Post-grunge rockers Future Leaders Of The World are back with a brand new full-length album in the shape of the fantastic Reveal – set for release this month. While the band from Buffalo gear up for a huge touring cycle in Japan and the States, as well as releasing their own clothing line ‘F.L.O.W Gear’, frontman and founder Phil Taylor took the time to discuss opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd, important influences, and the new album.
Hey Phil, how does it feel to be back with a new full-length album in a long time?
It feels awesome. We worked extremely hard on this album, and put a lot of love and passion into it. For it to see the light of day and have people finally hear it on a major scale is a huge blessing for all of us right now. Albeit a little shocking even to us, we’ll have to admit. (laughs)
Reveal hits the shelves next month, how do you feel it continues from your last EP outing Delirium?
Good question! Well, it’s completely different in the sense that it’s a full-length record that flow’s in song continuity and also has an overall fully-realized theme. While it does contain two songs from the EP (“Our Secrets”, “Wherever the Wind Blows”), it really shows the growth of the band and how we’ve matured musically over the past few years. I think it’s leaps and bounds above what we did on Delirium,” so I’d have to say it’s a smash through follow-up. I truly believe “REVEAL” is a breakthrough record for us artistically.
You’ve toured with the likes of Shinedown, Alter Bridge and Velvet Revolver, but what would you say was your favourite gig in the bands history?
Dang that’s tough to narrow down, but I’d have to say opening up for Lynyrd Skynyrd for 20k plus in Montgomery, ALABAMA in 2005 w/ Collective Soul was probably the most prolific show I’ve done to date. I’m 21 years-old, performing and sharing the stage with legends that my Dad listened to growing up.. That was just surreal, I don’t think I really had the proper mind-set to really soak in what was actually happening at that point in time. (laughs)
You’ve previously regarded New Orleans as a place of inspiration for your music, what is it specifically about this place?
Yes this is true. I could still write, and probably will write many more songs about my intense experience living/writing music in NOLA. I could write a movie (laughs). I guess it’s just the overall mysteriousness and freedom of expression within the cultural diversity there. Most cities in the U.S., it’s fast food joints and strip malls every other block- you know the drill. Here, you have a city with so much rich history and a preserved culture, a love for all things art, without the poison of gentrification or major corporations.
When I first moved there I was overwhelmed with how positive and encouraging people were about our music. Most other cities in the states the music industry are very cut throat and overly competitive, pretty fake to me. In NOLA people do it for their passion and could really care a less about the mass appeal they just do them, which I can relate to. It’s a great place to be an artist because people travel from all over the world to embrace New Orleans culture- music art and food and… Okay, I’ll be honest. It’s all because of the food, it’s the best food of all-times. Case closed.
How did it feel for your vocals to be compared to “modern day Kurt Cobain” from Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder?!”
Ha! That was really funny because the way I heard about that statement was a good friend of mine Justin Amato was backstage working a show at VooDoo festival in New Orleans a few years back.. He showed Eddie some of our new music and he said, “Oh yeah I remember that band, they were on Epic – singer sounded like a modern day Kurt Cobain, I really dig that CD,” and then I saw photo evidence of the them together, which later led me to believe the story was true, and it was in fact later verified (laughs). It’s really humbling because I grew up listening to Pearl Jam and their music was one of the reasons I even started playing guitar or singing. So to think he even heard of me, let alone liked it, and then that – it’s definitely a trip. I hope to meet and or tour with Pearl Jam someday, I am still a huge fan of their work, past and present. That last bio documentary they did was amazing as well, It really gave a clear glimpse into the hype and mystique of what was going on back then in the Seattle scene and the whole grunge-alternative 90’s movement. I was just a kid back then, but I miss it and do my best to carry the spark with me in my music today.
“Let Me Out” is undoubtedly one of your biggest hits, does it still have the same effect live 11 years on?
