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ERICA BARILE
METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Erica. So glad to be able to catch up with you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it. 
 
ERICA BARILE: Thank you  
 
MPAP: How are things going? 
 
ERICA: Everything’s going great. Ready for summer! 
 
MPAP: Before we go any further, let’s get to know a little more about your band Fall Of Man. What can you tell the readers that they need to know about you, the band, and the music that they will hear? 
 
ERICA: Our music is melodic and heavy - we’re a mix of metal and rock with a splash of prog. We all come from different musical backgrounds - from death metal to prog rock, to blues. I think we have something cool to offer listeners - we write about big topics and have an intense, rich sound with an interesting composition style.  
 
MPAP: Fall Of Man was formed in 2009 by childhood friends Mikey Lane, and your husband, Giovanni "G" Barile, and was at first an instrumental band until 2012. That would be the year when you joined the ranks as the vocalist correct? 
 
ERICA: Yes. 
 
MPAP: How did it all come about for you to join the band in 2012? 
 
ERICA: I went to every rehearsal since G and Mikey started back in ’09. I would just hang out, read a book, and listen to them jam. Everything they played sounded really cool - heavy, chunky, metal riffs with crazy time signatures. I loved everything about what they were doing. When they were in the process of looking for a vocalist, I stepped in for a bit until they could find the right fit. We kept rehearsing together and after a little while, I started coming up with lyrics and melodies to the songs. Things gradually started falling into place. It took me awhile to get my ducks in a row vocally; learning how to attack the vocals from a metal standpoint was super challenging as I came from more of a folk/blues background. I ended up finding a really awesome vocal coach, Anna Montgomery. She understood what it would take to get me get me where I needed to be - and she pushed and challenged me to get there.  
 
MPAP: Does it feel like five years has already gone by so far? 
 
ERICA: Yes and no - we’ve worked really hard over the years to develop our sound. Being in this band has pushed my limits in so many ways. It’s forced me to get out of my comfort zone and let it all hang out. This was definitely not an overnight process. 
 
MPAP: What were you previously doing before joining Fall Of Man? Were you in any other bands? 
 
ERICA: Before Fall Of Man, I wasn’t doing that much with music. G and I would write songs here and there, but nothing crazy. Back when I lived in Wisconsin, which is where I grew up, I played open mics and small coffee houses around the Madison area. I joined a couple different bands for a bit but nothing really took off. Then in my 20’s, I got together with a few friends and we started a band. We all moved out to Seattle in ’01 and we continued playing for a few months. But I ended up getting really restless. Soon after I moved there, I met my husband (G) and headed down to L.A. - now here I am! 
 
MPAP: Let’s talk about Hallways And Doors? It came out in the beginning of 2016 and received some great reviews. What else can you tell us about it that everyone needs to know? 
 
ERICA: Hallways and Doors was our first EP. Lyrically, I think this album really represents what we are about. It also captures our style and versatility as artists who come from different musical backgrounds. I think the album is an awesome foundation for us to build on. We’re always moving forward, writing new material. We’re excited to get back in the studio. 
 
MPAP: Or better yet, if you had a giant billboard put up down Main St. U.S.A., what would it need to say about Hallways And Doors
 
ERICA: I don’t know how to answer this question without sounding super cheesy. lol.  
 
MPAP: 'Lullaby' and 'Glory' is arguably a couple of the huge highlights of the release. Do you feel the same way? 
What are those two songs about? 
 
ERICA: I’ve heard that from a lot of people and I would definitely have to agree. 'Lullaby' was written about crazy dreams/nightmares I used to have. A few years ago, nearly every dream I had was about demons. In those dreams, the only way I could make them go away was by saying "Jesus". After I said that, they would vanish and I’d wake up. 'Glory' is a love song I wrote to God.  
 
MPAP: 'Lullaby' was also the first video made? How was it making the video for it? Would you do it again? 
 
ERICA: Yes, that was our first video. We knocked it out in one day and everyone had a blast - Evan and Greg from New Kingdom Productions did such an incredible job. They’re great to work with. I would do it over and over again! 
 
MPAP: Are there any plans for a follow-up video anytime soon? 
 
ERICA: I think the next video off Hallways And Doors will probably be 'Glory'. Nothing set up just yet, but stay tuned! 
 
MPAP: Explain your songwriting process? Does what’s going on in the social media, or world news events inspire your lyrics at all? 
 
ERICA: The songwriting process usually begins with G - he comes up guitar parts, then I work with him on melodies. I’ll hear something or he’ll hear something, and things start to take shape. I write most of the lyrics (G writes some too). Then we’ll jam out the new material at rehearsal. Mikey or Dan come up with ideas that help push things in the right direction, and then the songs come together from there. The topics we write about definitely revolve around what is happening in the world today. They also revolve around our faith and the spiritual battle that has been happening since the Fall of Man…Genesis 3. 
 
MPAP: Are you constantly writing material, or do you wait until it’s time to enter the studio? 
 
