Music Interviews – Leaving Eden talk about new album ‘Dream With Me’ and film projects with Massimiliano Cerchi.

1. Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?

Hi, I’m Eric Gynan, Cofounder of the Rock band Leaving Eden from New England USA.

Leaving Eden Lineup: Eve Lead Vocals, Alyssa Bailey White Keys and Vocals, Jake Gynan Drums, Eric Gynan Guitars and Vocals, Rich Chouinard Bass and Vocals

https://leavingeden.com

2. Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?

Leaving Eden has been around for well over a decade. Co-founded by myself and Eve. Rick was in a previous band to Leaving Eden. Alyssa was at a gig and she wanted to play keys for us. The drum slot also  became available and Jake asked for it. I think every member of Leaving Eden are really top-notch musicians.

3. What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?

I consider Leaving Eden a multi Genre band branded in Rock/Metal, we also have folk, pop, alternative, progressive music that really tends to blend paired with lots of energy and a connection to the crowd. I always say Leaving Eden is best seen and heard live. Eve has a way with people that is intriguing. Lots of melody/harmony with hooks and lyrics that are based on reality to a certain extent.

4. What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?

Great question.  As a musician the best part is recording an album and playing live. It’s always been something that is very unique. Sharing these experiences with the band members gives you a special sense of comradery. When you’re up on stage it’s those five people making the music together, tight, full of energy and entertaining. The same goes for recording. It’s so fun knowing that you’re together creating something that will last forever. When it’s done it’s such a sense of achievement. 

5. What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?

I think there’s an ongoing theme of hope. I also think there’s darkness shadowed by the light. Every single one of us are embedded with good and evil.  It’s always been a struggle to overcome evil.  It’s reality, so we write about it. Most of our lyrics are based on reality in someway.

6. Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work?

There are so many like Fleetwood Mac, Disturbed, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Simon and Garfunkel.

7. Where can someone looking for your music find it?

We have seven albums released worldwide. You can find those albums on all the normal platforms such as Spotify, Pandora, iTunes, Amazon.

Our new album “Dream With Me” to be released in May, 2020, we were told it was the best pre-order for the label.

Leaving Eden New Album – Dream With Me. Photo by Mark Weiss.

Dream With Me is Leaving Eden’s 7th Album to be released world wide and distributed by Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal.  In this album we got the best of both worlds, where again like our last 2 Albums, we were able to take all the time necessary to record and produce “Dream With Me” in Leaving Eden’s Studio. But then, to have One of the best Rock Engineers in the world as far as I’m concerned, Grammy Award Winning Engineer Johnny K. (Disturbed, Staind, Finger Eleven, 3 Doors Down, Megadeath, Sevendust, Plain White T’s, POP Evil, Trapt, Drowning Pool, Alien Ant Farm, and many more) for Final Mix and Mastering is my dream scenario!  I love working With Johnny, he’s a genuine connoisseur of great music with so much talent, it’s such a pleasure to call him my friend. We’ve worked together on other albums but this one, to have the freedom to dig deep and experiment with my own unique recording techniques and then to have Johnny put his final touches on it was a real treat!” 

House of the Rising Sun Official Video
By Leaving Eden

Dream With Me Official Vide
(in a time of the CoronaVirus)
By Leaving Eden

Alyssa and I wrote the title track “Dream with me“.  We loved the song when it was finished. We felt it was a great title for the Album.  The video has a connection to the coronavirus.

8. What’s your favourite part about touring/ doing live performances?

Well it’s certainly one of the things that greatly motivates us.  Basically most of our friends have come through touring and playing live.  You get to meet people you never possibly could’ve met, you get to see places you’ve never possibly could’ve seen. Leaving Eden has toured the USA, UK & Canada sharing the stage with hundreds of the biggest national bands in the world including; 10 Years, 10 Years After (Woodstock Reunion), Adelitas Way, Alice Cooper, Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Apocalyptic Review (featuring members of Godsmack), Avenged Sevenfold, Big Brother and The Holding Company (Woodstock Reunion), Black Sabbath (Heaven & Hell), Blackstone Cherry, Bret Michaels, Buckcherry, Chevelle, Collective Soul, Country Joe (Woodstock Reunion), Damage Plan, (Featuring Dimebag & Vinnie Paul) Days Of The New, Disturbed, Dope, Dropkick Murphy’s, Drowning Pool, Five Finger Death Punch, Fuel,  Gemini Syndrome, Gin Blossoms, Godsmack, Halestorm, HELLYEAH, Herman Rarebell (The Scorpions), Hinder, Hookers & Blow (featuring members of Guns ‘N’ Roses, Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P.), In This Moment, Jefferson Starship (Woodstock Reunion), Killswitch Engage, Kittie, Korn, Lacuna Coil, LA Guns, Lamb Of God, Lita Ford,  Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marilyn Manson, Michael Schenker (UFO, MSG & The Scorpions) Motorhead, Mudvayne, Mushroomhead, Napalm Death, Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden),  Nonpoint, One Eyed Doll, Papa Roach, Pop Evil, Powerman 5000, Puddle Of Mudd, Queensryche, Ratt, Rob Zombie, Ronnie James Dio, Saliva, Saving Abel, Scott Stapp (the voice of Creed), Sebastian Bach, Seether, Sevendust, Shinedown, Slayer, Soil, Soulfly, Steven Tyler, Stone Sour, Taproot, Ted Nugent, Testament, The Butcher Babies, The Misfits, Theory Of A Deadman, Trapt, Tremonti (Creed/Alterbridge), Trixter, Uncle Kracker, Warrant, ZZ Top, Nickelback, Skillet & many more.

9. What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?

I guess have fun, enjoy life, be responsible to yourself as well as others, open your mind and save your soul if you can.

10. Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are your future plans for the band?

Tracks from Leaving Eden albums will be featured in Massimiliano Cerchi’s movies: Painkiller, Mayday, Lockdown and Penthouse starring Michael Pare (The Philadelphia Experiment,  Eddie and the Cruisers). And Bloodthirst.

“We are excited about this new album also, because the entire album and lots of tunes from our previous albums will also be featured in a new fake reality comedy movie titled “The Nitwit”

Watch the teaser trailer For THE NITWIT MOVIE

Website:

https://thenitwitmovie.com

Originally I had written The Nitwit movie script loosely based on real life events with the intention of having Leaving Eden’s music throughout the movie and procuring other pros to make the movie. Where Leaving Eden has been involved with having our music placed in different movies and TV series this simply made sense. While in Iowa after wrapping up on a shoot I sat down with Nitwit Movie Producer, Ray Van Blarcom and Actor, Matt Moody over a scotch and threw the script down on the table. They started reading it, thought it was hilarious so we decided let’s make the movie. For me being the director of several music videos it was a very simple transition to direct The Nitwit Movie. Finally, I was intrigued by Matt Moody’s experience not only in production but as an actor. Ironically Matt fit the leading role as The Nitwit perfectly.  He then brought in Jordan Smith as his costar and Nitwit Movie Producer, Fran Huges, the rest is history. We expect the movie to be released in 2020 by SGL Entertainment.  Many concerts have been scheduled so we’re hoping that things start to shape up around here. Being isolated during the coronavirus is a very tough thing for most people so we definitely do wish for everyone’s safety.

https://leavingeden.com

There you will find everything you need to know about Leaving Eden.  Thanks much man it was a pleasure chatting with you here and I wish you peace and safety.