Oddly enough, yes. For some reason, that song has really touched a lot of people’s lives. I get stories all the time, letters and even in person testimonies about how, “Let Me Out,” got them through rough times in jail, rehab, bad relationship issues with their parents- or even overseas fighting for our country. It’s really humbling and an honor to do this for a living when you hear from people’s own mouths that the music you created helped them in such a profound way.. We have THE MOST loyal and obviously patient fans in the world I believe. We don’t have millions of fans yet, but we have fans that connect with us on a deep and real level that are moved, and truly inspired by what we do. When I hear from fans how our music affected in a long-lasting way like this, it inspires me to be even better so that hopefully I can inspire some of the next generation’s artists in some way.
There is a lot going on in Reveal’s new album cover, what can you tell us about the story behind it?
Yes, there is. Well, it’s allegorical. And by that I mean that it’s not calling out or identifying any one thing really but is a general social commentary. The artist and I Matt Wells (Lizardman) worked for a very long time together on this piece, it was quite tedious. We wanted to create a theme that represented an “Us vs. Them” type of vibe, the quintessential hero vs. anti-hero show on the, “stage of life.” Which really comes down to, the people that are sincere at heart in this world, vs. the ones who deceive others for their own personal profit and ill-gain. The real meaning behind the name, Reveal, is scriptural, Ephesians 5:11 “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” I wanted to express that I sense in these times, secrets that have been hidden in the darkness for ages will come to light and be seen plainly. Within that larger spectrum, there are personal revelations as well in our minds and hearts that many are currently awakening to, which is how darkness in the world is being revealed. Through inner transformation, wisdom, and illumination which is given to us freely by grace of Christ Jesus. That is what I believe and know to be real, I am of course learning more every day. We also weaved in some, “Wizard of Oz-ish,” art to play off the classic “man behind the curtain,” idea to make it fun and not look so dark and heavy. At the end of the day, it’s a colorful piece of art we enjoyed creating, at least I did. Matt Wells (Lizardman) may hate me now for having to entertain all my absurdly long-winded concepts. (laughs)
There are some fantastic new songs on Reveal, but which ones do you feel are the most significant to you?
All of them! Ha! Well every band says that I’m sure, but to me it’s true. This being a concept album, they all are interwoven into a bigger story. However, if I had to choose which stick out the most to me I would say, “LIVE AGAIN,” “Mirror,” “Not Forsaken,” and “Rain.” Those probably aren’t the fan favorites, but those ones mean the most to me lyrically and personally. Those are the tracks that are more spiritual and intense to me when I perform live.
Do you have any future touring plans in the pipeline?
Yes we are going to Japan and performing in Tokyo at KingsX Tokyo in Ikebukuro for GrindHouse Magazine’s 15th anniversary party on March 1st. We are hosting our CD release and Listening party there at New Lex Tokyo and also launching our clothing line F.L.O.W. GEAR there on the 28th as well. We will be hitting the road back in the states in late March-April in support of our new radio single, “LIVE AGAIN,” with a notable CD Release party for, “REVEAL,” at the House of Blues Parish room in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 3rd. There is definitely much more on deck this year, but that is all we can disclose at this time. You’ll have to go to our site to stay up to speed!
Why should people check you out and buy the new album?
I truly feel that with all we went through and sacrificed to make this record a reality, people will hear a sincerity in our music that will motivate them to seek their own truths and personal best. I believe that art reflects life, and vice versa. This is the type of record that you can listen to, and it should really motivate you to go out and get your best in life; that you can live in victory and overcome no matter what battle(s) you’re facing. That’s the energy we put into our music when we perform it, so that’s the life we expect people get from our music. I think we have something really unique powerful with this new line-up, album and team at Pavement Entertainment. We are excited to get out there and share this fresh batch of music with our loyal fans- and make some new ones along our journey. We are going all out on this release and performance because very rarely do you get second chances, this is IT!! See you at the BIG show!!!
Connect with FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD! (click on the icons):
