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METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Kayla and Tayler. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
First off, how are the both of you doing? Has 2017 treated you well? Any complaints so far?
KAYLA & TAYLER SMITH: Of course! Thank you so much for having us. We’re doing awesome. 2017 has been a killer year for us and we’ve done so much more this past year than we have in the entire history of the band. We actually just started touring November of 2016, so this was our first year being on the road full time and we couldn’t have asked for a better first year of touring. We played with so many amazing bands and made so many new friends we can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store! Zero complaints.
MPAP: For those that might not know, The Scars Heal In Time, just finished doing The Long Live The Flame Tour with North Carolina’s hard rockers A Light Divided? How was that, everything you expected and more?
KAYLA & TAYLER: We had an absolute blast on this run with A Light Divided. They are all super cool and really easy going. This was our first time branching out over to the East, so we played a lot of new markets for the first time and can’t wait to make it out that way again soon.
MPAP: Is there anything about the tour you can share now that’s it’s over with and you’re in the comforts of your home? Any memorable highlights you want to share with everyone?
KAYLA & TAYLER: So, we travel in an old prison bus that we have converted into an RV type of situation, but it still has the blue emergency lights and the big "DETENTION TRANSPORT" on the side and front. We’ve never had any trouble with cops. As soon as we hit Mississippi we got pulled over because the cop thought we were smuggling drugs for the cartel. The next day we get into Georgia and again get pulled over for the same thing! This guy brought out the drug dogs and everything. He was asking us if we had over 5 pounds of Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth or Heroin. If we had any dead bodies, dynamite, hand grenades or rocket launchers. It was crazy. On a good note we did have some VIP’s this tour and our VIP’s were so cool. These were some people we have had on our social media for years just waiting for us to come over to the east and we finally got to meet a few of them! That’s the best part about any of this. These people who we didn’t even know had been supporting us for years and getting the chance to finally meet them was just killer. We have some of the greatest fans out there!
MPAP: Before we go on, before we get any further, let’s back up a minute and find out more about The Scars Heal In Time so that everyone is on the same level, so that everyone is on the same floor together. Tell us what each of you does in the band?
KAYLA: I play rhythm guitar and sing.
TAYLER: I play the Drums.
MPAP: The Scars Heal In Time are Houston, Texans born and bred that formed in 2010 correct?
KAYLA & TAYLER: We were actually born in Bozeman, Montana. But our parents moved us to Texas when we were really young. So, Montana born Texas raised and we formed in July of 2010.
MPAP: Did you first want to start out as a garage cover bar band, or were you from the beginning, right from the get-go, writing original music to take the band to the next level and get out of that so-called garage band level status?
KAYLA & TAYLER: We started as a three piece in 2010 doing cover songs at local open mics and over time replaced covers one by one with originals.
MPAP: Now that we all know who you are now, and what you do, let’s get even deeper under the skin, get even deeper into the heart. Why should we listen to your music, or even come to see you play a local live show someday?
KAYLA & TAYLER: This new EP we have coming out in January called Unidentified is what we’ve been working on for the past several months and we’re so excited to release it. We feel like this is a great representation of where we’re at right now. We had a hard time picking singles off of the album because we have such a deep connection with each individual song. We just put out a brand-new music video for "In Your Flame" and it’s doing really well online but what we really encourage everyone to do is come out and catch a show if we’re in your area. We love putting music out online but there is definitely an energy that no matter what you do you can’t capture it through a recording. Playing live is our absolute favorite thing next to getting to meet and hang out with fans.
MPAP: So, going back to when it all first began, when the blueprints to The Scars Heal In Time band began to mold and take shape, what had inspired you both to want to be a musician? Money, and or fame, wouldn’t come easy, or even at all, so why did you both want to take that next step, that leap off the cliff and pursue a musical career?
KAYLA & TAYLER: Music had always been a big part of our family. Our Dad and I took guitar lessons together and played open mics together all the time. This is actually why we formed the band and where the name came from in the first place. In 2010 our Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. He had surgery to remove the tumor and he had a huge scar on the side of his head and we would tell him the scars would heal over time. Music was such a natural outlet for all of us, so we took it and ran with it. It was the perfect distraction. When he passed away in 2012 it only fueled the fire to take this all the way.
MPAP: Moving forward now, let’s talk about your new single and video called "In Your Flame". The video contains a warning sign because it contains graphic portrayals of drug abuse and violence in it. A lot of people know the outcome and the path it will lead them, but they still choose to do it anyways. Drugs and violence are something that has almost become the norm these days without any severe consequences, right?
KAYLA & TAYLER: Oh definitely. You can’t even turn on the news without hearing about drugs or violence. Mass murders left and right, celebrities dying from overdoses or their bodies giving up after years of previous drug abuse. It’s insane.
MPAP: Who wrote the song "In Your Flame"? What was the inspiration behind this very dark and disturbing subject? Are either of you writing from personal experiences about it?
KAYLA: I did. The inspiration for this song came from friendships I’ve had in the past that turned me into something I wasn’t. I think everyone has had either a friendship or a relationship that brings out the darkest side of them, honestly a lot of my inspiration comes from the experiences of others. I pull inspiration from friends and family but also stuff I see online and in movies. I feel like you are limiting yourself and your songs potential when you limit your writing to solely your own experiences. Luckily in this case the video plot for "In Your Flame" was not written from personal experience.
