Eisley headlines Antone’s on Wednesday in support of its second full-length Combinations (released last August.) The record is chock-full of the gleaming melodies and soothing harmonies we’ve come to expect from this Texan family. We first witnessed Eisley in action at Stubb’s during SXSW 2003. The bill that evening featured the likes of Supergrass and The Polyphonic Spree but we vividly remember Eisley holding its own with exquisite renditions of early material such as “Memories” and “Sea King.” Check out Eisley's new video “Invasion” via YouTube and catch the act's ethereal pop soundscapes live in concert this evening. We caught up with Chauntelle DuPree recently to decipher the Eisley’s family tree, inspirations, and the key moments that have shaped the band’s journey.

So let's get the roster sorted out! What is the current line-up and respective family tree? What was the line-up when the band started and how/when did the changes occur?

Chauntelle DuPree: I play guitar and sing a little, Sherri plays guitar/sings, Stacy plays keyboard/sings, Weston - drums and Garron - bass guitar. The family tree has always been the 4 DuPree siblings, though we have 2 more not in the band. Remember, first it was, "4 siblings and a best friend". Now it's "4 siblings and a cousin," only he's a DuPree too, and as close as a brother, so... pretty much, it's all in the family now!

Truth: in the beginning ('97) none of us realized that we were really working toward the "band" model. It was just something we wanted to do. Playing music in our bedrooms was purely for fun and entertainment. We asked a friend of ours at the time (Amy Whittaker) to play bass so she played a shows with us for a while, but she eventually decided to pursue other things. During that era, we played tons and tons of local/regional shows. When Amy left, we started trying out different players but they were all temporary, including good friend, Taylor Muse (Quiet Company) until we met Jonathan Wilson in 2001. Jonathan was in the band for 4 years until he (also) decided to pursue other things. That's where cousin Garron DuPree joined us. Seems the perfect match to all of us. We're hoping to break the revolving bass cycle. Five DuPree's makes the most sense to us.

The band started as The Towheads; when did you switch to Moss Eisley, and eventually Eisley?

Yes, we started off as The Towheads back in 1997 then upgraded to Moss Eisley in 2000. Warner Bros.' attorneys freaked out over the "Lucas" infringement (Moss Eisley - spaceport on Planet Tatooine, the cantina with the alien musicians.) Anyway, we struggled and struggled for months. Nothing came. We ended up lopping off the "Mos" when, in 2003, our management called saying "Coachella won't book you without a band name. It was a rushed choice but we were fine with it and we never have regretted it. Stacy actually made the decision – citing that The Beatles survived loping off "Silver".

Who is the primary songwriter? Would you consider either Sherri or Stacy to be the lead vocalist?

Sherri and Stacy are the songwriters. They write together and also separately and then once they've got something they love they bring it to the rest of us and we give our opinions and suggestions if we have any and go from there. A lot of the songs on Combinations are inspired by falling in love and taking chances, taking risks.

The vocals are pretty much equally shared between Sherri and Stacy, they trade off harmonies on every song. Sometimes they trade off randomly - during a phrase of a verse, at the bridge, etc. Sometimes Sherri writes a song, tracks a demo in garage band and at the last second, while in the studio, says, "I think I always imagined you singing this Stacy." (It’s) interesting having two lead vocals and only one distinctive sound.

In 2003, the Dallas Observer awarded Eisley the "Best New Artist" award. How did that change the band's career path? What other events in the band's career most affected where the band is now?

That was a big surprise for all of us. We thought we would be the last to ever receive that reward! I personally remember feeling super nervous and intimidated being there that day with all the other bands. So I'd say... even though it was a Dallas award, it's the first time I realized that what we were doing wasn't just for fun. It encouraged and inspired us to take it to the next level.

Another big moment that really inspired and pushed us further was showcasing for all the major labels in NY and LA. It was so nerve-racking but we suddenly became so passionate about pursuing this as a career! Another major milestone - hearing that Coldplay and that Chris Martin had heard our songs wanted to bring us out! We were so thrilled and so scared all at once. There are many other similar moments - some smaller, but all were critical... confirming in our hearts that this is what we're supposed to be doing. Every tour, every experience is valuable to us - the big and the small.

We watched a stunning SXSW show at Stubb's in 2003 where you were on an amazing bill with Supergrass, The Polyphonic Spree, The Coral, Elbow, and Ed Harcourt. What was that experience like? Was it your first SXSW? What other acts have you enjoyed playing or touring with?

That was our first time at SXSW in 2003 and it was really special being on the bill with all those other bands! We felt so blessed and also a little concerned that the crowd might not even care we were up there. But it was a nice surprise and so much fun! There are so many other bands that we've loved touring and playing shows with since then! I can't name all of them because there are too many but Midlake, Brand New, Snow Patrol, The Elected, Coldplay, The Flaming Lips (Sasquatch Festival - we got to jump, play air guitars and act crazy), New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, Mute Math, etc... and plenty of headlining shows.

We loved the video for "Marvelous Things." Whose backyard was that filmed in? What was the location for the video "Invasion" video? What's the storyline behind that?

That backyard was some random house in Hollywood; I presume someone on Philip Andelman's team scouted it out - looking for a kind of Virgin Suicides vibe. The owners were kind to let us use it. Or maybe somebody paid them some bucks!? That was a fun shoot.

The “Invasion” video was filmed in our very own Tyler State Park. It was beautiful but blazing hot. We battled the hottest heat imaginable... along with tons of mosquitoes, wasps, chiggers, poison ivy, rain, water, mud. Weston and Garron were bragging about who had the most chigger bites; I think Weston won with like 45 or something. We were itching for a month - no joke.

The story line? One by one, we become over-taken by aliens. Not sure exactly, but somehow Stacy plays the part of the dark (tall) over-lord who finally turns Garron over to the dark side. "Something's not right." The song is based on Sherri's fascination with sci-fi books. She read Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney. I think it can be applied to other aspects of life.

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