She Cries Wolf

She Cries Wolf have made a name for themselves as being one of the most chaotic local bands to see live. Formed in the middle of 2014, the Gold Coast boys have made a big impact thus far, and with such an intense show, the buzz around them continues to grow until their next and inevitably frantic release. We spoke with vocalist Luke Harriss about how 2015 has been treating She Cries Wolf, and where they’ll be going next.

So Luke, how was the band’s recent show supporting Cancer Bats, and how did you find them live?

It was really cool. We had High Tension playing right after, and they were easily the band of the night for me. Cancer Bats killed it [though], and they’ve got a cool energy.

Speaking of shows, you guys are on Invasion Fest with a load of other sick bands. That will be the second time you've come through Melbourne, right?

Yeah, definitely keen to come back and play some new material. We played about three shows last time we were there, so it’ll be good to just play one massive one. The line-up for it is sick. It’s definitely showcasing some of our favourite bands, and some of Australia’s bands, which is awesome.

‘Chapter II’ is out this week, is it going to be a stand alone track, or a part of something bigger?

So, for now it’s going to be a single, but it’ll be coming off a new album that we’ll be releasing early next year. It’s a really good single, and we’re all really proud of it. It also gives people a good indication of where we are heading.

With ‘Divorce’, it’s a very emotional and cathartic album and I wondered if it was about an actual divorce or split, or if the title is just a metaphor or conduit for other themes and emotions?

It was interesting. I had just gone through a tough time mentally, and I think that reflects in the lyrics. Simultaneously to that, Coen’s parents split up too. So I wrote and focused on things that I wanted to divorce myself from, and then he came to us with his parents splitting up, and that tied in there as well. It was non-literal but literal as well, as I was divorcing myself from all of this negativity, and now it’s all gone. That’s the last time that I want to write something so negative.

When it comes to the cathartic nature of the band, you guys have such an intense live show. So I’m going to go on a limb and say that you guys are generally all really big fans of bands like The Chariot, Vanna, Norma Jean and At The Drive-In?

For sure man. You’ve just listed all of our favourite bands. that’s definitely where all of that comes from.

What do your parents think about that? As most like to think of their children as rock stars when they play in bands, yet you and Daniel [Belic, guitar] are just going nuts and beating the shit out of each other.

Yeah, we all hate Belic. He’s like our punching bag. Even the crowds at our local shows do, and hopefully other towns and cities cotton onto that soon. I can’t speak on the other band members as we haven’t had that conversation funnily enough. But they’re all so supportive. They don’t like seeing all the violence and they didn’t get what we were doing at first, but they know now that it’s too serious and that it’s all positive and everyone’s smiling between songs.

Right on, Luke. A friend of mine by the name of Ashley saw you guys at Wrangler Studios when you played there and he got a bloody nose in the pit, and he told me later on that it was one of the best sets he’d ever seen.

[Laughs] I do remember that actually, that was probably one of the most fun sets on the tour.

Again, with the live shows, did you always start out with going bat-shit crazy such? Or did it just develop over time?

It has evolved, definitely, but we’ve always placed a massive emphasis on putting as much into our live shows in terms of performance and energy. But it has evolved and it’s gotten intense over time, for the better of course.

What’s the worst injury that you or another member has suffered live? If any at all, though I’m sure there must be.

I personally haven’t been hospitalised, but Belic and Coen have, and so has Alex [Moutin, drums] funnily enough. His was the most notable. A drumstick splintered off and blinded him in one eye. He had several operations getting the wood removed from his eye, so that was pretty gnarly. Someone actually threw my microphone up in the air as I was lying on the ground and hit me right on the head. I had a massive bruise for that tour. There’s definitely injuries, but it’s all in good fun.

[Laughs] that’s what I really like about you guys. Plus, when people get scared of your sets and think you’re these violent guys.

It’s something you have to see live, in person, to understand, maybe even a couple times. There have been some people who come up to us afterwards and ask why we’re so angry, but after a few shows they get that it’s all about letting off steam.

With "letting off steam”, are you a much calmer, more zen-like person outside of the band?

It’s my artistic outlet and my outlet for my anger as well. People find it really interesting, my demeanour I mean, because I’m not an aggressive personality at all. I’m actually pretty quite [laughs].

All right, cool. I figured you might have been the polar opposite when you’re not in the band. Now, this is more of a request but I plan to see you guys at Invasion Fest, so will you and Bellic beat the shit out of me to ‘Baal’?

Yeah, dude! Just come up to the front and you’ll cop it. It’ll be good fun [laughs].

‘Divorce’ is out now. 

Catch the band touring the east coast, with Jack The Stripper, and performing at Melbourne’s Invasion Fest this December.