The Dragon Slayers - An example in staying the course.
- Lucy Heartfilia.
It's a humid and overcast morning as I make my way into the enormous house. This place is usually one of calm and quiet, but today it has been transformed into a hive of activity, with set dressers and wardrobe racks dashing back and forth to the soundtrack that always accompanies a location shoot. Reader, no one else is permitted access to this shoot, and it is only on the merits of family that I've been allowed to enter the premises that belong to the stately elder Mr. Redfox. I take the familiar path up the front steps, down the hall and around the staircase, into the sunroom off the pool deck, which is where I find the people I'm here to see. Our greetings are as warm and friendly as always, and I'm enjoying the quiet moments where these people are still my friends, my family, before we each step into our roles as journalist and interviewee's, taking the opportunity to love on the little girl running riot, her glee positively contagious.
But I am not here to talk to you about my goddaughter - although I could write entire novels on the reasons I love her - but rather, her parents. Gajeel, and the soon-to-be Levy Redfox (yes, she's changing her name readers, I asked). I could write about Gray, or Wendy, or even Natsu - because Lord knows I'm well enough acquainted with him - but let's not fool ourselves. These two are the power couple of pop-punk, and they're who you want the details on. Luckily for you, readers, I may be the only person in the world they will give these details to publicly.
Our interview starts after I watch Gajeel chase his daughter around, pretending to be a dragon. When she tires of this game, she runs off to read quietly with her grandpa - it's a rare glimpse of the man behind the persona we all watch swagger around on stage, and it never ceases to remind me how different the Gajeel I know is to the one you all see. He takes his seat as Levy and I embrace warmly - we saw each other three days ago, but friendships are like this after so many years, and Levy and I have been inseparable since childhood. When they're settled in chairs next to each other, I take out my notebook and we begin, doing our best to ignore the mutterings of the hair and makeup artists that are whirling around the space.
Congratulations on the upcoming album release! I know I'm very lucky to have been able to hear it in full already, but for those without the benefit of marrying into this family, can you tell us what to expect?
Levy: There's a lot of songs that are going to feel familiar, but they're all new and different. I think it's a little bit more of a polished "grown up" sound of our previous records.
Gajeel: There's definitely a different vibe to this one.
That's true. As a listener, it feels almost triumphant in a way.
L: I guess it kind of is, right babe?
G: Sure. We definitely went through some stuff to get where we are now, and I guess this record is a celebration of making it through and coming out the other side.
Obviously it's been a number of years since your last full album release, could you tell us a bit about what went on between then and now, and how that's shaped this release?
G: Yeah, I've made no secret of the fact that I'm a recovering drug addict, so most of the stuff we've been dealing with as a band and as a family has been a result of that.
And how have you been doing with your recovery?
G: It's been good. Recovery is a lifelong thing, of course, but I'm doing the work. That was really hard for me, in the beginning, to accept that you can't just "fix" it and move on. But yeah, I'm doing well.
L: And we're all really proud of you, 'Jeel. I'm really proud of you.
(We had to stop for a minute while these two shared a kiss that lasted entirely too long for a public setting, but I promise you reader, that they've always been this way).
Would you say your experiences with addiction and recovery have had an influence on your music? Especially because you two seem to be the more prolific writers of the band?
G: I've always used music as a way to explore the things I'm feeling, so that part hasn't changed, but I definitely draw from those experiences and the way they changed me when I'm writing. I'd say it's given me a deeper well of things to pull from.
L: I think, for me, going through everything and taking that step away from it all, and then everything that followed, definitely changed how I approach music. I feel like my songs are a little more meaningful and a little more mature?
G: I think that's a good way of explaining it, kitten.
(Yes, readers, he still calls her kitten, and it is still sickeningly sweet).
Levy, when you say everything that followed, you're talking about parenting without Gajeel?
L: Yeah. I felt like it was the best decision for everyone to keep it - not secret, but I guess under wraps? - for a while. Gaj' was still in the early days of his recovery and I felt a shock like that might have been too much for him. I don't know if I made the right choices, but I tried to make the ones that were best for everyone at those moments.
G: You know I don't resent you for any of it, right Lev's? You did what you thought was right, and you protected our little girl until I was in a place that was safe for us all to be together again.
L: I know, and I'm glad we got to this point.
Would you mind sharing how you got to this point? Obviously we're all thrilled that you're together and planning your wedding - which I am very excited for - but our readers might like to know the process that got you from separated to engaged again?
L: I mean, I don't think there's a secret? It's not magic, it took a lot of really hard work.
G: And trust. It's been, for me, four years of sobriety and therapy, and we've been doing counselling together since we reconnected.
L: It's been about learning to communicate better, and how to be together again, because we've both different people than we were last time.
G: I feel like we're pretty good at adapting though, our relationship has been a series of breaking up and making up over the years.
L: Hopefully now we have the skills to stop that particular cycle.
G: And there's E too. She's always at the forefront of any decisions that we make or discussions we have, where before it used to be about me, or us, or the band.
So you're saying parenthood has changed you?
L: Absolutely. I think it's been a more profound shift for me, but I don't think you can have a child without it changing you in some way.
G: I definitely see bigger changes in Lev's than in myself, but it definitely shifts your perspective. I know I used to be really selfish, or I'd be hyper-focused on something, and you can't do that when you have a little one.
(I don't know about you, but I definitely melted a little at the sight of a big rockstar smiling dreamily as he calls his daughter "little one").
