Texas-based indie rock quintet Eisley, like any band, has experienced its share of ups and downs.
After signing with Warner Bros. Records in 2003, the group went on a four-year tear releasing two full-length albums and six EPs, touring with a number of other bands including Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Switchfoot and Bleach, as well as making its television debut on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."
In 2008, however, both personal and business relationships had started to fall apart for the band as the members began working on their third album, The Valley.
"When we were writing for The Valley, we were in a crazy place in our personal lives and I think that may have stripped away our ability a little, to write lyrics that sounded as whimsical as they had in the past," said Sherri DuPree-Bemis, vocalist and guitarist.
Even with the release of the band's seventh EP, Fire Kite, in October of 2009, things weren't exactly looking up. In fact, the early part of 2010 saw Eisley and Warner Bros. Records go their separate ways.
"We had hit a bit of an all-time low after leaving Warner Bros. with The Valley just sitting in our laps," DuPree-Bemis said.
Things started to turn around for Eisley, however, later that same year when the band signed with Equal Vision Records and acquired the rights for The Valley from Warner Bros.
"I know success is relative, but I am proud of the amount we've been able to accomplish with the help of everyone at our new label the past year," DuPree-Bemis said.
The Valley hit No. 75 on the Billboard 200, as well as securing the No. 5 and No. 3 positions on Amazon.com's MP3s Top 10 Album chart and New Albums chart, respectively. In addition, the group's music video for the title track is seeing airtime on both Fuse and MTV.
Eisley sets out on tour this spring to promote the February release of its latest EP, Deep Space.
"Deep Space [was] a really cool project for us. It was the first time we were given the freedom to record something without a producer," DuPree-Bemis said.
It also revisits the Eisley style that fans have come to love.
"This EP is definitely for the fans."
Photo: Chris Phelps
