A few moments with Laura Gierl...
METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Laura. So glad to of caught up with you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
LAURA GIERL: Sure. Thank you, too!
MPAP: Forming in 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany, what else can you tell the readers about The Tex Avery Syndrome?
LAURA: We are a five-piece metal band from the Frankfurt area in Germany, we love music and live shows and we are really fun to hang out with.
MPAP: What is something you want the listener to walk away with after hearing TTAS for the first time?
LAURA: First of all, I want them to simply enjoy the music, to hopefully feel a little lighter after listening and to feel confident in just being themselves. I hope some songs will be stuck in their heads for a while!
MPAP: Let’s go over the band name for a moment? Tex Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, and director, known for producing animated cartoons during the golden age of American animation from the 1930s to 1960s. What inspired you to choose this name?
LAURA: A bottle of whiskey inspired my guitar player, to be honest. We had no name yet when we started playing music and we really wanted to find something which people haven’t heard yet in 20 different arrangements. It’s been a bit of a pain in the ass, but one night Christoph texted us that he just had a bottle of whiskey and this idea for a name suddenly came into his mind…and for the first time we all agreed on it. You can also find a little hint in Tex Avery’s 'Red Riding Hood'. It’s the wolf’s signature move that every time he sees the woman in the red dress, his eyes pop out.
MPAP: Avery's style of directing encouraged animators to stretch the boundaries of the medium to do things in a cartoon that could not be done in the world of live-action film. Do you feel that way towards your music, is TTAS stretching the boundaries?
LAURA: That is totally the right question here! We enjoy music so much and no one of us was ever stuck in only one genre. Some of us enjoy southern and stoner more, others nu metal and metal core. Me, personally, I have always been a sucker for any of Maynard’s bands, Deftones, NIN, Faith No More. A lot of people call us hardcore even though I think we are much more metal. We just do what we love to do. We are very passionate about music and we never wanted or tried to fit in just for success. We had a hard time when we started playing music, because hardcore had such a huge renaissance (as I said we are no typical hc band), but now so many people come up to us, telling us that they really dig what we are doing. That makes me very happy. Also, our live sets are very action-packed, similar to a Tex Avery cartoon. We really have ants in the pants!
MPAP: Is it tough being a female fronted metal band?
LAURA: A lot of people ask me that. I never conceived it as tough. Perhaps I am just lucky. I receive nothing but respect and love. I wish more girls and women would live up to their dreams and wishes.
MPAP: It is becoming more common in the United States, but is it accepted in your hometown to be a female in a male-dominated metal genre of music?
LAURA: It totally is. All I can say is: just be yourself and if wanting to start a band is who you are, then go for it. Music should never be a place for disrespect, racism, hate, fascism or inequality. We have some great metal clubs here and I can say there is as many women as men in the audience. Same at concerts.
MPAP: Your latest release, Wolfcity, came out with some great reviews. Now that it’s been out for over a year, how are you feeling about it?
LAURA: I love your questions. We are still proud of our baby. The first ever release, but it is also incredible to see the huge development of the band musically and personally since. I can’t wait for everyone to hear our new album.
MPAP: For someone that is going to get it after they read this, what are some of the songs about on it?
LAURA: Most of the lyrics are about personal feelings. 'How To Carry The World' is still my favorite on the Ep and it’s an ode to better days. Some others are about my thoughts and feelings on society and the world. We are not a political band, but when we check the news in the morning, we often get overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, anger, helplessness. I am a very empathetic person. I want this world to be a kind and beautiful place and I often get heartbroken about events.
MPAP: The Wolfcity EP didn’t quite quench the thirst of your fans, are you ready to get back into the studio to feed them again? Your fans want more music, how soon can we expect something new from TTAS?
LAURA: We just almost finished pre-production for our album. We will hit the studio in July for a full length!
MPAP: 'Zombienation' and 'How To Carry The World', how fun was it to make these videos?
LAURA: 'How To Carry The World' was actually a private rehearsal room party with a befriended band called Mein Kopf Ist Ein Brutaler Ort ( My mind is a brutal place, translated) and some good friends. We decided to record it with gopros and there you go. It was really just a fun thing and it’s great seeing many friends having fun. Everyone was really drunk (except me I guess ha-ha). 'Zombination' was tough, we didn’t have much time, it was winter, we were freezing our asses off and I was sick with a flu and fever during the filming. All parts were filmed at our rehearsal spot, which is cool, because it’s like our second home to us. We loved having Daniel on board, the bearded guy. He is a thoroughbred artist and a really cool guy. I am hoping for more time and warmer weather for the next video, it was a great experience though.
MPAP: What were some of the musical inspirations that fueled TTAS to come to life when forming the band?
LAURA: Oh, good question, there are so many bands that we love. We had inspirations, but we really wanted to find our own spirit.
MPAP: If TTAS were able to collaborate with another musician, who would you like it to be and why?
LAURA: Well, we are planning on some features on our album, I can’t mention names yet, though. Besides that, I would love to work with Randy from Lamb Of God, since he is still one of the best metal vocalists out there to me, Mastodon because they are just so much fun and Letlive if they were still active.