MPAP: Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, for those of us that might not have seen the video just yet for "In Your Flame", tell us about it?
KAYLA & TAYLER: The song itself is about the effects and aftermath of letting yourself be consumed by a toxic relationship. Whether it’s a friendship, or a romantic relationship toxic people can ruin you. Some of the lyrics that play into that are “You made a liar out of me. You inspire the darkest side of me. It’s gripping at me from within as I dive deep into your sin”, and, “Take me higher and I won’t feel the pain as I am burning in your flame.” The "Flame" being the most evil side of that person. The video shows a woman in an abusive relationship being thrown around and she gives him a taste of his own medicine as she becomes the worst version of herself.
MPAP: With this video what were you trying to get across to everyone? Obviously, there was a point-blank message, but was there more to it that you were trying to get across to everyone? A hidden layer of the onion you might say?
KAYLA & TAYLER: Really, we made the video so blunt and straightforward for that reason. I mean you can take the lyrics and apply them to any toxic situation you’ve been in. But we didn’t want to beat around the bush. We wanted this video to come at you full force putting it all out there.
MPAP: The video can almost be part of the soundtrack to the recent Hollywood, California stories going on in the media? Hollywood has practically turned upside down in the matter of a few short weeks. It all started with the numerous allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape against film producer Harvey Weinstein back in October of 2017. Now the list has even grown even larger, with recent allegations against Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., George Takei, Steven Segal, Ben Affleck, and even former President George H. W. Bush. What are your thoughts on all this?
KAYLA & TAYLER: No comment.
MPAP: What would you want to tell someone that might be in that vulnerable place in their life and don’t know what to do?
KAYLA & TAYLER: First, I would say that no matter what IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. I would say that coming forward as quickly as you can is the most important thing. You’re not alone and you are not wrong. But nothing can be done if you don’t speak up and even worse your attacker might hurt someone else while you are holding your tongue. In this most difficult pain you have been given a chance to stand up and be a hero. Don’t allow that person to have control over you. Every victim of sexual assault that comes forward is paving the way for those who will follow. Every rapist convicted, and every predator sentenced makes it that much easier for the next person to be heard.
MPAP: What about the drug abuse? Is that something you see a lot being a musician and traveling venue to venue, state to state with other bands?
KAYLA & TAYLER: It’s really sad but unfortunately, we see that all the time. It’s just something that is readily available in this industry.
MPAP: Do you believe the lifestyles of being a rock star and excessive addictions still go hand in hand, even way after the years 60s through the 90s are now long gone? A lot of bands post pictures of themselves working out nonstop, and Veganism seems to take the place of some of the debauchery backstage?
KAYLA & TAYLER: It is definitely still a thing for sure. But I do think people are starting to realize it isn’t a realistic lifestyle. Touring is so hard on the mind and body anyways I could not imagine throwing drugs into the mix. We don’t even drink on tour because of that reason! We’ve met quite a few vegans and vegetarians in the touring bands we’ve come across over the past year and it is refreshing to see the ones who are promoting a healthy lifestyle on the road.
MPAP: So, let’s change gears before we bring this interview to a close. By the end of this year 2017, you will have toured for half of it? That’s not an easy task, to say the least is it?
KAYLA & TAYLER: It was a crazy year for us, but we wouldn’t have had it any other way. We absolutely love touring! We plan on doing as many tours as possible in 2018.
MPAP: What has been one of the longest stretches out on the road so far?
KAYLA & TAYLER: This past August we went out for a few weeks with our friends City Of The Weak, stopped home for a few days and then we went out on the Autumn Rebellion Tour in September and that was about a month long.
MPAP: After getting home from a long tour, what’s one of the first things each of you does? What’s something that you must do immediately?
KAYLA & TAYLER: Three things in this order:
1. Beg my dogs for forgiveness for leaving them
2. Shower in my own shower
3. Sleep in my own bed
MPAP: Last couple questions. You mentioned you will have an EP coming out early January 2018 called, Unidentified. What can you say about it?
KAYLA & TAYLER: We recorded Unidentified with Justin Rimer in Crosstrax Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. This EP is some of our favorite stuff we’ve ever written. We’ve released "I’m About To Break" and "In Your Flame" as singles and there are three more tracks on this EP. This writing experience was very different from what we usually do and we are so happy with how it has turned out!
MPAP: How would you save you’ve grown as a band since your first release Twisted Truth compare to Unidentified?
KAYLA: I was 14 when I started writing some of the songs on Twisted Truth and I’m 23 now. I like to think I’ve gained at least a little life experience to help fill out our sound. The music itself has progressed so much. We have so many more elements in our sounds than we used to.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you both, Kayla and Tayler, for doing this interview. Look forward to what The Scars Heal In Time does in 2018 and beyond.
Before we bring this interview to a close, any last words you’d both like to say to the readers and all your fans out there?
KAYLA & TAYLER: Thank you so much for having us! We’ve had a blast. I’d say if you haven’t seen our newest music video for "In Your Flame" yet than check it out! Be on the lookout for our new EP Unidentified coming in January as well as some new tour announcements for 2018. Be sure to check out www.TheScarsHealInTime.com to get linked up with all of our social media so you can keep up with us!
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