Reilly Stapleton Impulse Interview

Impulse is Terrifying(ly Good)

Empowered songwriter Reilly Stapleton has announced her enthralling new single Impulse, an unsettling, eclectic rock ballad about the fine line between our morals and our devilish impulses, out now. The intriguingly dark song is accompanied by a brilliant, slasher-style clip, directed by Michael Sadler (Teenage Dads).

Impulse explores the darker side of the human psyche, leaving no stone unturned. Reilly's powerful vocals take centre stage, as guitars scream and synths swirl around her. 'Is it bad? I've gone mad, smashed the bottle I had in my hand,", Reilly expresses her deepest, darkest thoughts, in the perfect amalgamation of lyricism, vocal delivery and instrumental arrangement. "Impulse is reflective of the constant battle between our negative impulsions and our inner consciousness that provides you with a positive moral compass" explains Reilly. "The song uses violence, anger and control in order to convey this unavoidable conflict. When somebody has a short tolerance of anger they can withstand, it is generally our consciousness that holds us back from lashing out."

The clip for Impulse is appropriately creepy and unsettling – the perfect accompaniment to this ghostly track. The video centres in on a whimsical tea party gone completely wrong, as the main character finds herself picturing the grisly deaths of her fellow tea party attendees. Speaking on the concept behind the haunting clip, Reilly explains, "The protagonist struggles with maintaining self-control when it comes to the loud and obnoxious guests, so she begins to imagine the ways in which the guests could be murdered and her mind can once again be at ease. The guests become more irritating as the event goes on and she becomes quite irrational and exasperated…on her final murder spree, it seems she may have gone too far – the audience will be left wondering if her impulse really did take control."

Interview with Reilly Stapleton

Question: Can you tell us about Impulse?

Reilly Stapleton: Impulse is reflective of the constant battle between your negative impulsions and you inner consciousness that provides you with a positive moral compass.

It uses violence, anger and control in order to convey this unavoidable conflict.

When somebody has a short tolerance of anger they can withstand, it is generally our consciousness that holds us back from lashing out.


Question: What inspired the track?

Reilly Stapleton: If I told you, I'd have to kill you.
Just tricking! No one in particular really inspired it, however, I was having a moment in my life where I found myself to be in numerous arguments with people because my frustration level had a very short fuse on it and I began lashing out.

So that's kind of where the idea originated from and ever since then it has morphed into a high scale, well overly exaggerated outlook on the situation and the mindset behind it.

I don't really punch holes in walls and cover the hole with someone's head… yikes.

Question: What's the main message you hope listeners take from Impulse?

Reilly Stapleton: I really think it's quite important that my listeners find their own personal meaning behind the track. Everyone's opinions are subjective of their own individuality and their own experience that they have with the track.

Look, I'd like to say that this is a way for people to release their anger by listening to the heavy guitars and scream along to the lyrics with me. But i can only speak for myself, finding value in a song is up to you and how you perceive the message.

I would adore it if people told me how they interpreted the song and what they have taken away from it.


Question: Where did motivated the video for Impulse?

Reilly Stapleton: The concept for the video came to me whilst I was listening to the song in the car. I called my manager, Lauren, up straight away and explained the whole thing to her because from that moment on, that was the only way I envisioned the video to go. Michael (ShotbySadler) and I sat down and discussed everything, right down to the little details of each murder and then I recruited my friends to join the cast, little did they know they were getting fake killed. I'm pretty sure I only told them that they would be murdered like a week before the shoot.

They were such troopers though! I am so lucky to have friends that are so casual and calm about being asked to be slaughtered at a dinner party.


Question: What's your earliest singing memory?

Reilly Stapleton: Oh wow, okay so I've been singing my entire life. But, the earliest kind of "live" performance I remember was actually when I was around 7 or 8 years old and my entire family was gathered at a restaurant following my Nanas funeral.

My uncle and my dad thought that it would be a wonderful idea to get a shy little girl to stand up in front of an entire restaurant full of people and sing acapella. It was terrifying and I forgot half of the lyrics to P!nk's "Who knew", but I did it anyway because what did I have to lose and I guess I've never stopped since then. I can safely say that wasn't the last time I forgot the lyrics on stage.

Question: How does it feel to be compared to Evanescence and Meg Mac?

Reilly Stapleton: So cool! I mean WHAT? Meg Mac is ridiculously talented and such a crazy good song writer. and Evanescence?! Are you kidding me?! How awesome is that?

I honestly don't think I'm cool enough to be like them, but a big thank you to anyone who has compared any similarities between us.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Reilly Stapleton: I do love Impulse, however at the moment I'm loving performing one of my unreleased songs called "Conversation With The Mirror". It's raw and vocally forward. However, the lyrics are some of my most vulnerable and honest as they were written at a very sensitive moment in my life and I finally feel okay to acknowledge these emotions and share them with the world. So performing it has been very empowering and fun


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Reilly Stapleton: My Dad, I would love for him to see where I am now. He always wanted this for me and encouraged me to chase my dreams.

I'd love to see his face in the audience, but I guess I'll settle for the memories.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Reilly Stapleton: Oh wow! Both so different and for so many reasons! But I think I would prefer performing live. Only based on the fact that I get to chat with my audience and engage with them face to face. I'm all for engagement over social media, however, nothing beats seeing a person's facial expressions and reactions first hand.

I also love saying embarrassing things on stage that either make people laugh or cringe.

Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Reilly Stapleton: Currently I'm very interested in the lyrical side of things, so I've been listening a lot to Lana Del Ray and Lorde, both brilliant lyricists with so much emotion and creativity packed into four or so minutes.

King Princess and Tash Sultana are also major lyrical geniuses as well; they're all sitting quite high on my playlists at the moment.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Reilly Stapleton: I have always been inspired solely by the music itself, just the arrangements, the sounds, the combinations, the experimentation and the limitless possibilities!

My Pappy (Grandfather), was a brilliant singer and everyone always said that his genes got passed down to me, so I consider myself very lucky to have been blessed with a love for music and the ability to sing.

My parents were/are also huge supporters, always encouraging every aspect of music! I was so lucky that I was raised to be a go-getter and that I was led to believe that achievement is possible if you want it to be and you work hard enough. I was never discouraged from any dreams or aspirations. In fact, my mum was always encouraging of anything that I felt strongly about. She is always allowing me to flourish in my own individuality and take pride in myself.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Reilly Stapleton: AHHH so difficult! I would love to work with Finneas on the production of a song; he's ridiculously talented and produces some of the most amazing tracks.

OR! Lana Del Ray, I would absolutely adore to write a song with her, her lyrics are enchanting and captivating, god that would be incredible.

No wait, what if the three of us did a song together… wow, imagine!


Question: What's next, for you?

Reilly Stapleton: Big plans to head back into the studio soon and produce a track I've been working on for a little while! I'll be doing lots of writing and always thinking ahead to the next track! So watch this space, it doesn't just end at impulse, I have a lot more where that came from!


Question: Can you share your socials?

Reilly Stapleton: Facebook 
@reillystapleton/
YouTube 
Spotify 
Apple Music 


Interview by Brooke Hunter