Interview with Guitarist and Vocalist Lucas Esterline of AEIR
By Mick Michaels
Cosmick View: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with us. It's greatly appreciated.
CV:
What do you feel sets the band apart from other bands, especially those of
similar sound and style? What's the specific allure your sound and
style have that has people taking notice?
Lucas Esterline: I think the fact that we're a group formed from other local groups. Despite being a newer band (formed in 2020) we still have a ton of chemistry that carried over from past projects and playing shows together in those separate projects.
We control our energy and dynamics very well.
Lucas Esterline: I think the fact that we're a group formed from other local groups. Despite being a newer band (formed in 2020) we still have a ton of chemistry that carried over from past projects and playing shows together in those separate projects.
We control our energy and dynamics very well.
CV: For
any band, dynamics is key to grabbing an audience's attention. What do you feel
is the main ingredient to having such a captivating dynamic and being able to
bring something more to the music?
LE: It starts with writing songs that the whole band buys into and feels. When you really love the music you're performing, it's hard not to be passionate 24/7. When we're that into the sound and vibe, it comes across to the viewers/listeners tenfold.
LE: It starts with writing songs that the whole band buys into and feels. When you really love the music you're performing, it's hard not to be passionate 24/7. When we're that into the sound and vibe, it comes across to the viewers/listeners tenfold.
CV:
How would you describe the ultimate musical experience
for your fans? And how does the band go about creating that musical
vision, while generating the impact the band wants to have on its
audience?
LE: Live shows that pop whilst sounding exactly like our recordings. Practice, practice and more practice. Dress rehearsals, diming in new equipment…and of course hard work from the entire team. It’s not just the band focusing on these things, it’s the entire label, management and merch team.
LE: Live shows that pop whilst sounding exactly like our recordings. Practice, practice and more practice. Dress rehearsals, diming in new equipment…and of course hard work from the entire team. It’s not just the band focusing on these things, it’s the entire label, management and merch team.
CV: The
music business has always been one that regardless of who you are, where you
came from or where you've been, you can either sink or swim. Does this
type of realism have any effect on how the band drives itself to succeed?
LE: This has been our reality for 12+ years or more for some of us. Our team works hard to open as many doors as possible and the band stays super focused so we don’t drop the ball with such opportunities.
LE: This has been our reality for 12+ years or more for some of us. Our team works hard to open as many doors as possible and the band stays super focused so we don’t drop the ball with such opportunities.
CV:
In your opinion, is there any middle ground for a band or is it a do or die
climate in today's music industry?
LE: I think you can carve out a bit of a middle ground. But that has never been our intention. We're full sending AEIR, we don’t want to be a band that pops for a few years and disappears.
LE: I think you can carve out a bit of a middle ground. But that has never been our intention. We're full sending AEIR, we don’t want to be a band that pops for a few years and disappears.
CV:
How would you describe the band's internal energy? Does the band’s outward
appearance align with its true inward nature from your perspective?
LE: We tend to be a little reserved outwardly at times, but the internal energy is almost always white hot. I often wish we had a camera on 24/7 to capture all the BS we are up too…might have to sub to our Patreon to catch some of those shenanigans.
LE: We tend to be a little reserved outwardly at times, but the internal energy is almost always white hot. I often wish we had a camera on 24/7 to capture all the BS we are up too…might have to sub to our Patreon to catch some of those shenanigans.
CV:
What's at the core of the band's songwriting approach? Are there
certain elements that are considered when a song begins to take form and
evolves?
LE: Taylor Blake and I do most of the songwriting…both lyrics and music. Our writing relationship is incredible. Zero ego, zero disagreements. One or the other brings an idea to the table, and we collectively knock it out. He finishes my lyrics or adds musical bits, and vice versa. We're constantly demoing songs and sending ideas back and forth. Our motto has been, "strike while the iron's hot." Meaning…finish, finish, finish. The content in the songs generally gets pulled from real life experiences from someone in the band. Taylor specifically can write some badass tunes, IDK if anyone in the band quite has the songwriting bone that he has.
The song really evolves when we bring it to the band and all 5 members put their unique sounds into it. Really starts to sound like AEIR in these early moments.
LE: Taylor Blake and I do most of the songwriting…both lyrics and music. Our writing relationship is incredible. Zero ego, zero disagreements. One or the other brings an idea to the table, and we collectively knock it out. He finishes my lyrics or adds musical bits, and vice versa. We're constantly demoing songs and sending ideas back and forth. Our motto has been, "strike while the iron's hot." Meaning…finish, finish, finish. The content in the songs generally gets pulled from real life experiences from someone in the band. Taylor specifically can write some badass tunes, IDK if anyone in the band quite has the songwriting bone that he has.
The song really evolves when we bring it to the band and all 5 members put their unique sounds into it. Really starts to sound like AEIR in these early moments.
CV:
Do you allow things to just happen when writing; seeing where a song goes, or
is there a certain course of action and structure you keep a song on, thus,
essentially making it destined to achieve its overall potential?
LE: The process is all of these things at different times. Some songs pop off immediately and feel like they were already written. Other songs kind of get sculpted slowly over time as all of our input comes together. With all of this considered, the whole band is always on the same page when it comes to the song's "sweet" spot."
LE: The process is all of these things at different times. Some songs pop off immediately and feel like they were already written. Other songs kind of get sculpted slowly over time as all of our input comes together. With all of this considered, the whole band is always on the same page when it comes to the song's "sweet" spot."
CV:
Do you feel how the fans and critics describe the band’s music accurately
reflects how you would describe the band’s music?
LE: 1st of all, fuck the critics. 2nd, I'm historically bad at describing my own band's music, what it sounds like, and comparing it to other acts. To me we sound like fucking AEIR. With that being said, I’ve heard some fun comparisons. We have a broad group of fans who tend to be all over the place with their favorite genres.
LE: 1st of all, fuck the critics. 2nd, I'm historically bad at describing my own band's music, what it sounds like, and comparing it to other acts. To me we sound like fucking AEIR. With that being said, I’ve heard some fun comparisons. We have a broad group of fans who tend to be all over the place with their favorite genres.
CV:
Walk us through a typical show for the band...what can fans who have never
seen you perform expect?
LE: I want to say, just come and find out ASAP. It's a hell of a good time, and we always leave it all on the stage.
LE: I want to say, just come and find out ASAP. It's a hell of a good time, and we always leave it all on the stage.
CV:
What more can fans look forward to seeing coming from the band?
LE: As of today (11/21), we've released two videos for our single "Smoke Em If You Got Em." We have another single coming early next year. We'll be in LA with Stephen Perkins in late January getting some more fun stuff ready for all the AEIRheads out there. 2022 is already shaping up to be an awesome year for us, so keep your eyes peeled.
LE: As of today (11/21), we've released two videos for our single "Smoke Em If You Got Em." We have another single coming early next year. We'll be in LA with Stephen Perkins in late January getting some more fun stuff ready for all the AEIRheads out there. 2022 is already shaping up to be an awesome year for us, so keep your eyes peeled.
CV:
Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our
readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
LE: Thank you
for having me! These questions have been great and made me think critically.
Looking forward to the next one.
Check out AEIR at:
Official: https://www.aeir.band/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aeirofficial
The Cosmick Voice
Music, Talk & Nothing But Business
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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.
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