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x--daughters-of-darkness--x · 3 years

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HALESTORM: Behind-The-Scenes Footage From Making Of 'Back From The Dead' Video

HALESTORM has shared behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the official video for the band's new single, "Back From The Dead". The track is taken from the group's upcoming fifth full-length album, due in 2022. Directed by Dustin Haney (Noah Cyrus, Luke Combs) and produced by Revolution Pictures, the clip features frontwoman Lzzy Hale and the rest of the band in a morgue and cemetery somewhere between life and death.

Lzzy says: "'Back From The Dead' is about survival, not in a physical sense, even though I know we all have been touched by death especially these last few years. This song is personal and written from a mental health perspective. I wanted to give myself and the world a hard rock song we could shout out loud as the gates opened again. I was on the edge of this world getting completely lost in oblivion, but even though it was the harder of two choices, I didn't just let the darkness and depression in my mind dig me an early grave. I didn't just sit and let it take me. I've erased my name from my headstone, so save your prayers, I'm back! I hope this song, as I pass it on to you, reminds YOU of your strength individually and that you are not alone."

She continues: "The video was so much fun to film! Dustin Haney is an amazing director. Dustin and his team really helped bring my words to life and the video is one of the most cinematic pieces we've done in years! I hope this song, as I pass it on…reminds YOU of YOUR individual strength and that you are not Alone. Raise your horns!"

By breaking rules, bucking trends, and busting down doors, HALESTORM has surged through rock 'n' roll on a singular path without compromise or apology. Along the way, the Pennsylvania-bred and Nashville-based quartet — Lzzy Hale (vocals, guitar), Arejay Hale (drums), Joe Hottinger (guitar) and Josh Smith (bass) — has collected a Grammy Award, scored successive number ones at radio, garnered multiple gold and platinum certifications, and performed to sold out crowds on five continents.

Going against the grain again in 2021, the band weathered the flames of chaos in 2020 and returned stronger than ever with their most empowering and undeniable anthems to date.

"Throughout the pandemic, I was writing a lot of melancholic and hopeless songs about the ups and downs of the world," admits Lzzy. "I've been in this group longer than I haven't been in it. We've always had shows. Even when I was 13 years old, we had a couple of bowling alley gigs once a month. This was the first time I didn't know if we would ever play again. However, I started to use music in the same way I did as a teenager—to get myself through this situation that was plaguing us all. I sidestepped and said, 'Let's keep our heads up, get our attitude back, be a light in the dark for a second, and celebrate the fact we're surviving and there's hope for the future.' So, we started to write songs that were a reminder to ourselves of who we are and what we're capable of. That became the mission statement."

In a way, it's always been the mission statement…

Since roaring to life in 1998, HALESTORM has uplifted audiences with a combination of sonic ass-kicking, provocative songwriting, and unshakable hooks. The four-piece received a Grammy Award in the category of "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" for "Love Bites (So Do I)". The song also minted them as the first female-fronted band to hit #1 on the Active Rock radio charts. Thus far, their discography spans two gold albums "Halestorm" and "The Strange Case Of..." , a platinum single "I Miss The Misery", and two gold singles "Here's To Us" and "I Get Off". Between surpassing one billion cumulative streams worldwide, they've notched two consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with "Into The Wild Life" (2015) and "Vicious" (2018). The latter represented a critical high watermark with Rolling Stone citing it as "a muscular, adventurous, and especially relevant rock record." In its wake, "Uncomfortable" emerged as their fourth #1 at rock radio and earned their second Grammy Award nomination, while Loudwire christened HALESTORM "Rock Artist Of The Decade" in 2019. Not to mention, they have supported everyone from HEAVEN & HELL and Alice Cooper to Joan Jett on the road.