MPAP: Have you been able to tour the United States yet?
LAURA: Not yet. We would love to!
MPAP: ‘My Life My Choice My Anger My Voice’- What does this mean to you personally and why?
LAURA: It’s your life, do what you love, do what makes you happy even when others don’t understand your decisions, you have a voice, you are allowed to use to it, you are allowed to show emotions, you are allowed to feel and to be yourself. It took me a while to understand, so this is also a great a reminder for myself.
MPAP: What did your parents think of you starting a band? Were they supportive?
LAURA: My parents have always been supportive and proud, some of my family members even come out to shows sometimes. Same with the other guys in the band. My drummer just became a dad and without the incredible support of his soon to be wife, we wouldn’t be able to practice, play, write and record so much right at the moment either.
MPAP: What were you doing before TTAS?
LAURA: We all have a life and jobs besides TTAS. Which makes our week sometimes pretty, pretty packed. My guitar player, drummer and I had another band before, same with my bass player. But TTAS is really something unique and different to any other musical projects we had before. Fun fact I used to sing in a choir for 10 years.
MPAP: All good things must come to an end, but before we bring this interview to a close, just a few more things.
If you could jump into a concert promoter’s shoes for a day and put together a music festival, who would you have on that bill?
LAURA: Too many…also too many genres. I would have 36 Crazyfists and First Blood, since they are good friends of mine, amazing people and musicians. Definitely Tool, I would book Korn for my bass player, AC/DC for Nico, my guitar player, Mastodon, Oh Sleeper, Letlive, Walls Of Jericho for more girl power, Apologies, I have none from the UK, In Flames from Sweden, Thrice, Pearl Jam and, man rest easy, Stone Temple Pilots, Puscifer and APC since Maynard is there anyways and last but not least…Ben Howard, who does not match the lineup, but this guy is a genius. I would love to play myself either. I don’t know if that festival line up is convenient. It’s a very selfish line up indeed haha!
MPAP: Where would your festival be and why?
LAURA: Probably somewhere UK, France or Leipzig, Germany. Leipzig is a place to be for festivals and bands in general. Uk or France since Download and Hellfest work so well.
MPAP: Finally, what’s your favorite cartoon?
LAURA: I always loved Coyote and Roadrunner…meep meep.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, thank you Laura for spending some time with us. Look forward to what The Tex Avery Syndrome does for the rest of 2017 and beyond.
Any last words you’d like to tell the readers and your fans out there?
LAURA: Thank you so much for the great questions, rock on everyone, I hope to see you all someday.
MPAP HOME
©metalpulpandpaper
LAURA GIERL: Sure. Thank you, too!
MPAP: Forming in 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany, what else can you tell the readers about The Tex Avery Syndrome?
LAURA: We are a five-piece metal band from the Frankfurt area in Germany, we love music and live shows and we are really fun to hang out with.
MPAP: What is something you want the listener to walk away with after hearing TTAS for the first time?
LAURA: First of all, I want them to simply enjoy the music, to hopefully feel a little lighter after listening and to feel confident in just being themselves. I hope some songs will be stuck in their heads for a while!
MPAP: Let’s go over the band name for a moment? Tex Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, and director, known for producing animated cartoons during the golden age of American animation from the 1930s to 1960s. What inspired you to choose this name?
LAURA: A bottle of whiskey inspired my guitar player, to be honest. We had no name yet when we started playing music and we really wanted to find something which people haven’t heard yet in 20 different arrangements. It’s been a bit of a pain in the ass, but one night Christoph texted us that he just had a bottle of whiskey and this idea for a name suddenly came into his mind…and for the first time we all agreed on it. You can also find a little hint in Tex Avery’s 'Red Riding Hood'. It’s the wolf’s signature move that every time he sees the woman in the red dress, his eyes pop out.
MPAP: Avery's style of directing encouraged animators to stretch the boundaries of the medium to do things in a cartoon that could not be done in the world of live-action film. Do you feel that way towards your music, is TTAS stretching the boundaries?
LAURA: That is totally the right question here! We enjoy music so much and no one of us was ever stuck in only one genre. Some of us enjoy southern and stoner more, others nu metal and metal core. Me, personally, I have always been a sucker for any of Maynard’s bands, Deftones, NIN, Faith No More. A lot of people call us hardcore even though I think we are much more metal. We just do what we love to do. We are very passionate about music and we never wanted or tried to fit in just for success. We had a hard time when we started playing music, because hardcore had such a huge renaissance (as I said we are no typical hc band), but now so many people come up to us, telling us that they really dig what we are doing. That makes me very happy. Also, our live sets are very action-packed, similar to a Tex Avery cartoon. We really have ants in the pants!
MPAP: Is it tough being a female fronted metal band?
LAURA: A lot of people ask me that. I never conceived it as tough. Perhaps I am just lucky. I receive nothing but respect and love. I wish more girls and women would live up to their dreams and wishes.
MPAP: It is becoming more common in the United States, but is it accepted in your hometown to be a female in a male-dominated metal genre of music?
