eisley

Eisley is an indie pop band from Tyler, Texas, consisting of four siblings (Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy and Weston DuPree) and their cousin (Garron DuPree).

Background

The band began when Chauntelle and Sherri wanted to start a band, but wouldn't let their younger sister Stacy (who was then 8 years old) join. Frustrated, Stacy wrote her own song, and her older siblings were so impressed that they allowed her to join. Their brother Weston (two years older than Stacy) later joined the band as the drummer. The DuPrees' good friend and neighbor Jonathan Wilson became the band's bassist in late 2001. Jon decided to step down as bassist in July 2005 during their tour with Hot Hot Heat, maintaining a good relationship with the band. He was replaced as bassist by Garron DuPree, the DuPrees' then fifteen year old cousin.

The band's name changed several times in their early years. They began as The Towheads, before changing their name to Moss Eisley, after Mos Eisley, a spaceport town in the Star Wars films. When the band signed to Warner Brothers, there were worries that they might have legal troubles with the name. After considering "Neverland" and "Sinclair", they eventually decided just to drop the "Moss" portion of their name, and became Eisley.

Eisley was signed to Reprise Records (WB) in 2003, and soon after that they opened for Coldplay throughout their US tour of "Rush of Blood to the Head" and at the V Festival in England. Eisley has also toured with Brand New, Snow Patrol, New Found Glory, Reggie and the Full Effect, Hot Hot Heat, Switchfoot, and Taking Back Sunday as well as toured the US/Canada as a headlining act.

The band had some early, local radio success with the song "Telescope Eyes" from the Laughing City E.P. and have recorded videos for "Marvelous Things," "I Wasn't Prepared," "Telescope Eyes" (the version from Room Noises), and "Memories", which can be viewed on the official web site but largely, the band's strong organic growth comes from touring and on-line marketing, which they do themselves.

Influences

• Radiohead
• The Beatles
• Pink Floyd
• The Judds

Current status

They have reportedly written approximately thirty new songs for their next album, including a few songs by guitarist Chauntelle. Producer Richard Gibbs was chosen for their new album. It will probably be released sometime in early 2007.

The band also unveiled their video for the song "Memories", from their album Room Noises on their website on July 22, 2006. The video was filmed in Cleveland, and unlike other Eisley videos does not include the band performing to the song.

They are currently in Malibu recording their second Sabrina album.

Discography

• Laughing City E.P. – 2003 Record Collection
• Marvelous Things E.P. – 2003 Warner Bros. Records
• Telescope Eyes E.P. (iTunes exclusive) – 2005
• Room Noises – 2005 Warner Bros. Records
• Head Against The Sky E.P. (iTunes exclusive) – 2005
• Final Noise E.P. (iTunes exclusive} – 2006

Samples

Early songs

Eisley's early independent recordings have been a source of confusion for new fans. The track listings are:

• EP1 - Pretender, Dream For Me, Blackened Crown
• EP2 version 1 - Telescope Eyes, Over the Mountains We Go, Head Against the Sky
• EP2 version 2 - EP2 version 1 plus Dream for Me and Blackened Crown
• EP2 version 3 - EP2 version 2 plus Mister Pine and Laughing City

EP2 version 3 contains all of the songs from the previous versions, including EP1, except for "Pretender." "Pretender", although a fan favorite, is not cared for by the band, hence their decision to exclude it from the final EP2 version 2 release. One reason it is so admired by fans is that it is the only Eisley recording that has Chauntelle singing lead (although she is rumored to have contributed background vocals to the song "Just Like We Do" on Room Noises). "Pretender" is still available on various fansites, however. All songs on the independent recordings are owned by Eisley and they have generously allowed their fans to offer them for download.

Trivia

• It was upon hearing OK Computer by Radiohead that the band immersed themselves in writing, creating and developing their own brand of music.
• The band first performed in May 1998 and have been playing shows since; most recent show in Liverpool, London.
• Stacy wrote their first song at age 8, inspiring the older siblings to induct her immediately as a member, replacing a family friend.
• Sherri DuPree is engaged to Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory. Chad proposed to Sherri during the premiere of Chronicles of Narnia.
• The band is tour managed by Boyd DuPree, father to the four siblings, and Garron's uncle. A career graphic designer, he builds all communications: brand identity, cd graphics, web, forums, myspace, etc.
• Chris Martin of Coldplay is said to have sung the band's tune: "Telescope Eyes" in a haunting, minor chord during soundcheck; the band is a favored by Coldplay. His wife, Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow, is similarly a fan and has been known to sport an Eisley t-shirt in England and mentioned them on national TV in support of them.
• Weston DuPree is currently dating Jessica Munns of the band Luvbeat.
• Sherri DuPree thanked author Ray Bradbury in the acknowledgements for Room Noises.
• Stacy DuPree shares her birthday with Thom Yorke of Radiohead, one of her favourite artists.
• Stacy DuPree is a vegetarian, but not a vegan.
• The band members are avid fans of the Harry Potter series, the Chronicles of Narnia and of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
• They are friends with the band Brighten, with whom they toured in the spring of 2006.
• Eisley got their name from the "Star Wars" city of Mos Eisley on Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine but were forced by Warner Bros. to change the name fearing a lawsuit by George Lucas.
• Stacy and Sherri sang back-up for Head Automatica debut album Decadence on the track "Dance Party Plus." They also sang back-up on the Fair track, "Unglued," off of Fair's album The Best Worst-Case Scenario
• Stacy and Sherri contributed backing vocals on several tracks of New Found Glory's album Coming Home

External links

• Official web site
• Myspace web site
• Laughing City online community
• Orange Gold and Green Fansite
• Eisley Tablature
• Snowflake Village Fansite
• Eisley Lyrics
• Eisley Artist Main on Yahoo! Music