Even as the world went dormant during 2020, Lzzy remained prolific. She lent her voice to collaborations with everyone from Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER, IN THIS MOMENT, APOCALYPTICA, and Mark Morton of LAMB OF GOD to EVANESCENCE, Cory Marks, and Mongolian phenomenon THE HU. Additionally, she joined forces with a trio of legends — Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT, Scott Ian of ANTHRAX and original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo — for the theme song to Netflix's "Thunder Force". Plus, the group contributed a cover of THE WHO's "Long Live Rock" to the documentary of the same name. Expanding her presence across television, she hosted the AXS TV "A Year In Music" series, joined the cast of Hit Parader's "No Cover" as a judge, provided the singing voice for Bella Thorne in the Prime Video hit "Paradise City" and launched her own show "Raise Your Horns" on Rolling Live. On the channel, she appeared in Mike Garson's David Bowie tribute with a performance of "Moonage Daydream" alongside Broadway star Lena Hall. She also participated in the platform's Ronnie James Dio tribute, supporting the Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.

At the same time, she remained a huge proponent of encouraging the dialogue around mental health. She participated in a Grammy Mental Health panel and empowered the next generation of rock musicians as the keynote speaker at the Little Kids Rock Modern Band Summit. She also made history as Gibson Guitars' first-ever female ambassador.

"I've learned a lot about myself through all of these different projects," she admits. "I said 'yes' to various adventures, and it made me a better artist."

Working out of her home studio in Nashville, Lzzy and the band channeled this renewed spirit into the music at the onset of 2021. Collaborating with Scott Stevens of THE EXIES, the musicians hit their stride and cooked up the single 'Back From The Dead'. Dramatic distortion and drums rumble as she screams, "I'm back from the dead!" HALESTORM come out swinging as punchy verses give way to a call-and-response chorus shocked to life with a searing solo and thunderous groove.

"We needed a reintroduction," she exclaims. "We needed something that simply said, 'Hey, we're back'. The live show is the time we feel as truly alive as we can be. When you walk out on stage with your guitar strapped on, your guys are next to you, and you have an audience looking at you, it's everything. We're celebrating the fact we're all back together again. Whatever it is that was trying to destroy that part of myself and my bandmates that our fans need couldn't do it. It failed miserably. We're fucking back."

From the moment the band graced the stage at a secret Nashville gig, they were indeed "back," albeit louder, heavier, and emboldened by an unbelievable year. Amped up to jump back in, their tour schedule took shape with festival dates followed by a co-headline run with EVANESCENCE in the fall.

Readying their fifth full-length album, they're delivering the soundtrack for a world ready to roar again.

"We've lost a lot of people, but we can start healing again," she leaves off. "I appreciate the little things even more. I don't only feel this confidence in myself, but also in every one of my band members. We're not the same people, none of us could ever be. HALESTORM is my source of my joy. It's my connection. It's the closest thing to my religion. We're moving forward. With this next album, I hope we're able to create a greater sense of community. We have a beautiful opportunity. When you listen to it, I want you to feel like you can walk through any fire."

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#lzzy hale #Halestorm #Back From The Dead

