Y&P Exclusive: EULA Stampedes the Stage!

Alyse Lamb, the lead singer and guitarist of the band, EULA, is petite with striking white-blonde hair and has a glistening, girlish smile. She began dancing ballet when she was four years old and it was during this time she learned about music. She fell in love with Stravinsky, Satie, Debussy and Tchaikovsky. But don’t let her Black Swan background or her music preferences fool you—she is one angsty rocker with ceaseless energy and focuses more on her slam dancing than her pirouettes.

EULA, a trio from New Haven, CT, in addition to Lamb, consists of: Jeff Maleri (bass, vocals) and Nate Rose (drums, vocals). Their sound is sexy, rough, and wild. Onstage, they are full of vigor; like a teenage garage band playing louder after their mom yells at them to unplug!  After EULA’s show at Union Hall, Y&P caught up with EULA to talk about the band, fashion and pizza.

What does EULA stand for?

[Alyse] Everyone always asks us that and I wish we had a super cool answer.  We just like the way the word sounds. Open vowels are fun. It can mean anything to you. It’s a town in Texas. It’s my friend’s Greek Aunt’s name. It’s a licensing agreement. I just read that the word itself means “optimistic, easygoing, spontaneous and humorous” – that definitely sums up our personalities.  

Which artists have influenced your sound?

[A] Pretty much any music we hear or live show we see influences us, good or bad. Sometimes a small part gets subconsciously incorporated into EULA. We’re exposed to a wide range of music, new and old, because Nathan (drummer) DJ’s a lot, thus forcing us to listen to everything he finds. From northern soul, to post-punk, to be-bop…everything.

What inspires your lyrics?

[A] Life, death, excitement, scary news, happy news, relationships, restrictions, loss…I like to think of myself as a filter, and my lyrics are the gunk that comes out.

Where did you film your music video for Texas Stampede?

[A] ‘Texas Stampede’ was filmed at Yale in New Haven. We have friends that go to school there, so we had the run of these huge, gorgeous Yale buildings. The actual shots of me took place in the black box theater.  Very generous of them.

What time of day do you find yourself writing your songs?

[A] Weirdo times. Sometimes a melody hits you, and you have to run to the next room to find a pen before its out of your head. Sometimes it spills so fast, like 15 minutes fast. Other times a song could take a year to finish. Nate is more of a daytime writer. I like nighttime or post-midnight writing.

Do you have day jobs?

[A] Unfortunately yes, we all have day jobs.  I long for the day that I can answer “no” to this question!

What are the top five albums on your play list right now?

[A] Body Language’s Social Studies EP, Toro Y Moi’s Underneath the Pine, PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake, MT Bearington’s Love Buttons, and Fake Babies’ We Started Blues.

Who influences your fashion style?

[A] My mother is a Costume Designer so I grew up surrounded by lots of different fashion – and I understand the amount of time and hard work that goes into designing and creating.  After each of her shows, I would get to choose 1 piece/costume that I could keep. She’s a great lady! I have some really kick ass vintage pieces and also crazy stuff like a huge snuffaluffagus-looking body suit with a big bug-eyed head that I have yet to wear. I like weird and exciting things.  I am all about creativity and originality. I make a lot of my own shirts to wear on stage. If I had to guess, I would say that EULA’s style is a throwback to the punky-spaz dance groups of the 80’s.

Tell us about your plans for the next couple months and what you are looking forward to.

[A] Our new album, Maurice Narcisse, will be released on April 26th. Getting back on the road. We took a break to finish the album, and we’re looking forward to getting lost on side roads, eating too many unhealthy things, drinking too much, and rocking out every night.  Oh, and of course the warm weather.

Who was the first band you saw live? When and where?

[A] Nate’s first concert was Phil Collins with his parents. My older sister took me to see Tiffany at Lake Compounce (CT) when I was 4 or 5. I just recently found out that the Sugarcubes & New Order played like a couple weeks later. I’ve since asked myself, “Why couldn’t my sister have been cooler?”

What kind of pizza do you order?

[A] I’m down with any kind of veggie topping. Nate & Jeff would probably order “Meat Surprise” or something like that.

You could never leave home without…

[A] Chapstick.

Where is your favorite place to shop in NYC?

[A] When I have extra money I’ll either spend it on food or instruments. I haven’t really been food shopping in NYC, I go in Brooklyn or New Haven. Shout out to Romeo & Cesare’s Market on Orange St!

You are stranded on a desert island, what do you bring?

[A] Can I re-work this question?  If I were stranded on a DESSERT island, I would bring lots of peanut butter cookies and banana bread.  YUM!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_18AX5MXcs]

-Reported and Photographed by Elizabeth Rechter