Q&A
with Sherri DuPree from Eisley
play
4
MARTINI
(From left): DuPree siblings Chauntelle, Weston, Stacy and Sherri with cousin Garron DuPree.
This indie-pop group hailing from Tyler, Texas, mixes strong, poetic lyrics with fluid, angelic melodies. Eisley is made up of of siblings Chauntelle, Stacy, Sherri and Weston DuPree and their cousin, Garron DuPree. And papa DuPree is their manager. Eisley will be playing at Liberty Hall on April 7, so you'll soon have a chance to see this modern-day Partridge Family.
Vocalist and guitarist Sherri DuPree talks to Jayplay about living an ideal and a not-so-ideal rock-star life.
How did Eisley come to be?
It was all an accident, really. We all grew up obsessed with music because our parents were obsessed.
I guess it's always been in our bloodline. We just started picking up guitars and playing. Then my sister, Stacy, wrote a song, and we thought,"Weird.We can write our own songs." Then my brother, Weston, just randomly started playing drums and we were a band.
What is direction of your latest abum, Combinations?
We've all been through a lot of crap this year with breakups and separations. It's had a positive effect on the music.The songs are raw and gritty and have all this goodness to them.
Who's the biggest nerd?
Weston picks apart anything and puts it back together. He has this weird knowledge of how things work.I read a lot of graphic novels and comic books and like action figures.
What's it like going back the slower-paced life in Tyler, Texas, after being on the road? I love being home so much. It's awesome to hang out with my family and friends and just do nothing. This time back I've been spending a lot of time writing. Tyler's just a small town. There's literally nothing to do, so you just hang out with your friends and sit at
coffee shops. That's how pathetic it's been here. It's a completely different pace.
Are there many heated moments of sibling rivalry?
Not as much as people would like to think. We get along really well because we're all so close in age.
We grew up in this tiny, crappy house doing music together and having a blast. We definitely argue, but it's really like we're all just best friends.
You've sung with New Found Glory, Bright Eyes and Head Automatica. What was your favorite collaboration?
I just did a little project with Say Anything and Saves The Day. They're recording together and they had me help out with it.
I saw your art just made it onto a Macbeth shoe. Any other artistic endeavors in the future?
I would love to do more art. I'm trying to get a Web site up with my stuff. Kids are always asking if I will do prints. It's definitely my favorite thing to do outside of music. I'd love to work on children's books.
You were an avid blogger long before it became a marketing necessity. Has this affected your fan base?
It's always been very important to be close with our fans. Before I was in a band, I would get on band Web sites and it would be so tough to give them appreciation. You have to stay close with the fans.
Travis Brown
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Contact the writer: 03.27.2008 15
tbrown@kansan.com VOL. 5 ISS. 25