Metal Anarchy

Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “Music In The Age Of COVID-19” series, the feature where I discuss the ongoing pandemic with various musicians. This time I have an interview with Eric Gynan of Leaving Eden.

METAL ANARCHY: How have you been holding up during the coronavirus pandemic?

GYNAN: I think everybody is having a difficult time. We were fortunate with the good weather having shows outside. As the cold starts to creep in it becomes much harder. The overwhelming feeling of empathy for humankind can be overbearing and one wishes they can do more for others. Sometimes you can feel powerless, but then even the smallest things one may do to help another can add up in the end.

METAL ANARCHY: Have you been using your downtime to work on new music?

GYNAN: Yes! We ended up recording our new album titled “Fable“.

The World Is Yours

The Rose

Detached

We normally don’t start recording until August. Where most of the album was previously written I feel it’s pretty prophetic. Our last album titled “Dream With Me”

Blood Runs Cold

House of the Rising Sun

Dream With Me

Released in May of this year, by then we had already finished recording Fable which is due to be released in January 2021.

METAL ANARCHY: What was the last show you played or attended before the shutdown?

GYNAN: We were on tour in March down south in the USA. We finished up with Daytona bike week. We headed back during the lockdowns. It was pretty surreal heading back all the way up the East Coast watching what was going on.

METAL ANARCHY: Are you planning to play any livestream concerts during this time?

GYNAN: Yes again. We’ve been able to release quite a few music videos during this time. Some from our last album and some from our new album before its release. As the cold sets in we will definitely be doing some live streams.

METAL ANARCHY: Do you think the live entertainment industry will ever recover?

GYNAN: I believe it will always recover but what’s lost in the meantime is very sad. When people have to put their lives on hold for such an extended period of time it seems catastrophic for some. When you look at the entire music industry and you think about all of the people involved with big concerts it just becomes direly exponential. The biggest factor is people living in fear and I’ve always said fear is the root to all evil. They say money is, but I say it’s fear of not having money, fear of losing, etc. Fear puts people in such a vulnerable mindset. Fear also causes stress which then attacks the immune system, opening people up to illness. When you look at the local bar and the local bands and see all these bands not having the opportunities, it causes bars to close forever and bands to ultimately break up. I’m saddened but with hope. Hope for things to turn around. Hope for a generation of new musicians being able to stay in the game.

METAL ANARCHY: Lastly, is there anything fans can do to help your band or others that may be struggling during this time?

GYNAN: I think that with the streaming platforms such as Spotify, Pandora etc., it doesn’t cost people anything to listen to their favorite bands but the bands still get paid. To me that’s a win for all granted, the pay is so little, but if people got hundreds of thousands of streams then they will end up making some money. Videos get monetized so that’s another way of helping bands. Where people are really living their own Hells right now, they just don’t have the resources to help others, here are two ways that can help their favorite musicians for free essentially. Nice chatting here and peace!!