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An interview with Eisley

Ben LaMothe,
Grand Central Magazine, Editor-in-Chief

Texas indie pop group Eisley performs in Detroit at The Shelter on May 1 Photograph by Miranda Penn Turin
(Click here for more images.)

Hailing from the great state of Texas, indie pop band Eisley have crisscrossed the country over the last few years, getting their name out and earning a legion of fans. They’re currently touring in support of their newest record, “Combinations,” which includes a stop at The Shelter in Detroit on May 1. Ben LaMothe caught up with keyboardist Stacy DuPree by phone before their show in St. Petersburg, Fla., to talk about the new album, being featured on “The Hills” and her love of Paramore.

Grand Central: So the venue that Eisley played the last time you were in Detroit is right above the venue you are playing this time.

Stacy DuPree: Yes, I think… Well, we played St. Andrews (Hall) the last time we came there, and it was a very memorable show because I remember we were playing when all of the sudden there’s a pair of dude’s underwear that was thrown right at me.

GC: Have you ever played The Shelter?

SD: You know, I couldn’t say. I only remember playing St. Andrews, but it’s possible.

GC: Have you seen Eminem’s movie “8 Mile”?

SD: Yeah.

GC: Well that’s where he kind of ‘hit it big.’

SD: Oh, wow!

GC: Yeah, they filmed part of the movie there.

SD: Yeah I totally know what you’re talking about. I gotta tell our bassist (Garron DuPree), he’s totally into Eminem.

GC: All the battles happened in St. Andrews and The Shelter, where you guys are playing.

SD: Oh, that’s rad.

GC: Do you prefer larger venues or smaller ones?

SD: You know, honestly, I love the smaller ones. Because I like seeing our fans and I like them being right in front of you. I used to be bothered by it, but now I think it’s awesome because it gives you so much more energy.

GC: Yeah, I don’t think they have any bouncers to stand between the band and the fans, so you could quite literally give your fans high fives.

SD: (laughs) A high five or a pat on the head.

Texas indie pop group Eisley performs in Detroit at The Shelter on May 1 Photograph by Miranda Penn Turin
(Click here for more images.)

GC: So I heard that Eisley’s song “Taking Control” was featured on the MTV show “The Hills” recently.

SD: Yeah, we’re not very into reality shows, but I guess it’s kind of a big deal?

GC: Have you had a chance to see the episode that the song was on?

SD: No, I haven’t. We’ve been touring straight. Like, we never really have days off. We’re touring so much, playing shows every day, so I haven’t had a chance to see it, but that’s really cool.

GC: Does it bother you having your band’s song on a show like “The Hills”? Does the show’s message clash with what Eisley is?

SD: Oh, no. To me there’s no conflict. Music is getting out there. It felt really good being on there. We’re not restricted to one group of people. Our music is for everyone.

GC: So then would you be opposed to lending an Eisley song to a commercial?

SD: Nope. I wouldn’t be opposed, no. I think we’re pretty much open to that kind of thing. We haven’t gotten any offers. You know, I’d be excited to hear our song on an iPod commercial. I’d do a little dance.

GC: Turning to the new album, I talked with Sherri a few months ago and she attributed the ‘bigger sound’ of the album to producer Richard Gibbs. From a non-guitarist point of view, what do you attribute to it?

SD: You know, we went in and it was part of our vision for the new record. I guess, bigger. Bigger is always better, you know? And in talking to Richard, he’s just one of those guys whose musical capacity is just huge. He’s a film composer and all of that stuff. And it was just really easy to click with him as far as getting what we wanted; because he had a lot of answers… he helped us answer. He was cool. You know, like orchestrating things, organizing things and building dynamic. You know, just creating the record that we wanted.

GC: You recorded the new record in Malibu. What impact did the location have on the recording process?

SD: Oh, Malibu is beautiful. It’s kind of a sought-after place in California, right? You tell people, ‘oh, we’re recording in Malibu’ and they’re like ‘what!?’ I thought it was pretty. We were recording it in his house, and his house looked over… you could hear the ocean. It was really natural and peaceful. And sunshine is always good.

GC: So is the band going to try to record out there again?

SD: Well I feel like we’re a band that is always trying to change direction, you know? We’re kind of in the process of… you know, the gears are starting to turn and stuff. What are we gonna do next, you know?

GC: No definitive recording plans as of yet?

SD: Eventually we want to work on another record. Right now we’re writing songs for the new record, and we have lots of ideas and stuff.

GC: Keeping with the new album, did you hear what Hayley Williams from Paramore said about the new album?

SD: I don’t know. What did she say?

GC: She was interviewed by Rolling Stone, and at the end she was talking about how much she loves the new album, how some songs make her cry, etc.

SD: Aw… I can remember the first time I saw her play, I was just like ‘oh my gosh.’ She’s a truly talented vocalist. I really respect Paramore a lot.