By Zoran Theodorovic …..Buy us a Coffee on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/capitalchaostv
From the rebellious women of the Old West to the darker corners of their forthcoming album Haunted, Los Angeles punk ’n’ roll outfit The Hellflowers have plenty to say. Vocalist Christina Eskew talks creative independence, musical influences, the paranormal, and why sometimes you just need to let loose.
“Wild Ones” is described as an anthem for women refusing to be controlled, categorized, or reshaped to fit society’s expectations. Was there a particular experience or moment that inspired you to write it, and what do you hope listeners take away from the song?
Yes. I bought a book at a used bookstore called “Wild Women of the Old West” and felt inspired reading the stories of women that didn’t follow the path of women of their time. They were challenging the status quo and refusing to fit into society’s Standards. It reminded me that we should continue doing that as women. Especially in today’s world.
How do you use punk rock to remind women that they are in control of their own lives while writing lyrics that listeners can relate to personally?
I wrote the song about women but when you think about the lyrics they can be related to anyone who feels pressure from the outside world to change themselves or conform to what others expect of them especially when it’s not in their best interest and doesn’t feel right.
“Wild Ones” is the first taste of your upcoming third album, Haunted, due in February 2027. What can you tell us about the album’s overall themes, and does this first single give us a good indication of what to expect from the rest of the record?
We decided on the title “Haunted” because this is by far our darkest album yet. The album starts upbeat then meanders into darker themes. We like to mix genres and this album definitely does that.
The Hellflowers have spent more than a decade embracing the DIY ethos, from recording and artwork to videos and promotion. What have been the biggest challenges and rewards of doing so much yourselves, and has your approach to independence changed as the band has grown?
The biggest challenge I think would be creatives with absolutely no business sense basically running a business. Luckily we are very passionate about this project (Matt and Christina) we don’t mind spending most of our free time on it. We also love having all the creative control. As we’ve grown we’ve had some help from a couple labels with product and distribution. Shout out to Rum Bar Records and Missing Fink Records.
Your sound draws on the melodic strengths of Blondie and The Pretenders alongside the raw energy of Ramones and The Clash. How do you keep those influences alive without getting trapped in nostalgia, and what do you think The Hellflowers bring to that classic punk ’n’ roll formula?
We honestly had to come up with a way to describe our sound. To truly describe it you’d have to listen to since we really don’t think we sound like anyone out there. And we started this project without a genre or similar band in mind and we continue to mix everything we love with our own creativity.
Your upcoming album is called Haunted, which naturally raises questions about the unexplained. Are you someone who believes in ghosts, UFOs, or extraterrestrial life? Have you ever experienced anything you couldn’t explain, or is the paranormal more interesting to you as a source of creative inspiration?
I believe in spirits for sure and definitely think there is more than likely aliens of some sort out there!
What gear or equipment helps create The Hellflowers’ sound, and what’s one thing you can’t tour without?
For me, my wireless guitar system. I need to be able to go wild while singing and playing!
If you could design the ultimate festival catering menu for The Hellflowers with unlimited budget, absolutely no nutritional concerns, and one completely ridiculous food item allowed—what would be on the menu, and which band member would be first in line?
Tough one! Whatever we have would have to have vegan options for Stevyn (drummer) and tons of Gluten Free options for Christina who is celiac. Christina would definitely be the first in line!
Categories: Interviews, News
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