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10 Questions with ... Lacey Sturm
February 16, 2016
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1) Lacey, thanks for taking the time to do 10Q's with All Access. Where does this interview find you today?
I'm actually home in Pittsburgh at the moment getting on a plane tomorrow, heading to Florida.
2) When did you know that being a rock & roll singer was going to be your destiny?
I never really knew that. I'm such a present person that even when I'm standing on stage singing in front of thousands of people, I'm still not certain of where I will be tomorrow. I'm always amazed at the adventure life brings when I'm willing to roll with what's in front of me.
3) What bands or artists are some of your major influences musically?
I grew up listening to '80s pop, then '90s grunge, but what makes me love music is really soundtracks and scores. That's what makes me want to make music. I love how music tells a story through soundscapes and stories through lyrics. I like to be able to tell what the song is about without understanding the lyrics.
4) You had great success as the lead vocalist for Flyleaf. Can you give us some of the highlights of your experience with that band?
Flyleaf was an amazing little family. The best part about being in Flyleaf to me was getting to be a little family. We were dysfunctional a lot of the time, but we still had birthday parties and tour pranks and fits of crazy laughing. We had tears and fights and all that, too. Just like any family. I love those guys and the Flyleaf crew.
5) You stepped down as lead vocalist of the band in 2012. What were the main contributing factors that lead to that decision?
Well, the last album I toured on was our second record called Memento Mori, meaning remember you are mortal or remember you will die. And the message was supposed to make people really think about how to make the best decisions about what to do with their day if it was the last, or their year if it was their last. And when I became pregnant with my first son, I realized the answer to that question really was to go home and focus all my energy on learning what it was like to be a mom. I know that it was the right decision for me at the time. So even though it was difficult, I'm glad I made it.
6) After leaving Flyleaf, you took some time off before getting back into music. What was the inspiration for returning to the rock & roll arena?
Well, I was listening to the radio and thinking of our fans and people out there, like my 16-year-old self, who were dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts and abuse and addictions. I was just frustrated that although it is important to have someone get where you are coming from in your hopelessness, It's important to have hope alongside that hopelessness. It's like yes, these feelings are real, but they aren't the end of the story. There was this vacuum of hope filled honest music in my opinion. And I just wanted to scream hope into that void. And when I realized I could do that and still be a good mom, I was like, why would I not do that? And teach my kids how to face darkness and be a light in it. Not run from it or be afraid of it or just accept that life is just that way ... but do something good about it.
7) In September 2014 you released your autobiography "The Reason: How I Discovered a Life Worth Living." What made you decide to write a book?
My husband saw me answering all these e-mails and just weeping over them and trying to answer as many as I could. There were so many stories of hopelessness and depression and people not thinking they're worth anything. My husband just thought maybe it would help if I just wrote a book for the ones who were reaching out to me for answers to where I found my hope as a suicidal Atheist at 16 ... and so I talk about how I found that hope in Christ.
8) Now let's talk about your new solo album "Life Screams." What can we expect to hear on this new album?
Honesty. Urgency. Hope, of course...
9) You're also going out on tour and playing some major Rock festivals this year. Who's in your band and how excited are you to get back on the road?
My husband is playing guitar, my friend Tom Gascon is playing the drums for some of the shows and my friend Ben Hull is playing the bass for some of them as well. Since this is a solo project we are giving them the freedom to come to as many shows as they can make and having others fill in when they can't. I'm nervous and excited to be on the road, because it will be a new adventure for my family.
10) Finally, what's your take on the state of current Rock music? Is it as good now as it was back in the day?
I love rock music. Rock music is filled with passionate justice seekers. It's very dark in many ways and that people are realizing that you can be just as passionate and angry for justice to prevail without all the self-destructive nature that rock seems to be assumed to carry. That's beautiful and powerful. That self-destruction is still out there, of course, but I think there is still a great shift and it's awesome.
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