LAURA: It totally is. All I can say is: just be yourself and if wanting to start a band is who you are, then go for it. Music should never be a place for disrespect, racism, hate, fascism or inequality. We have some great metal clubs here and I can say there is as many women as men in the audience. Same at concerts.
MPAP: Your latest release, Wolfcity, came out with some great reviews. Now that it’s been out for over a year, how are you feeling about it?
LAURA: I love your questions. We are still proud of our baby. The first ever release, but it is also incredible to see the huge development of the band musically and personally since. I can’t wait for everyone to hear our new album.
MPAP: For someone that is going to get it after they read this, what are some of the songs about on it?
LAURA: Most of the lyrics are about personal feelings. 'How To Carry The World' is still my favorite on the Ep and it’s an ode to better days. Some others are about my thoughts and feelings on society and the world. We are not a political band, but when we check the news in the morning, we often get overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, anger, helplessness. I am a very empathetic person. I want this world to be a kind and beautiful place and I often get heartbroken about events.
MPAP: The Wolfcity EP didn’t quite quench the thirst of your fans, are you ready to get back into the studio to feed them again? Your fans want more music, how soon can we expect something new from TTAS?
LAURA: We just almost finished pre-production for our album. We will hit the studio in July for a full length!
MPAP: 'Zombienation' and 'How To Carry The World', how fun was it to make these videos?
LAURA: 'How To Carry The World' was actually a private rehearsal room party with a befriended band called Mein Kopf Ist Ein Brutaler Ort ( My mind is a brutal place, translated) and some good friends. We decided to record it with gopros and there you go. It was really just a fun thing and it’s great seeing many friends having fun. Everyone was really drunk (except me I guess ha-ha). 'Zombination' was tough, we didn’t have much time, it was winter, we were freezing our asses off and I was sick with a flu and fever during the filming. All parts were filmed at our rehearsal spot, which is cool, because it’s like our second home to us. We loved having Daniel on board, the bearded guy. He is a thoroughbred artist and a really cool guy. I am hoping for more time and warmer weather for the next video, it was a great experience though.
MPAP: What were some of the musical inspirations that fueled TTAS to come to life when forming the band?
LAURA: Oh, good question, there are so many bands that we love. We had inspirations, but we really wanted to find our own spirit.
MPAP: If TTAS were able to collaborate with another musician, who would you like it to be and why?
LAURA: Well, we are planning on some features on our album, I can’t mention names yet, though. Besides that, I would love to work with Randy from Lamb Of God, since he is still one of the best metal vocalists out there to me, Mastodon because they are just so much fun and Letlive if they were still active.
MPAP: Have you been able to tour the United States yet?
LAURA: Not yet. We would love to!
MPAP: ‘My Life My Choice My Anger My Voice’- What does this mean to you personally and why?
LAURA: It’s your life, do what you love, do what makes you happy even when others don’t understand your decisions, you have a voice, you are allowed to use to it, you are allowed to show emotions, you are allowed to feel and to be yourself. It took me a while to understand, so this is also a great a reminder for myself.
MPAP: What did your parents think of you starting a band? Were they supportive?
LAURA: My parents have always been supportive and proud, some of my family members even come out to shows sometimes. Same with the other guys in the band. My drummer just became a dad and without the incredible support of his soon to be wife, we wouldn’t be able to practice, play, write and record so much right at the moment either.
MPAP: What were you doing before TTAS?
LAURA: We all have a life and jobs besides TTAS. Which makes our week sometimes pretty, pretty packed. My guitar player, drummer and I had another band before, same with my bass player. But TTAS is really something unique and different to any other musical projects we had before. Fun fact I used to sing in a choir for 10 years.
MPAP: All good things must come to an end, but before we bring this interview to a close, just a few more things.
If you could jump into a concert promoter’s shoes for a day and put together a music festival, who would you have on that bill?
LAURA: Too many…also too many genres. I would have 36 Crazyfists and First Blood, since they are good friends of mine, amazing people and musicians. Definitely Tool, I would book Korn for my bass player, AC/DC for Nico, my guitar player, Mastodon, Oh Sleeper, Letlive, Walls Of Jericho for more girl power, Apologies, I have none from the UK, In Flames from Sweden, Thrice, Pearl Jam and, man rest easy, Stone Temple Pilots, Puscifer and APC since Maynard is there anyways and last but not least…Ben Howard, who does not match the lineup, but this guy is a genius. I would love to play myself either. I don’t know if that festival line up is convenient. It’s a very selfish line up indeed haha!
MPAP: Where would your festival be and why?
LAURA: Probably somewhere UK, France or Leipzig, Germany. Leipzig is a place to be for festivals and bands in general. Uk or France since Download and Hellfest work so well.
MPAP: Finally, what’s your favorite cartoon?
LAURA: I always loved Coyote and Roadrunner…meep meep.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, thank you Laura for spending some time with us. Look forward to what The Tex Avery Syndrome does for the rest of 2017 and beyond.
Any last words you’d like to tell the readers and your fans out there?
LAURA: Thank you so much for the great questions, rock on everyone, I hope to see you all someday.
MPAP HOME
©metalpulpandpaper