A few months ago, Halestorm performed alongside Shinedown, literally shaking the foundations at Webster Theater. After the show, lead singer Lzzy Hale caught up with Harris to share some insights and future plans.

Harris: You started playing at a very young age, can you talk about where the name of the band came from and how the group initially formed? What has it been like playing with the same people for so long?

Lzzy: The four of us all started young. My brother (Arejay: drummer) and I founded the band when I was 13 and he was 10. We named the band in the family van on our way to a talent show we entered ourselves in. We wanted to introduce ourselves as a band, even though we had only ever written one song. Mom suggested, "The Hale Family Band," - Arejay and I grimaced and quickly dismissed that idea. Then Arejay said, "What about HaleStorm." It stuck, and we've kept it all these years. It's a play on our last name. For the first 2 years or so, we had our dad playing with us on Bass guitar. And my mom was booking us. It was very much like "The Partridge Family" meets "Spinal Tap." We met Joe and Josh through mutual friends in Philadelphia, and the chemistry was instantaneous. We knew we were fated to each other.

Halestorm has existed for over 10 years, and the four of us have been a unit for about 7. It's very much like a marriage. In fact we all have band rings as a sign of our commitment to each other. Funny story, Arejay and I actually got those 4 rings made before we ever met Joe and Josh. At a show in NYC, we more or less proposed to the boys with these still unfitted rings, when they tried them on, the rings fit perfectly on both of their right ring fingers. Eerie. We know each other so well and have the utmost respect for one another and our individual strengths. And if anything tries to infiltrate our circle, we face it together. The Halestorm circle/ culture is sacred. We will be a band forever.

Harris: Your new album comes out in a few weeks, what can we expect?

Lzzy: It’s a kick in the ears! This is the beginning, our hand shake to the world. A rolling thunder of an example for the guys and gals just like us. I can honestly say, there is nothing like it out there. To quote one of our songs on the record, “what were you expecting, another lullaby? are you kidding? you must be high."

Harris: Who do you think your target audience is? Do you ever think about that when your putting songs together (Think about who will be listening)?

Lzzy: When we write our songs we always think about how people will respond at a live show. In Person, if we were speaking right to your faces. We have fans young and old, I feel like almost anyone can get something out of our music.

Harris: What are your songs generally about?

Lzzy: On this record we wanted to focus on putting the listener in the driver’s seat. Our songs have an underlining theme of empowerment. And as always, we’d like to remind everyone that no matter what your poison in life, don’t take it too seriously…even a “screw you” needs to end with a smile.

Harris: Who are your biggest musical influences?

Lzzy: We all grew up on a lot of classic rock. Ranging from Vanilla Fudge , The Beatles and Janis Joplin, to Cinderella, Dio, Sabbath and Alice Cooper. As well as a lot of 90’s hard rock. You can always go back to these early influences and learn something new.

Harris: Do you have any non-musical influences

Lzzy: We are inspired daily by our fans and the people we meet everyday. They keep us tickin’. We are all very lucky to have such supportive parents. Without them enabling us to begin our career at such an early age, we might not be here. They are the true “producers” of Halestorm. Ha!

Harris: Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years?

Lzzy: Rocking forward! We hope to push it overseas soon. We cannot wait to experience other “rock cultures” around the world.

Harris: Do you find using social networking effective in your marketing campaign? Comment if you can about your use of Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Youtube and other outlets in getting your message out.

Lzzy: We use Myspace, Twitter and You Tube in addition to our website. It definitely helps us keep a more intimate relationship with our fans…and we’ve been known to have little contests, and maybe give away a ticket or two. These tools help make Halestorm a force. Our fans are a huge part of what we do…every milestone, and triumph in Halestorm, is theirs too. We are creating a monster!

Harris:What bands have you shared the stage with? Do you have a wishlist of bands to play with in the future?

Lzzy: We’ve been very fortunate to share the stage with such acts as Seether, Shinedown, Theory Of A Deadman, Three Days Grace, Chevelle, Staind, Disturbed, David Allen Coe (yes really) etc…Our Wish List is endless because we learn something from every band we play with. But a few big ones are Metallica, Heaven N Hell, SlipKnot (that wish is coming true soon), Foo Fighters, Van Halen (the original line-up), and Michael Bolton.

Harris: What advice would you give other artists just starting in the industry now?

Lzzy: We have a “no back up plan” policy. As in, if this is what you love (and you have to LOVE it), don’t half-ass it! Jump in with both feet….and go for it. The music biz is a roller coaster ride, and there will be many ups and downs. Don’t get discouraged, Rock Forward and don’t take it too seriously.

Harris: Tell me about your upcoming plans following the album release.

Lzzy: TOUR! TOUR! TOUR! The Storm is comin’!!!