Page 6 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 108

BV108 pg 04-09 Eva Under Fire.qxp_BV108 pg06 17/06/2023 16:53 Page 3

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hen not on rockstar duties, the band's dynamic frontwoman and lyricist,
WAmanda ‘Eva Marie’ Lyberg, is not only an advocate for mental health and
self­care, she is also a psychotherapist by trade. With May being the month in which
a spotlight is shone on Mental Health Awareness, there could not be a better time
for Black Velvet to meet up with Eva Marie.

y name is Eva or Amanda or what- their first album together - ‘Anchors’. By the end is any less pressure, no," Eva responds. "You
‘Mever. Eva is a musician. Amanda is a of 2018, two EP’s had been added to their cata- still feel terrible, but there is a moment of accept-
therapist. And I'm both.’ This was the introduc- logue: ‘War’ and ‘Heavy On The Heart’. The line- ance. Anyone who's ever loved an addict would
tion Eva gave in her first mental health blog writ- up had been adjusted by this point too, with know that there is this endless cycle that gets
ten for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund - a Llewellyn being replaced by current bassist, Ed stuck on repeat, and it is, until they have had
nonprofit charity which provides emergency fi- Gawlik. enough. You can only do what you can do, and
nancial assistance and other support to career Eva Under Fire’s fanbase was growing and the way that you support them is important, but
musicians and music industry professionals. they were emerging from the underground rock- the way that you have your own space is impor-
Talking to Black Velvet about adopting ‘Eva’ scene. A deal with Better Noise Music was tant too. That’s just survival, emotionally it’s sur-
as her persona, the singer reveals that she feels signed, as work began on what would become vival. It’s no less pressure but it’s definitely like
it is like a crown that the audience has given to ‘Love, Drugs & Misery’. Originally scheduled to a sobering moment and a breath of fresh air, to
her. “Eva started off as a song reference that ac- be released in March 2020, the worldwide pan- be like, ‘Okay this is where we’re at. This is
tually Chris (Eva Under Fire guitarist) came up demic put a halt to that. Fortunately, the record where I’m at and I don’t need to do this any-
with. Then everybody started asking me, ‘Who’s label came up with other plans: adding Eva more’.”
Eva?’ ‘How's Eva? Are you Eva?’ So eventually Under Fire’s music to movie soundtracks. This Setting boundaries is extremely important.
the short answer was just, ‘Yes, I am’.” she move proved successful for the band. If boundaries are not set, it could lead to code-
laughs. “I feel like I was named that, I was The critically acclaimed horror, ‘The Retal- pendent behaviour; which can have negative ef-
crowned that. I wear that as a badge. It’s a really iators’, produced by Better Noise Films, was the fects on both the codependent person in the
cool way of people recognising that this is, it’s perfect backdrop for Eva Under Fire’s high-oc- relationship and the person struggling with sub-
meant to be inspiring and empowering, but also tane anthem ‘Blow’, featuring Ice Nine Kills front- stance abuse. But when you are seeing a loved
relatable. So when people say, ‘To us, you are man Spencer Charnas. Both Eva and Charnas one suffer, it must be hard to stay strong and not
Eva’, I say ‘Beautiful’, I’ll take that all day long!” appear in the movie, alongside some of the fall back into doing those things for them again.
biggest names in rock. with cameos from mem- “Totally. Yeah, it’s really hard.” Eva agrees. “Be-
espite being raised on rock music, bers of Motley Crue, Papa Roach, Five Finger cause, of course, you still feel like you need to
Dthanks to her parents love of the genre, Death Punch, Escape The Fate and more. Its do these things. Every moment that you feel like
Eva has been known to describe herself as a rock star casting and soundtrack drew in the that, it’s like, ‘Wait a minute, look in the mirror,
nerdy 90s pop kid. It wasn’t until discovering a rock/metal crowd, and ‘Blow’ soon climbed up back up a minute,’ you know, because…” Eva
love for nu-metal, and feeling the unique energy the radio airways rankings stateside. It also in- pauses before continuing, “that saying about
that can only be felt at a rock concert, that Eva troduced the band to new listeners on streaming misery loves company, it’s like they will bring you
found her home. However, after joining her first services worldwide. down if you allow them too, and with them. You
band at high school, the aspiring rocker almost will destroy yourself trying to help this person
didn’t perform with them when they entered a rior to 'Blow' propelling the band further stay up off the floor. If they are determined to be
‘Battle of the Bands’ competition. At that point Ptowards the mainstream, it was the there, they’re determined to be there and there
