What was the beginning pint for your music career? How did it all start?
Hi, I’m Eric Gynan, Cofounder of the Rock band Leaving Eden from New England USA.
Leaving Eden Lineup: Eve Lead Vocals, Alyssa Bailey White Keys and Vocals, Jake Gynan Drums, Eric Gynan Guitars and Vocals, Rich Chouinard Bass and Vocals.
Myself, Eve and Rick were previously in a band. That band dismantled and myself and Eve started Leaving Eden. After a revolving door of musicians, we settled on Jake and Alyssa and then again with Rick. Leaving Eden was then able to secure big concerts primarily via Live Nation.
Was there any bumps on the road? What kind of challenges did you have to deal with?
With any band it is always difficult to navigate through an arduous landscape within the music industry. Not having any real plans and choosing people who you think can help your career, but come up empty handed. There’s a lot of snakes in this business. I think eventually if one sticks to it, doesn’t give up and I must say, has the talent, then there’s a potential opportunity.
What was the most fulfilling and satisfying moment so far?
So many moments in time. I think it would be releasing albums every year and having a label like Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal to be able to get those albums out to the masses. Of course, playing concerts is what it’s all about but those moments come and then they are gone, all that’s left is a memory and a few photos. With albums, that music stays forever and you can always go back and listen to your favorites.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Leaving Eden is a rock band. I think the lyrics are thought provoking, based on reality, with lots of harmony and melody. Some songs are definitely heavy but others are mellow. I think it’s an eclectic array of musical tastes that don’t necessarily fit the genre box one allegedly should be fitting into. Pair all of that with lots of energy. I’ve always said Leaving Eden is best heard and seen live.
What is your creative process like?
I’m writing all year long and I like to connect to the universe and listen. Sometimes I will dream about music and wake up and try to get it recorded in some way. I usually record scratch tracks and then give it to the rest of the band for their influence. We put it all together and finally come up with an album.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
I think that radio still is a good way to be heard by the masses. Yes of course we got the streaming platforms and social media which is all good but I think that radio stations all have their own local followings and they should really be pushing some local new artists. You saw that they were playing 70s music for a long time and now they’ve moved to 80s music. They always seem to be about 40 years behind which is fine but what about the new bands? If they don’t start pushing these new bands, they’re not going to have any concerts for people to go to. Eventually these older artists from the 70s and 80s won’t be able to tour any more, then what?
If you were asked to give a piece of advice to upcoming bands, what would that be?
Of course, to practice your ass off you don’t just wake up one day and be great. And there’s no easy way to become great other than spending a lot of isolating hours alone practicing your art. With that said, watch out for the snakes and get out of the basement and maybe latch onto some other bands that might be popular in your area. I’ve seen a lot of people thinking that they are rock stars when they are not, far from it. It’s pretty easy to almost fool yourself into thinking that you are more than what you are. I think it becomes a coping mechanism. Instead be happy what you’re doing in the moment because as I said before, those moments come and then they’re gone. Always keep it fresh and new.
What has been the best performance of your career so far?
That’s always a difficult question. Leaving Eden has toured the USA, UK & Canada sharing the stage with hundreds of the biggest national bands in the world including; 10 Years, 10 Years After (Woodstock Reunion), Adelitas Way, Alice Cooper, Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Apocalyptic Review (featuring members of Godsmack), Avenged Sevenfold, Big Brother and The Holding Company (Woodstock Reunion), Black Sabbath (Heaven & Hell), Blackstone Cherry, Bret Michaels, Buckcherry, Chevelle, Collective Soul, Country Joe (Woodstock Reunion), Damage Plan, (Featuring Dimebag & Vinnie Paul) Days Of The New, Disturbed, Dope, Dropkick Murphy’s, Drowning Pool, Five Finger Death Punch, Fuel, Gemini Syndrome, Gin Blossoms, Godsmack, Halestorm, HELLYEAH, Herman Rarebell (The Scorpions), Hinder, Hookers & Blow (featuring members of Guns ‘N’ Roses, Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P.), In This Moment, Jefferson Starship (Woodstock Reunion), Killswitch Engage, Kittie, Korn, Lacuna Coil, LA Guns, Lamb Of God, Lita Ford, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marilyn Manson, Michael Schenker (UFO, MSG & The Scorpions) Motorhead, Mudvayne, Mushroomhead, Napalm Death, Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Nonpoint, One Eyed Doll, Papa Roach, Pop Evil, Powerman 5000, Puddle Of Mudd, Queensryche, Ratt, Rob Zombie, Ronnie James Dio, Saliva, Saving Abel, Scott Stapp (the voice of Creed), Sebastian Bach, Seether, Sevendust, Shinedown, Slayer, Soil, Soulfly, Steven Tyler, Stone Sour, Taproot, Ted Nugent, Testament, The Butcher Babies, The Misfits, Theory Of A Deadman, Trapt, Tremonti (Creed/Alterbridge), Trixter, Uncle Kracker, Warrant, ZZ Top, Nickelback, Skillet & many more.
