Home Base: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Website/Myspace address:
www.myspace.com/kobraandthelotus
www.kobraandthelotus.com

Hard-rockers Kobra and the Lotus discuss the music scene in their hometown of Calgary, and their upcoming plans to conquer Europe.

1. For people who have never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words:
New, Loud, Stimulating, Sinewy, Sultry

2. How long has the band been together?
The first 3 original members, vocalist and two guitar players, have been together for 3 years. The final line-up completed with the drummer and bass player joining forces 13 months and 9 months ago.

3. How did you come to play the style of music you play?
We have been influenced by hundreds of artists many from the 1970’s and 80’s. Iron maiden, HIM, Guns N’ Roses, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to name a few.

4. What influences the lyrics you write?
We have been influenced by hundreds of artists many from the 1970’s and 80’s. Iron maiden, HIM, Guns’n Roses, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to name a few.

5. What can people expect from your live show?
Kobra and the Lotus is known for its loud, in your face, very dynamic live show. There is always plenty of headbanging, full movement and interaction with the audience. Brittany Paige is a very energetic, sexy and dynamic performer that is an addictive and engaging front to the band.

6. What do you want people to know about your band?
A raucous co-mingling of Paige’s soaring voice and the band’s sinewy, sultry sound enmeshed with a thunderous foundation and an in-your-face live show, Kobra and the Lotus usher in a new era for heavy music.

7. What would you say is your biggest achievement/accomplishment as an artist/band?
Our biggest accomplishments in our first year as a band would be launching our debut album “Out of the Pit” to 13,000 fans, being invited to play Rock of Ages Fest 2010 in the UK, receiving 2 slots during Canadian Music Week including Indie Night in Canada, Brittany Paige being chosen as a Metal Maiden for 2010 by Metal Hammer Magazine and securing a licensing deal with MTV global programming!

8. Have you worked with anyone notable on your releases?
Yes. Rik Emmett from Triumph played guitar on a Motorhead cover we redid for our album “Ace of Spades.” The album was produced and mixed by Kevin “caveman” Shirley (Iron Maiden, Led Zepplin). One select song on the album, “Legend” was mixed and produced by Nick Blagona (Deep Purple, Alexisonfire)

9. What do you like more – playing festivals or individual shows?
Both have their merit! Live shows can be really fun because of their intimacy; the ability to interact with the audience on a more personal level. Festivals however, have unparalleled energy!! Their is nothing quite like playing festivals; feeding off of the energy of very large audiences and engaging 1000s of people into the energy of your performance. When large audiences are engaged in your show, it makes a large stadium become intimate and this holds a magical experience for everyone!!

10. What are the best and worst things about your local music scene?
Most of our venues are very small (200 to 400 capacity) and there aren’t enough of them! There are 100s of band trying to get gigs with very few venues catering to live music. We travel a great deal in order to keep entertaining and doing what we love. Our local music scene is very diverse however. There is something for everyone! On the great side, home audiences are diehard fans. They show up wearing your band shirts! They sing every song with you and they are constant beacons of encouragement!

11. If you could open for any artist, who would it be?
Iron Maiden!!

12. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be?
European Festivals would be our first choice. Sonisphere, Wacken, Hammer fest, Sweden Rock to name a few.
We would also love to perform in South America!!

13. What are your future plans for the band?
We are currently securing distribution for our album in Europe and then are planning to do a European launch complimented by a European tour. We also have reserved a recording studio for this June to record our next album.

14. Any advice for indie bands just starting out?
Stay authentic to your sound, work hard to promote your music, don’t stop writing songs and tour to perfect your craft!

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