Fire In Her Eyes are a psychedelic folk duo formed by two sisters, Daniella and Natasha Livingstone. They recently released their debut LP Look Into The Sky and recently had a launch party gig at Barfly Camden with The Sitar Service as support (check out my interview with Rodrigo and his Flare Voyant bandmates here). The sound of Look Into The Sky is a beautiful medley of psychedelia, prog, jazz fusion, raga rock, medieval, and folk rock. Beautiful voices, sincere lyrics, great production from Youth (who has worked with The Verve, Paul McCartney, The Orb, and Killing Joke). If you’re a classic rock fan looking for something fresh and new to add to the playlist or put on the turntable, you gotta check out Fire In Her Eyes. It’s not often you find music that really captures the spirit of the classic rock era and when you find it, it’s a real treat! Put on Look Into The Sky and you’ll be in 60s/70s heaven. As someone with a love of raga rock and the Indian influence on classic rock, I love the sitar on “Written Within”. I love the jazz fusion inspired jam on “I Wanna Know Ya”. Some of my other favourites from the album are “Juggling Clown”, “Too Late To Change”, “Call Upon a Whistler”, “Never”, and “Psychedelic Lighthouse”. This is a no-skip album! Definitely looking forward to a sophomore album!
The album cover is a gorgeous mix of psychedelia and art nouveau with the photography done by the inventor of psychedelic photography Karl Ferris, who has famously taken pictures of Jimi Hendrix, Donovan, Cream, Pattie and Jenny Boyd, The Fool, and The Hollies. I love the infrared look and the fresh, modern take on the fashions of late ’60s festivals.
We’re lucky to have Daniella Livingstone with us on the blog for an interview. So without further ado, here’s the interview:
Angie Moon: How did Fire In Her Eyes get started?
Daniella Livingstone: Fire In Her Eyes was formed by founding members Daniella Livingstone (Topaz) and Gabrielle Gordon during their final years of secondary school, when they were both 17. The pair had written a collection of songs together and invited Daniella’s sister, Natasha Livingstone, to join them on drums for their upcoming gig- which would become their first live performance (outside of school). Following this, sisters Daniella and Natasha began writing songs together, further shaping the sound and direction of the band.
Angie: What does the name Fire In Her Eyes mean or symbolise?
Daniella: The name ‘Fire In Her Eyes’ symbolises inner knowledge, passion, drive, and the ever-evolving expansion of consciousness.
Angie: How would you describe your music to a new listener?
Daniella: Psychedelic folk rock infused with influences from pop, prog, jazz, and world music. At its core the songs have catchy melodies, meaningful and relatable lyrics, ethereal harmonies, and cosmic riffs that create a distinctive and immersive sound.
Angie: How did you get into classic rock?
Daniella: Our Dad introduced us to rock music from an early age, playing artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and David Bowie in the car while we were growing up. Those early influences became a foundation for our love of rock music and shaped the sound that inspires us today.
Angie: Which classic rock and modern musicians inspire you the most?
Daniella: Hendrix, Bowie, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Deep Purple, Cream, Neil Young, Muse, Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, King Gizzard, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Angie: What makes the music of the 60s and 70s special to you?
Daniella: The music of the 60s/ 70s feels special because artists were constantly pushing boundaries and finding new ways to express themselves. Genres were merging, such as folk, rock, pop, prog and psychedelia blend into something more experimental. It also feels authentic.
The songwriting is personal and poetic, yet relatable, with performances that prioritise feeling. Fashion was part of the same creative spirit of that time which we heavily relate too.
Angie: How do you think you’ve evolved as musicians since the release of “Presenting” in 2019 and “People of the Sun” in 2020?
Daniella: We’ve become much more versatile with our instruments, stronger players overall, and more aware of each part’s role in the music. That’s helped us avoid overplaying, while still allowing moments to really shine when needed. We’ve also become more consistent in using fewer chords and focusing on stronger, more memorable hook lines.
Working with Youth on our debut album also introduced us to new production techniques, which have been transformative for both our sound and approach.
Angie: What was it like writing and recording Look Into The Sky?
Daniella: It was very eye-opening and an emotional rollercoaster. Topaz began writing the album during lockdown, even writing a few tracks while undergoing chemotherapy for leukaemia in 2021/2022.
When it came to recording, it became a really joyful and inspiring experience, discovering how to shape the production and instrumental parts. For example, writing and recording the flute lines and seeing how those melodies interacted with the vocals to create interesting call and response moments.
Angie: What are your favourite songs from Look Into The Sky?
Daniella: “Juggling Clown”, “Psychedelic Lighthouse”, “Written Within”, and “Passers By”.
Angie: Renowned psychedelic photographer Karl Ferris took the cover photo for the album Look Into The Sky, what was it like working with him?
Daniella: Working with Karl Ferris was an honour. He’s a legendary psychedelic photographer, and it was inspiring to be part of his creative process. He has a complete vision in his mind before a shoot even begins, carefully composing how he wants the image to look and working out the photo plans in advance.
He also contributed ideas beyond the photography itself, including guidance on fashion and makeup, which helped shape the overall aesthetic and bring the concept of ‘Look Into The Sky’ to life in a cohesive way. It felt very collaborative, and his approach added a whole new dimension to the album’s visual identity.
Angie: What have you been listening to recently?
Daniella: We’ve been listening to a mix of obscure psych folk, experimental records, and atmospheric music. Recently Nick Drake for the songwriting and mood, Boards of Canada for atmosphere and textures, Mahavishnu Orchestra for complex musicianship, Wings for the songwriting and vibes and Stevie Wonder for incredible harmony, groove, and melodic writing.
Angie: What is your proudest accomplishment as musicians?
Daniella: Completing Look Into The Sky which has been a nearly 4 year journey. Also getting the opportunity to play at The Brighton Dome Concert Hall in 2023.
Angie: What are your goals for the rest of the year?
Daniella: We’re focused on going on tour, playing as many shows as possible, and building momentum live. The aim is to keep performing consistently, connect with more audiences, and open the door to further touring opportunities as they come. Also writing and recording for album number 2!
You can follow Fire In Her Eyes on Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and their website.
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