronger than before?
I think for me, that’s how I’ve always been when I’m producing music. I’m just always trying to move forward, I don’t really even look behind at what I did before. Yeah, I’ll listen to songs I made before but my head is always in a different place and that’s just kind of the person that I am. So, for me I am always forward thinking and just where I am right now, so it will be interesting to see what our collaboration brings because I just never think you can put too much on the past and too much on the future, you have to really experience where you are right now to get the full potential of what you can do. We don’t even know what we’re to produce, so I’m really looking forward to moving forward with that point in our relationship as the band.

Is there anything you’d like to say to those other Aussies who are highly anticipating the bands return here, in August?
Just thank you so much for listening and you Ashlee, for even doing this interview. I know you’re super connected to the band. If you’ve been affected by them I think that’s a beautiful thing and I can’t wait to be a part of that and hopefully make you proud.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLXIQb9Kiy4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm9bZowpsNM