ERICA: We are always writing. Sometimes one song takes months to work out. Others maybe a couple weeks. It all depends. But we usually get everything prepared before studio time. We love recording. That process always helps us develop and tighten our sound. It’s just an incredibly fun experience from start to finish.  
 
MPAP: Some of your influences listed on your Facebook ‘About’ section include Tool, Faith No More, Megadeth, OpethMastodon, Iron Maiden, and Mudvayne. What have each of them done to inspire you and Fall Of Man? For example Maynard’s vocal style in Tool, Dave Mustaine’s guitar strength in Megadeth, Chad Gray’s stage presence when Mudvayne played live, or even just Iron Maiden’s huge loyal fan base? 
 
ERICA: One of the most memorable shows I’ve been to was Mudvayne at the Fonda in LA. - it must have been over 10 years ago…when they released 'Happy?' - I remember the moment Chad walked on stage - he grabbed the crowd by the balls and held them there the entire set - his performance was electrifying! I was mesmerized. I didn’t really know what to think about Tool at first. But after a few listens, I fell hard for them. Tool was my “entry drug” into metal (even though you can’t pin them as a metal band - they’re pretty much their own genre). Their music offers an experience I never get sick of. Maynard is definitely one of my favorite vocalists. He’s a very clever lyricist. Faith No More is wildly creative. They mix funk and metal and rock and it’s just a hot, sticky, wonderful mess - like a Cinnabon. Mike Patton isn’t afraid to experiment with his vocals and his lyrics crack me up sometimes - he definitely inspires me. Mastodon is an acquired taste. Their music is intricate, gritty, beautiful, and brilliantly chaotic at times. There’s so much going on in every song. I’m amazed that Brann can play drums and sing so well at the same time. Each band member contributes their musical genius and the end result is amazing. I LOVE their latest album. Opeth is a band I recently fell in love with. We got to see them for the first time last October at the Belasco in Downtown L.A. They put on a two-hour set - anyone who attended that show will tell you that was a once in a lifetime experience. We saw them in Sacramento the next day at the Ace of Spades (the night before the Aftershock Festival). Their music, like Tool, also offers a rare experience that you can easily get addicted to. G introduced me to all of these bands after I moved to LA (the only metal bands I had been exposed to at the time were Metallica and Pantera). I love Iron Maiden and Megadeth, but I’d say that Mikey, Dan, and G are probably more inspired by them than I am 
 
MPAP: Music for many is a place to escape. A way to release and get away from the repetitive doldrums of the day or week. Wouldn’t you agree? 
 
ERICA: For the most part, yes. But sometimes, for me, music can be so powerful that it exposes ugly, hidden emotions in me that need to be dealt with…sadness, anger, depression. Those are emotions I want to escape from. Music helps me face those emotions vs. escape them.  
 
MPAP: Some will also say music saved them at one point in their life. Unfortunately, going somewhere to gather and listen to music can cost you your life. What are your thoughts on the recent terrorist attack in Manchester, England, and the previous terrorist attack at the Bataclan in Paris, France in 2015? 
 
ERICA: Our freedom is under attack right now. Whether that means going to an Ariana Grande concert, taking a stroll down London Bridge on a Saturday night, or going out to dinner with friends at your favorite cafe, ISIS hates anything that resembles freedom and they’ll do whatever it takes to destroy it. What will it take to stop them from continuing this madness? Thoughts and prayers and social media memes aren’t enough. We really need to get our heads out of our asses and take this seriously- we need figure this out.  
 
MPAP: Back in the day, for someone to get new music, they would have to go to a record store or listen to the radio all day long to hear something. Record stores are pretty much extinct, and most radio stations stray away from playing anything that’s considered a metal genre? What does Fall Of Man do to spread the word?  
 
ERICA: There are two sides to the coin- on one side, the Internet has screwed the music industry so hard that it is impossible for any touring metal band to make a living off record sales. On the other side, the Internet makes it easier for bands like us to get our material out there - Spotify, Apple Music, etc. But getting it heard can definitely be an uphill battle. We’ve used sites like MusicSUBMIT that send our material to radio stations and music bloggers, and of course ReverbNation and Facebook promos here and there. We do what we can and hope to gain more listeners along the way. 
 
MPAP: Do you remember when bands would plaster telephone poles with flyers of upcoming shows? Since you're from LA, does that still happen? 
 
ERICA: I grew up near Madison WI and definitely remember seeing flyers about local bands and such - besides the local newspaper, that was how you’d hear about shows. Man things have changed! I feel old AF. 
 
MPAP: Before we bring this interview to a close, what’s next for Fall Of Man? What can your fans expect? 
 
ERICA: We’re working on booking a few shows this summer, then getting back in the studio this fall to record our new material.  
 
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, thank you Erica, for the interview. Look forward to what Fall Of Man does to finish out the year 2017 and then beyond. 
Is there anything else you’d like to say? 
 
ERICA: Thanks so much for the interview!  
 

Band Members:

Erica Barile (vocals) 
Giovanni "G" Barile (guitar) 
Mikey Lane (drums) 
"Dan the Man" Scala (bass)

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