Music > Interviews

PVRIS

22/03/16

PVRIS (pronounced Paris) got together in 2012 in Massachusetts, and since then have blown up all over the world, winning awards right left and centre. With some brilliant videos, a strong monochrome look and catchy rock tunes that can never be forgotten they’ve recently been on tour with Fall Out Boy and Bring Me The Horizon. Originally meant to be playing the Waterfront, they’ve been moved up to the LCR for their gig this month, which has also now sold out. A massive band with a massive fanbase, they’re destined for stardom. I asked lead singer Lyndsey if she’s ever been to Paris and her experience of sexism in the music industry.

What’s your personal musical background?

Throughout elementary school, middle school and high school, my brother and I did a lot of after school music classes together like jazz band, concert band, marching band (we were on our high school drumline together), etc. In these bands I played saxophone, euphonium, guitar, bass, and assorted percussion/drums, so I was all over the place. When my brother started playing in rock bands with his friends, that’s when I started to write music and want to play in a rock band as well.

 

Had you been to Paris before you called the band that?

Nope! We’ve actually only been to Paris once and it was only for 24 hours for a headlining gig. We saw the city for maybe an hour or two and the rest of the day we were stuck inside doing press and soundchecking. We will return though!

 

You’ve been described as electro-metalcore. Would you say you’re just making the music you want to make rather than fitting into a certain genre?

That sounds like quite an insane genre name. I don’t really see where the metalcore comes into play, but I can certainly understand the “electro” element. 

We honestly just want to make music that we’re genuinely excited about and proud of, and stuff we’d want to listen to on our own. We aren’t trying to pigeonhole ourselves to one specific genre, scene or style. I will never understand musicians making music that’s an exact carbon copy of other bands out there, limiting themselves in the fear of their music not “fitting in”. If you can literally create anything in the world, why not try and push the boundaries and make something entirely genuine and new?

 

Your first UK tour sold out in two minutes. Was that more exciting or pressureful, knowing that people had high expectations of your performance?

Absolutely exciting. We’ve felt insane amounts of pressure over the past two years opening up for so many different bands and taking on some pretty big challenges and milestones for such a young band, but I think all the pressure and hard work has been good for us and has prepared us for this stuff. We’ve been busting our asses and doing our best to earn our stripes for the past few years and we can fully appreciate what we have when it’s in front of us. This will be our big moment and almost like the finish line for us (for this record cycle), so we are beyond excited. To be stressed about it or feel pressure would kind of ruin what we’ve worked so hard for.

 

Your debut album White Noise did incredibly well. Have you started writing and recording album two yet, and if so how has the process felt different this time around?

We have been touring pretty much non-stop for the past two years so we haven’t had time to fully get into the studio to write and record the next record. However, we have been working on new stuff and writing on the road ever since White Noise came out. We even have a little studio set up in the back of our bus to work on demos and beginning stages of production and programming. It’s well on its way creatively and writing-wise. After our headliners this spring we will be officially hitting the studio for a few months. 
When we initially started writing and recording for White Noise, there was a bit of hesitance with how far we could push the boundaries sonically and even visually. Blake really helped us with overcoming that and giving us the confidence and mentality we have now. I think we are much more confident with our writing now and are going to be much less afraid to take risks and do whatever the hell we want with the next record, and I hope that will speak for itself.

 

You played Reading/Leeds last year. Did you realise what an important festival it is when you were booked for it?

We were well aware but we had no idea what to expect. Needless to say it was incredible.

 

Your videos are very stylishly put together – what’s your process for creating them?

The process is different every time. We collaborate a tonne with our director Raul Gonzo. Usually I’ll go to him with a general idea or concept and he’ll completely bring it to life and make it amazing. He’s incredibly passionate about our band and what he does and we are beyond grateful we get to work with such a talented human.

What’s the nicest thing a fan has ever given you or done for you?

There’s been a lot, but I think the nicest thing has always been something as simple as kind and genuine words or talks. Sincerity is a huge thing for us, even if it’s literally just a few seconds, and sometimes that speaks more than anything.

 

Can you tell us a bit about your support acts for this tour?

We’ve got K. Flay, Bones and Alvarez Kings! We met K. Flay back on Warped ’14. She’s a complete badass and absolutely kills it live, been a huge fan for a while. So stoked to be on tour with her. Bones was a band one of my friends showed me over the past summer and I was hooked on them immediately. I’m shocked they haven’t completely blown up yet, although they’re still fairly new. Alvarez Kings were a band this past summer on Warped Tour. Everyone on the tour was talking about them but I could never seem to catch their set. One day on the way to catering, I was watching this really incredible band and I was blown away so I started asking around and came to find out it was them!  All the openers are also incredibly genuine and sweet people which is what we think is the most important thing when it comes to these kinds of things.

Your new single You and I has just come out. What’s the story behind that song?

It’s pretty straightforward but it’s just about fighting for a relationship/friendship/anything that’s not working out due to timing and circumstances.

 

You were originally meant to play the Waterfront here, and it got bumped up to the biggest venue in Norwich, which has now sold out! How does it make you feel that you have such a strong fan base?

It feels amazing! Our fans, especially over in the UK, are so beyond ecstatic and passionate and supportive about what we do and we are incredibly grateful for that.

 

You’re touring all the way through March and April. What’s been the most interesting city that you’ve visited as part of the band?

We absolutely fell head over heels for Bath. Either Bath or Vienna.

 

What will be on the van stereo as you tour?

Definitely a lot of Florence and The Machine, The 1975 and Ben Howard!

 

Women are still unfortunately in the minority in the music industry. Have you personally experienced any sexist behaviour aimed at you?

We still are unfortunately, but I think the amount of females in the music industry is growing at an incredibly rapid rate and it’s really awesome to see. I also think we are being much more verbal about certain issues, which is awesome to see. To be completely honest, when I first got asked about sexism, I used to deny experiencing it because I didn’t want to be seen as weak or seem as though I was complaining. I also think, as I’ve been a female my entire life, I didn’t always fully recognize it. When you become so accustomed to something, you don’t always realize until you take a step back or someone points it out to you. I can guarantee you that any female in the industry whether on the production side of things or in a band, has had their own share of experiences, whether they choose to recognize them and speak up about them or not. My stance on it is that I will never view my gender, or the occasional unfortunate sexist experiences that come with it, as a setback. I think it’s important to call it out when it’s apparent but I refuse to go through my life blaming others or feeling like my experience has been defined by it, because it absolutely hasn’t defined my time or hindered my success the slightest, and if anything it’s been a fuel. I refuse to take shit from anyone and I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by so many amazingly supportive and empowering women, as well as men. I refuse to let any ignorance or old-fashioned mentality bring me down. I just want to keep carving my own path and stopping at nothing and I hope other females out there do the same.

The band are always dressed in monochrome colours, mainly black. It must make choosing what to wear pretty easy! When you’re not being “Lyndsey from PVRIS” do you wear brighter clothes?

We honestly always wear black or monochrome even off tour, ha ha, aside from maybe a few shirts we wear to the gym. I honestly just don’t like coloured clothing unless it’s something really dark and sleek looking.

What’s it like in Lowell, Massachusetts? Is there a music scene there, and some venues?

To be honest there’s not much going on musically, for us at least, but it’s a great city despite its reputation.

 

PVRIS play the LCR on 2nd April. This gig is sold out.