10 Questions with ... The Band Perry

1) Congratulations on your debut album coming out on October 12th! What can we expect to hear?

Thank you! When we set out to write and record our album, the three of us focused on making sure each song had its own lyrical and sonic identity. We wanted our songs to be unique characters. It was our intention to have a diverse project with a wide spectrum of emotion and colors. We've weaved moments of spitfire into delicate ones. We've set off some fireworks and provided a warm blanket. We talk about dying young, ache for independence, wear our hopeless romantic hearts on our sleeves, and threaten to quit our bad habits (some of which that have names. Ha!)

Mark McKay at WGH described our music as a "modern throwback," and we agree. It's our embracing of our country roots and love for old Southern Gothic literature.

2) How long did you work on the album and can you tell us each of your roles?

Actually, we're not finished recording just yet. Once we cut our final song (later this month), we will have been working towards a finished album for over a year. We dove into the studio with Paul Worley in February 2009 to cut our first six sides. This was pre-record deal. We wanted our eventual label to sign us based on knowing exactly who we were - by giving them as much music as we could. After signing with Republic Nashville, the three of us headed into the studio with Nathan Chapman to knock out the back half of our project.

Recording with Paul and Nathan proved to be very different experiences, equally wonderful and rewarding. The three of us had pocketfuls of ideas going into the studio. We always write in a circle on our acoustic, mandolin and bass, so most of these songs were created around our natural three piece arrangements. Both Paul and Nathan were so skilled at "idea gold-panning" - sifting through good ideas to uncover great ones. It was an amazing process to watch our songs grow up from writing sessions to full blown, mature masters. We learned a ton.

We had the opportunity to play in the studio with Nashville's greatest session musicians. You'll find our voices, acoustic, mandolin and bass all over these tracks.

3) As siblings, did you all think the idea of being in a group together was just naturally a great idea or did you go back and forth on it? When did you first get together?

As performers, we'll light the candles for the 12th time on October 26th. Can't believe it's been over a decade since our very first show.

For the first seven years we were in separate bands, however. I (Kimberly) fronted a band of my high school buddies, while Reid and Neil manned the rhythm section of their very own Mobile Music Machine. MMM would open all the shows for my band and me. Even then, we knew we would play together one day - never doubted it. When we would break into a brother and sister jam on the front porch or in the living room, there was always a sense of "right" about it. It was just a matter of time until we were all comparable heights and a couple of us had lost our bowl-cuts. There is a no bowl-cut policy in The Band Perry.

4) Tell us about your musical influences. We hear you are all big Rolling Stones fans. What is it about their music that is so special? What else helped shape you?

We're huge fans of American music and bands from across the pond that have an American sound. Hence, Loretta Lynn AND the Rolling Stones. We take cues from the blue collar sensibilities of Tom Petty to the swampy Southern sounds and stories of Bobbie Gentry - and everything in between. We adore Dylan's lyrics and Paul McCartney's bass lines. Johnny Cash's candor, Janis Joplin's soul and Patsy Cline's sweetness. Bluegrass feels like home. As do the Black Crowes.

Authors also inspire us: Flannery O'Connor, John Steinbeck, Henry David Thoreau, Tennyson, and Charlie Brown.

5) You're on the road a lot from playing shows to your radio tour. How do you make it feel like home while you're out on the road?

Because we get to travel all of these miles as a family, home is always with us. We've also surrounded ourselves with tour-mates and band-mates that we are comfortable sharing life space with. They are adopted Perrys.

On the TBP tour bus you'll find homemade chocolate chip cookies courtesy of our fiddle player, a stack of movies from "Steel Magnolia" to Stephen King's "Pet Sematary" [not cemetery], pillows from our own beds back home, entirely too many suitcases, set lists and Sharpies, and a stuffed elephant named Henry.

6) We have heard that there was quite a bidding contest to sign you to a label. Why did you end up at Republic Nashville with Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen?

Scott Borchetta and the Big Machine Label Group were always #1 on our wish-list. We also kept an eye on Jimmy Harnen's accomplishments with the artists over at Capitol. When we heard a rumor that the two were joining forces to launch Republic Nashville, we knew it was where we wanted our art to find its home.

We're a band with big opinions and big ideas. There's a real sense of giving the artist a "voice" at Republic Nashville. Scott and Jimmy both welcome open, honest discussion while still offering strong hands on the steering wheel. We trust them implicitly and would follow them anywhere.

7) What was it like the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio? Can you remember where it was?

San Francisco, en route from the airport to our hotel. We passed around high-fives - and celebrated with Indian food.

8) We hear you guys read a lot. What great books have you read lately?

Kimberly: Grimm's Fairy Tales, Art Of War, Mere Christianity

Reid: The Godfather, The Iliad

Neil: Sherlock Holmes, War And Peace (This felt more like exercise than entertainment.)

9) You love Southern food, right? What is your favorite dish or meal?

Kimberly: Cherry pie

Reid: Shrimp and grits, sweet tea

Neil: Loveless Cafe's fried chicken and biscuits

10) If you weren't in music, what job would you be doing?

Kimberly: I'd either be a private investigator because I'm eternally curious OR I'd open my own bakery because I'm eternally craving. I love confection. I love creating it.

Reid: I would have become a lawyer or gone into politics because I love to debate issues and defend my positions. Sometimes I enjoy it too much, just ask Kimberly and Neil. They call it 'working on the wear-down'.

Neil: Acting has always been something I could see myself doing had I not pursued music. I'm dramatic and imitate characters constantly. I'd have wound up in entertainment, musical or not.

1) What music would we find on your mp3 players?

Kimberly: Amos Lee, Alan Jackson, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Jay-Z, Black Crowes, Alison Krauss/Robert Plant, Eric Church

Reid: Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, Zac Brown Band, Beatles, The Avett Brothers, Loretta Lynn and a lot of pitched songs by Nashville's finest songwriters

Neil: Michael Jackson, the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Judds, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Queen and - ahem - Lady Gaga.

2) What's your favorite junk food?

Kimberly: Salt & Vinegar Chips + sweet tea.

Reid: Hot dogs. No chili. Extra mustard. Extra ketchup.

Neil: Andy Capp's Hot Fries. Did you know they call me the Chili Pepper King?