she did not feel ‘cool’ enough to be part of the song ‘Heroin(e)’ - used in the movie ‘Sno Babies’ is nothing you can do about it.” Referring to the
rock music scene and worried about what peo- - that really started that ball rolling. 'Sno Babies' talk she had with her father, Eva says, “It’s a
ple would think of her. Eva was persuaded by is a harrowing tale of two teens who hide their heartbreaking moment, but it was definitely
her friends to go through with the competition, heroin addiction from their middle-class parents. needed. I feel like I was able to demand truth
and the band she was fronting won. The movie was a call to action, to remind people and sanity because of that. You know, I started
“I grew up a super shy kid, which is very that the drug epidemic is still prevalent, and not telling people, ‘I’m not keeping your secrets any-
strange now, looking at that,” Eva reveals; “I did- only amongst those in the lower classes. more. I’m not going to be the only one doing this
n’t have a lot of self confidence as a young per- The official music video for 'Heroin(e)' is a anymore. This is what I need. So, if you’re going
son.” YouTube fundraiser. Thanks to viewers' gener- to bring it to my door, be prepared for me to start
Fast-forward a few years later, and the ous donations, over US$15,200 has been raised squawking to whoever else needs to hear this
super shy youngster has blossomed into a to help support people in recovery, via the non- and help me. This is your stuff, but if you bring it
young woman who can walk in front of any au- profit Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation. here, I get to have a say about that, and how I
dience and command attention. Singing feisty Eva has often shared her own story - in in- react and how I respond. If you don’t like the
songs such as ‘Coming For Blood’ - a kick-ass terviews and through song lyrics - of growing up way I respond then don’t bring it here.’”
motivational, all guns blazing track - about con- with both parents being addicted to heroin.
stantly getting knocked down, bruised and bro- Thankfully, Eva’s mother has been able to find n England, over 3,000 people die every
ken, but always getting back up again. Eva tells the road to sobriety, but sadly, her father lost his Iyear due to drug misuse. Earlier this year,
Black Velvet that there has always been that fire life as a result of his addiction. the UK government announced that the Depart-
inside her; that fire which allows her to keep ‘Heroin(e)’ was written by Eva, from her first- ment of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is pro-
going and do the best she can, regardless of hand experience of what it’s like having those viding an additional £154.3 million in grants over
what life may throw at her. “It was hidden for a closest to you suffer from substance abuse and the next two years to increase and improve the
while,” the singer admits. “Throughout the years addiction. Bearing her soul, the lyrics express services available. This is in addition to the gov-
I surrounded myself with a lot of people who how you cannot save people from themselves, ernment's current drug strategy: ‘From harm to
would help me with that. So now, it’s much bet- only they can do that. Recalling the time when hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and
ter. That fire was always there, even then. I was that realisation came, Eva opens up to Black save lives’. In which the government proposed
still actively doing a ton of things as a kid, never Velvet. “I do remember that moment. I was sit- that they will be: ‘Investing almost £900 million
really getting into trouble but, you know, trying ting at the table talking to my father. I said, ‘You of additional funding over three years to deliver
to always push my limits. If I was in swimming, I know this is your thing. This is your walk. I’ll love 54,500 more treatment places, prevent nearly
had to be the best swimmer; if it was the grade, you until the end, but I can’t…I can’t give you 1,000 deaths, and close over 2,000 more county
I wanted the best grade. There has always been money; I can’t drop you off anywhere.’ He knew lines.’
something that I have pushed for.” at that moment too and accepted it. We had a It’s a positive step in helping to save more
lot of great conversations after that, where he lives. Statistics show that around three million
va Under Fire formed in Michigan in WAS trying. I think that it is important to also tell people in England and Wales report using drugs
E2015, completed by Rob Lyberg (Gui- that individual how you’re feeling, and what each year. The number of people in treatment
tar), Jeff Llewellyn (Bass), Chris Slapnik (Guitar) you’re going to do and not do anymore.” for substance misuse (in particular opioid and
and Corey Newsom (Drums). Already seasoned Did you feel less pressure on yourself when alcohol) has had a higher increase for adults
musicians, it didn’t take long for them to unleash you came to that realisation? “I don’t think there aged between 30-54 years old, with 70% of peo-

EVA UNDER FIRE