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mfmagazine · 6 years

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Amys Ghost

Article by Teresa Walters

Photo by Chris Harris

Amy Barton and her newly formed brood are sprinting into the music scene this spring with their debut album ‘The Dance of Defeat’. Bringing with them a maudlin musical resonance that will tap into the hearts of any listener almost immediately . Creating nostalgia where there is none and somehow manifesting frenzy in the calm delivery of their sound they are a force to be reckoned with. The only way to decipher the din of their material is to get to the base of the brain and the bottom of things with Barton herself. It seems that you’ve hit the ground running, with Mic and Tiki in tow, from Wire Jesus. Amys Ghost comes across as a much more starkly simplified sound compared to the clutters of chorus and instruments found in Wire Jesus - is that what you were going for? Yes, we sound very different don't we? I think with Wire Jesus, because we had a wealth of instruments to call on and six talented musical types in the band, there was a tendency to chuck everything in the mix....well, if you've got it flaunt it.... We were a real nightmare for sound engineers! I think sometimes less is more. I'm really happy with our current sound, we have very different influences and I'm loving the dark electronica element. You have been the first ones to site Kate Bush, in so many words as an influence. Is that who you are trying to channel with Amys Ghost? Like most writers and musicians, it’s easy to get into the trap of trying to copy your favourite band. I've been compared to Kate Bush vocally before, a few times, which I take as a huge compliment, so when it comes to describing our sound she's a good marker for listeners. Most of all though, I'm just trying to be myself and the music Amys Ghost is created through having fun with no musical restrictions. You also listed Kings of Leon as an influence, was that more for their lyrics then their sound? Ahhh... I love this mans voice so much! We don't sound anything like this band though. I listed these guys because I love their sound and lyrics, crunchy, dirty and dark. Great pop tunes without an ounce of cheese. Are there any books or authors in particular that influence your lyrics? Lyrical content is very important to me. I take my inspiration from life and emotions, most of my lyrics tell a story. I'd like to think that if the music was stripped away what would be left would be beautiful, heartfelt words. I have taken poetic influences from the likes of Byron, Keats and Shelley. If Amy’s Ghost was to do a collaboration with another band in the music scene right now who would it be? I love Thom York’s solo stuff! Bet he'd be a nightmare to work with though. Bjork's cool too. Everyone has a ‘guilty pleasure’ artist they secretly sing in the shower like Mcfly or something cheesy - what are some of yours? Bat for lashes! ....I hate, hate, hate her lyrics...namby, pamby wizards and horses.....but such lovely melodies...I just can't help myself! Oh, and I have been caught belting out Whitney Houston. Do you take your fashion cues from anyone in particular? How important is your fashion stance for your bands image? I studied fashion for a couple of years and was completely besotted with the designs of Alexander Mcqueen, Christian Lacroix and Vivienne Westwood. I think image is as important as the music we produce. It’s one thing loving a band and putting their CD on and another paying to see them live. We've put a lot of thought into our live and visual shows and when I put on my hand finished dresses and don the Amys Ghost war paint, I step into character. How did you line up with First Circle Records? Rumor has it you recorded this album in various locations? Did this different approach to recording mold the sound of The Dance of Defeat? Adam Smith from First Circle Records approached Wire Jesus and offered to record our album, but because of my romantic connection with him, the band decided against it. When the band split, I had a wealth of unrecorded material which I was desperate to keep for posterity....so recording began. This musical project evolved into Amys Ghost. Adams ideas are raw and off the wall, his approach to recording is simple....to capture the essence of the song. So with his portable studio we have recorded in a church and a sports hall.... each location chosen emotionally and sonically. For example, No Kind of Lover, a track off the album, was recorded in a deer park. This is a very solitary song that I wrote, I used to play it outside, just me and my guitar....and wollow a little. In this track you can hear birds tweeting and a distant motorway. I am really proud of the album. Best and Worst concerts you’ve seen live? Radiohead...definitely the best! At Reading Festival last year. We got right to the front. I was absolutely entanced. Amy Winehouse at Bestival a couple of years ago; sounded amazing across the field for sound check in the morning but when she came to sing in the evening, she was 40 minutes late and off her face. Such a shame. If you could describe Amys Ghost as a type of food what would it be? A pristine white gateaux on an ornate metal cake stand, with red summer berries drizzled in sweet chocolate sauce...washed down with shot of Jack Daniels. There is a very strong female presence on this new album, not just with your sound and lyrics, but with the people you included in the process. You got your family involved on the album - what was that like? I loved working with my family, they have been a great support to me through some really trying times in my life. My mum, sisters and grandma all have great voices and with the album content being very personal for me it seemed the right course to take. All vocalists were chosen for emotional and lyrical reasons linked to each song. The Dance of Defeat is out now. What does a dance of defeat actually look like? It’s a mocking little number, a little like the quick step, but more tribal....performed in the face of misfortune.... if it was a phrase it would sing..."is that all you've got? go on..hit me harder...I dare you!'

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