Nationally touring and recording artists Leaving Eden is a multi award winning, female fronted Extreme Rock Band from Boston MA, USA featuring the incredible vocal spectrum and range of lead vocalist “Eve”. Combined with strong vocals, hard hitting lyrics and unique harmonies, breaking musical boundaries and bridging genre gaps, Leaving Eden’s newest album, “Descending” is tailored for Radio. Leaving Eden is: “EVE” Lead Vocals, Jake Gynan, Drums, Eric Gynan Guitars and Vocals, Alyssa Bailey White Keys & Backing Vocals, David Amato Bass. Record Label: Dark Star Records/Sony Music.
Leaving Eden is quite accomplished, rocking stages internationally, including the UK and Canada. Leaving Eden has received several outstanding reviews while on tour featured in several music publications as well as winning regional music awards in several musical categories. Leaving Eden’s has Been heard on TV's on "Destination America" and The Discovery Channel, Fox 25 Morning Show Boston MA, USA, Song Featured on Coast to Coast Worldwide Radio as well as on the Radio Worldwide Reaching the top 10 on CMJ Charts.
Check out my chat with Eric below:
Emmy: How did the name come about?
Eric:We were thinking about this whole planet being like the garden of Eden and with all its corruption and deception wouldn’t it be nice to just go somewhere else thus Leaving Eden.
Emmy: How would you describe your genre to someone who isn't familiar with your music?
Eric: Leaving Eden definitely crosses genre boundaries with a mix of rock, metal, acoustic flavor, dance back beat and pop. It really comes down to what particular aspects the song requires.
Emmy: How did the band form?
Eric: Leaving Eden has been around the block. In the beginning it was paramount to have two female members one being lead vocal and the other being able to carry the back up vocals. With Eve on the lead vocals and Alyssa on keys and back ups they really blend well together both in the studio and live. I always say that Leaving Eden is best seen live in concert to truly get the Personna of the band.
Emmy: What are some of the artists that influence you?
Eric: There are so many between the five of us but some would be black sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Janis Joplin, this is Ja there are so many between the five of us but some would be Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Janis Joplin, Disturbed, Shinedown, and Pop Evil
Emmy: If you could tour with any artist or band (still active or not) who would it be?
Eric:
Again there are so many but this time let me say Fleetwood Mac because of their great harmonies guitar playing and keyboards along with their production live on stage. Fleetwood Mac definitely sells out every venue but it would have to be with Lindsey Buckingham in the band for sure.
Emmy: What's your favorite show you've played?
Eric: Leaving Eden has toured the USA, UK & Canada sharing the stage with hundreds of the biggest national bands in the world including; Lacuna Coil, In This Moment, Black Sabbath (Heaven & Hell), Ronnie James Dio, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Puddle Of Mudd, Korn, Killswitch Engage, Buckcherry, Jefferson Starship, Big Brother and The Holding Company, Country Joe, 10 Years After (40th Anniversary of Woodstock), Shinedown, Dropkick Murphy's, Alice In Chains, Papa Roach, Bret Michaels, Halestorm, Theory Of A Deadman, Avenged Sevenfold, Seether, HELLYEAH, Trapt, Dope, Soil, Fuel, Queensryche, Saving Abel, Hinder, Damage Plan, Sevendust, Sebastian Bach, Soulfly, Days Of The New, Nonpoint, Drowning Pool, The Misfits, The Butcher Babies, Collective Soul, Mushroomhead, Mudvayne, Chevelle, Godsmack, Powerman 5000, 10 Years, Taproot, Gin Blossoms, Michael Schenker (UFO, MSG & The Scorpions) Herman Rarebell (The Scorpions), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Kittie, One Eyed Doll, Uncle Kracker, Tremonti (Creed/Alterbridge) Lamb Of God, Slayer, Stone Sour, Motorhead, Blackstone Cherry, Hookers & Blow (featuring members of Guns ‘N' Roses, Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P.), Steven Tyler, Ted Nugent, Lita Ford, LA Guns, Trixter, Warrant, Apocalyptic Review (featuring members of Godsmack), Adelitas Way, Scott Stapp (the voice of Creed), Gemini Syndrome, Pop Evil, Ratt, Anthrax, Testament, Napalm Death, Nickleback, Skillet & many more. To pick one would be very hard but today let’s say it was the anniversary concert of Woodstock with Jefferson Starship, big Brother and the holding company, 10 years after and country Joe and the fish,basically whoever is still alive was there. That particular show we were not slated to play we were playing a benefit concert the day before and briefly we walked in and saw all these huge stages sound systems light shows and said wow this is going to be great. Then the guy said no you guys are playing there you’re playing over there and pointed to a coat rack of a stage. Our motto we will play anywhere anyhow anyway so long as we can so we did the show to maybe 100 people. After the show the guy came up to us and said wow you’re great you guys want to play tomorrow? And I said sure man we’re here what you got going on? He immediately got aggravated and said what do you mean what do I have going on you don’t know do you know how much money I spent on this advertising? Woodstock man!! And I said like the 90s Woodstock or? He said the original Woodstock man Jefferson Starship 10 years after you guys want to play or not? Of course I said absolutely sir. They gave us a driver in one of those 12 person golf carts and Carted us around everywhere we wanted to go. We got to meet a lot of the bands hang out with Jefferson starship and dine with the kings. Woodstock is where it all began so for us it was like full circle. We got to play on that big stage and it was surreal.
Emmy: What's the future hold for the band?
Eric: We have just released our newest album “The Agony of Affliction” released by Dark Star Records/Sony. The song will be in Massimiliano Cerchi’s movie Lockdown starring Michael Pare (The Philadelphia Experiment, Eddie and the Cruisers).
We are excited about this new album not only because of the production value but the entire album will also be featured in a new fake reality comedy movie titled “The Nitwit”
Originally I had written this 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 Ray Van Blarcom and Matt Moody “production crew” 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. 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 then he also brought in Jordan Smith as his costar and the rest is history. We expect the movie to be released in 2020 by SGL Entertainment.