The Strange Familiar + "Pretty Little Liars" = An Awesome 2013...!

The Strange Familiar

After having their haunting hit song "Unwanted" featured on one of my favorite shows "Pretty Little Liars" last year, one of my favorite bands The Strange Familiar is back on the show with "Alibi", "Unwanted", and "Runaway Heart" on Season 3 of Pretty Little Liars on January 29, February 12, and March 12 episodes.

The songs are taken from their debut album "Chasing Shadows" - as a huge fan of both this  news is rockin' ! 

Last nights episode featured "Alibi" which is sure be be another hit for TSF.

I checked in with my friend and lead singer for the band Kira Leyden Andrea and asked her to give a shout out to all of you PLL and TSF fans as to what five things she wishes all of you in 2013.

Pretty Little Liars

Take it away Kira....!

1) Love - what's life without love? Love for our families, friends, our significant other, God, for all those who need compassion and a heping hand, and love for life!

2) Health - we often take the little things for granted - like being able to get out of bed in the morning - to see the sun rise - to share a meal with friends and family. But when things like these are taken away, we realize they are not so little after all. I wish for everyone to be blessed with good health of mind, body and spirit in 2013.

3) Peace - I know it may sound like a cliche pageant answer, but I wish for peace in 2013. Peace of mind - peace in our families, peace in our nation, peace between all nations.

4) Laughter - life can be heavy, so I wish that laughter will help lift everyone up in 2013.

5) Hope - for everyone going through a tough time, for anyone in pain... We all have our struggles, but hope is what keeps us going.

Thanks Kira for your well wishes to everyone....and being part of a band and a show that makes 2013 an already better year than 2012.

Turn and face the strange: http://thestrangefamiliar.com/

Liars are pretty: http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/

A Night With: The Strange Familiar

Myself, Kira Leyden Andrea, & Dilani Rosa

9/18/2012 was the night I saw one of the bands I interviewed live, you got it, The Strange Familiar played The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, CA -

I love THC - it is intimate, chill and fun! My friend Dilani Rosa was in tow, she like me LOVED the TSF's vibe and music, Ms. Rosa in partik enjoyed the performance of a new track by them "Courage" -

Kira Leyden Andrea, lead singer for TSF was just as sweet and welcoming in person as she came across in my interview for Chorus and Verse : http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20120405A

Her husband Jeff was a cool cat as well, but more importantly if you have not checked these guys out, what are you waiting for?!

Get familiar peeps - and give their album "Chasing Shadows" and their current hot single "Unwanted" a listen.

In the meantime enjoy my non-professional but candid photos from the TSF at the THC ...!!

TSF: It's always showtime at the edge of the stage

TSF: Look at the fans enjoying the show

It's time for the post show meet & greet, oh yeah!



www.thestrangefamiliar.com

The Strange Familiar: Unwanted

"If I throw away all the garbage in my life /Happiness will come to me/ If I throw away every problem /Every pain will be undone."

One of the coolest bands, The Strange Familiar has just released the even cooler video for their song "Unwanted".

"Unwanted" is the second single from TSF's album "Chasing Shadows" and was featured on one of my favorite TV shows "Pretty Little Liars" - "Yes" that's right I am a "PLL" & "TSF" fan, so there you have that.

Written by Kira Leyden (vocals/piano) and Jeff Andrea (guitar), "Unwanted,"  is one of the most poignant songs on the album. Donning a purple wig and gothic makeup, Leyden portrays a dark character running away from her problems and enticing others to come with her-"

With Leyden's expressive piano melody and stirring vocals, "Unwanted" is a powerful and emotional track portraying the desire to shed unwelcome toxins, whether an inanimate object, a person or a feeling. The song and video, much like the rest of Chasing Shadows, shows off the band's ability to write timeless music that tells a story through its sound and visual imagery; it connects with their audience on a deep emotional level.

Great job TSF, looking forward to seeing you September 18th at The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, CA !

Un-familiar? Log onto: thestrangefamiliar.com

10 Seconds With: The Strange Familiar

Photo: Chris Owyoung

Kira Leyden and guitarist Jeff Andrea, the husband and wife songwriting team behind Strange Familiar, make the kind of timeless music that long careers are built on. They have been writing and performing together since they met in grammar school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. “I was in seventh grade when I saw Jeff’s band playing (Pearl Jam’s) ‘Yellow Ledbetter’ at our school dance,” Leyden recalls. “The singer forgot the words and walked off the stage, and I remember thinking, ‘I could do better than that!’”. A life long partnership sprang from that serendipitous beginning, forged by their mutual love of music and each other. By the time they were in high school, their band had morphed into Jaded Era, one of the top indie groups in the Akron, Ohio area.

When Jaded Era splintered, Kira and Jeff headed to the Leyden family basement, where they set up a studio and started writing songs that would become the foundation of The Strange Familiar. After months of performing around town and experimenting with new sounds, The Strange Familiar decided to make the move to Los Angeles.

Here to make you more “familiar” with the “strange” is Kira Leyden…!

MS: You have an album coming out “Chasing Shadows”.

KL: I’m so excited, “Chasing Shadows” is coming out on April 10th.

MS: Cool, tell me what you hope to accomplish with it?

KL: “Chasing Shadows” is the first time I feel we have been able to get into a studio as a band and do something really cohesive. The band played on all the tracks and it feels like the first time something wasn’t done in pieces. It feels like the most honest we have ever been musically. I think that it is really honest and uplifting, and it will inspire people and help them through tough times.

MS: Very cool.

KL: You know, I really can’t write anything that’s frivolous, “Being Me” is about as frivolous as it gets. (laughs) But we are still trying to send a message - “be happy with who you are”.

MS: It’s more whimsical, than frivolous.

KL: There you go! I’m going to use that from now on. Last year we did a mini school tour. We played a lot of High Schools & Grade Schools. We want to put out a positive message and ended up doing a full show….I looked at those kids and thought: “Wow! That was me a few years ago, trying to fit in”. Our overall message is be yourself, and I’m proud of that.

www.thestrangefamiliar.com