I would probably say playing with black sabbath was so fun.
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing now?
I’d definitely be in the tech field in some way recording engineering producing videography etc. I’ve always enjoyed helping people with special needs. It’s a good way to give back.
What is new with the band at the moment? What are you currently working on and would like to share with the world?
We recorded our newest album titled Fable. Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal
Videos:
Song Black Wolf to be featured in Director Massimiliano Cerchi Movie Black
Leaving Eden New Album – Dream With Me
Photo by Mark Weiss
Leaving Eden is about to release their 7th Album Titled: “Dream With Me” which is also the Title Track to be released world wide and distributed by Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal. Eric Gynan, Cofounder of the Rock band Leaving Eden from New England USA says “In this album we got the best of both worlds, where again like our last 2 Albums, we were able to take all the time necessary to record and produce “Dream With Me” in Leaving Eden’s Studio. But then, to have One of the best Rock Engineers in the world as far as I’m concerned, Grammy Award Winning Engineer Johnny K. (Disturbed, Staind, Finger Eleven, 3 Doors Down, Megadeath, Sevendust, Plain White T’s, POP Evil, Trapt, Drowning Pool, Alien Ant Farm, and many more) for Final Mix and Mastering is my dream scenario!” Eric goes on to say, “I love working With Johnny, he cracks me up! No, but really he’s a genuine connoisseur of great music with so much talent, it’s such a pleasure to call him my Friend. We’ve worked together on other albums but this one, to have the freedom to dig deep and experiment with my own unique recording techniques and then to have Johnny put his final touches on it was a real treat!”
Album Info:
Recorded at Leaving Edens Studio New England USA. Produced, Engineered, Recorded, Pre-mix, Album Art Director and all songs Written by Eric Gynan. *Song “Dream With Me” Co-written by Alyssa Bailey White. Final Mix/Master by Johnny K.
Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal
*House of the Rising Sun is an American folk song, thought to be written by Georgia Turner and Bert Martin.
Cover photo & Back booklet photo by Mark Weiss. Back cd photo by Dan Johnson
Leaving Eden Logos by Mario Lopez.
Album Artwork by Veronica Cavallaro
“La Magazine Art & Design”
Special thanks to: Jennifer Mugavero (Back up vocals), Gerg Anidem (Indie Scene Radio), Bryant Jenkins (Tour Manager), Debbie Jenkins, Dana Anderson (Assist with album art concept) and Cheri Anderson..
“Dream With Me Official Video (in a time of the CoronaVirus) By Leaving Eden”
“House of the Rising Sun Official Video By Leaving Eden”
We have songs in a lot of movies and that continues. With the epidemic however certain things get put on hold. We also have a movie called The Nitwit that we’ve been working on but that also had to be put on hold. No problem, we’ve always been pretty resilient. I think with the hope of things opening up sooner than later, we can expect touring as we do every year.
Tracks from this album and other Leaving Eden albums will be featured in Massimiliano Cerchi’s movies: Painkiller, Mayday, Lockdown and Penthouse starring Michael Pare (The Philadelphia Experiment, Eddie and the Cruisers). And Bloodthirst.
“We are excited about this new album also, because the entire album and lots of tunes from our previous albums will also be featured in a new fake reality comedy movie titled “The Nitwit”
Watch the teaser trailer For THE NITWIT MOVIE
Website:
“Originally I had written The Nitwit movie script loosely based on real life events with the intention of having Leaving Eden’s music throughout the movie and procuring other pros to make the movie. Where Leaving Eden has been involved with having our music placed in different movies and TV series this simply made sense. While in Iowa after wrapping up on a shoot I sat down with Nitwit Movie Producer, Ray Van Blarcom and Actor, Matt Moody over a scotch and threw the script down on the table. They started reading it, thought it was hilarious so we decided let’s make the movie. For me being the director of several music videos it was a very simple transition to direct The Nitwit Movie. Finally, I was intrigued by Matt Moody’s experience not only in production but as an actor. Ironically Matt fit the leading role as The Nitwit perfectly. He then brought in Jordan Smith as his co-star and Nitwit Movie Producer, Fran Huges, the rest is history. We expect the movie to be released in 2020 by SGL Entertainment.”
