Interview PVRIS: “Not to get ahead of ourselves, but we want to be one of the biggest bands ever”

“I don’t think we found ourselves,” starts Lynn. ”Because we always knew we wanted this style and this direction but we never really had the confidence to do that. With this record though, we finally have the assurance to know that we can make it work.” It’s a record that’s caused waves and drawn attention but the three-piece are just getting started in that spotlight. “We’re inspired by so many different genres and styles I think it just came together naturally without thinking too much about it. I think the record has done a good job at leaving it open ended for whatever possible direction we go in next, because its very dynamic and it touches on a lot of different spectrums and styles that we could go in,” Lynn ventures.

“I’m always really inspired by dark things and the supernatural for some reason,” explains Lynn. “Ghosts, paranormal stuff, death, anger, sadness,” she lists before taking a brief pause as a realisation dawns. “Well, anything that’s not happy basically inspires me, which sounds kinda messed up,” she admits with a small laugh. “A lot of that record, I wrote when I was having a really bad time mentally. I don’t like calling it depression but it seemed like that and I couldn’t pinpoint what my issues were, or what was wrong with me but I knew there was something wrong. My problems weren’t tangible things, they weren’t thing I could see or explain to people so in a way it was like they were ghosts or spirits that were haunting me.”

“I think a lot of people are afraid to put it out there and talk about it but we weren’t. I think that might be a big reason people have connected to it and got behind it. I feel like for anyone who’s sharing feelings of topics like that, it’s a little bit scary but I feel its more therapeutic and cathartic to write about that stuff, to talk about that stuff and put it out there. You feel better about it. To know that other people can connect to that makes you feel even better. As scary as it at first, it eventually just pays off and turns out to be good in the end,” she describes, that optimism rearing its head once more.

Wanting to perform on stage after seeing Paramore support Jimmy Eat World back in 2008, there was the assuring realisation that “yeah, I can do that. I want to do that,” and it’s a chain Lynn wants to continue. “I hope we can impact people, inspire people and motivate people to follow their dreams and do whatever makes them happiest. That’s the most important thing anyone can take from a band,” she shares.

There’s the weird acknowledgment that Lynn has now become a role model but it’s something she tries “not to think about. The main thing is just to be a good person and lead by example, I guess. I feel like I’ve always tried to do that.”

“If someone wants to take something from our music, that’s what matters to us,” explains Lynn. There was no plan to "put anything into peoples minds", beyond the simple hope that "something happens, whether it’s connecting to some songs, connecting to a line in a song or just simply enjoying the music for music," but people have got behind PVRIS in a big way. Whether it’s the fusion of alternative rock with glittering pop or the darkness that it wraps itself around, people care.

"I guess it's just it's pretty raw and honest. There’s a lot of topics people can relate to and I think it sounds pretty great, if I do say so myself. We’re pretty proud of it, so people are taking all of that away from it."

With 2015 already underway with a trip to Europe and a summer on Warped Tour, we should expect "Lots of touring, writing, scheming and hustling," from the band. There’s "lots of stuff we can’t say but we’re always working, always touring and working our butts off so expect that," demands Lynn, "Expect a lot."

The band are "booked until 2016 right now," and they’re already plotting their next return to Europe and beyond. "Not to get ahead of ourselves, but we want to be one of the biggest bands ever. We’re not going to stop working until we achieve that. It seems like a crazy thing but if you’re doing this, if you’re making music, why not?" she questions, a mix of youthful hope and powerful determination. "That’s what I think our main goal is, just to ride this out for as long as possible and keep enjoying what we’re doing forever. To touch as many lives as possible and get into as many ears as possible. Why not, you only get one life,” she reasons with faultless logic. "No one wants to live small."

PVRIS tour the UK from today, Thursday 9th April. Visit pvris.com/shows for their full list of dates.

Tags: PVRIS, Features, Interviews