Has having E changed your approach to music, Gajeel?
G: I never really liked touring. I mean, I love the concerts and meeting our fans, but being away from home isn't something I've ever enjoyed. Now I absolutely hate it though, so we're trying to come up with a plan that means less time apart but still balances the stuff we enjoy.
Natsu: Yeah, he's even more of a pain in the ass than usual these days!
G: Dude, not your interview!
N: Dude, not my problem. Hi Luce!
(Yes, reader, he's always like this. We sneak a quick kiss and I shoo him out of the room so we can get back to the interview).
Gajeel, do you think working and touring with your family has been the secret to such a long career?
G: I think it definitely helps. We've been together basically our whole lives, so living on top of each other on tour buses in the old days wasn't all that different for us.
L: And you guys always know that, at the end of the day, you're family and that isn't going to go away. It's nice to be part of such a close knit family who appreciate each other.
G: That's true. I guess we do appreciate each other more because even if this all goes away, we still have to see each other.
That's a really nice way of looking at it. Can we pivot back to the record for a moment? Talk to me about the process of writing and recording this time around, and if it was any different than before.
G: The last album we put out, we had a grace period of about a year. We basically went about life as normal, but we'd meet every day at the studio and go through things. It was a very relaxed process, in hindsight.
L: This time was different, because the guys were putting singles and LP's out while I was basically M.I.A so there wasn't any studio pressure in terms of timelines?
G: Right.
L: So it happened really organically. I think the whole thing was put together in about six weeks.
G: We did all our writing and band meetings in the lounge room at our place, actually. Then it was about a week in the studio recording.
L: And about three weeks editing? Because we actually took a risk and did all our mixing and levels ourselves, so the whole thing is Dragon Slayers.
G: From start to finish, so hopefully it's really cohesive because of that. We really wanted it to be "ours" from start to finish.
So, should your fans take this as sign that you might break away from your label?
L: No comment?
G: Yeah, let's leave that alone. I will say that Fiore Records have been great to us all these years and we really appreciate everything they've done for the band, and all the support they gave us.
So no controversy or bad blood?
L: Absolutely not. Like Gaj said, they've been great and really accommodating.
That's good to hear. In terms of this album, is there one track in particular you're really proud of?
G: For me, I think that's "Sober" which was the early release single everyone will have heard by now. Lev's and I wrote that when we first got back together, and I feel like it's a good gauge of the whole album?
L: It's about the process of admitting you had a problem, and how we each dealt with our feelings on the whole process of recovery.
G: There's a line in there "waiting here while you get sober" which is as much about her patience with me as it is about reminding myself that recovery is an ongoing thing.
L: It turned into a really uplifting thing, which I don't think we ever set out to do? But hopefully everyone gets as much out of it as we did.
And how about you, Levy?
L: I mean, I'm really proud of the whole thing because I know how much work went into it. I'm really excited to see people's reactions to "Victorious" because it really does feel like a comeback song.
G: Any song that features my girl's gorgeous vocals is always going to be my favourite. She had a vision for that one, and it really came through. It's this sweeping, grand, almost orchestral piece of music and I can't wait for everyone else to hear it.
(This is where I tell you that it's one of my favourites off the new record too, and it's every bit as majestic as Gajeel makes it sound.)
And there's a B-side for this record, is that right?
L: Oh, God.
G: Don't blush, kitten. That's right, there's five extra songs that my vocals don't feature on at all. I'm very excited for people to hear them.
L: For the record, it was not my idea! I'm very unused to being the lead on anything, but I had complete control over these five songs so I just went for it. Some of them might be very different than what people are used to, but I wanted to try something new.
G: There's a bit of Natsu's growling too, so that might appeal to some people. "I Know What I Am" is a really fun one though.
L: That was super fun, actually. It was just Wendy, Natsu and I in the studio that day and we were just playing around, trying some improv exercises, and "I Know What I Am" is actually just one of those that someone remembered to record.
I think "fun" is the perfect word for that song, it's honestly one of my new favourites.
L: Thank you!
If we can segue off that, what fun things are next for you guys, in a work sense?
G: Well, once the album drops we'll be doing all the usual promo stuff.
L: And then we're actually going to tour again. We're looking towards an arena tour, instead of the smaller venues the guys were playing on and off the last few years.
G: Obviously there's a lot of details still to be worked out, but yeah, I guess people should keep their ears out for an official tour announcement at some point.
Our question time is cut short when Erik - or Cobra, depending on his mood - cuts in to usher the pair out to the set for their pictures. He's been hovering for the entire interview, but apparently I've stayed within the lines because he's been more or less ignoring me, which is all a journalist can hope for when it comes to the Slayer's infamously prickly manager. I get to follow them out to set and watch them fall into their roles as rockstars, in full glam under the lights and wind machine that blows Gajeel's famous mane of hair around, and I use this time to sneak a few more snuggles with my goddaughter who is thoroughly confused at all the commotion within her grandfather's house. With that done, there's a quick wardrobe change before they surprise me by jumping into the pool. Although, dear reader, I do hope you'll get to see these particular images because they are truly incredible - the photographer was under the water with them towards the end, and the results truly speak for themselves. Given that today's photo shoot is for the impeding album launch and subsequent promotion, I have every confidence you will see these pictures. You may even put them up on your wall.
With the shoot done, and the entire group dressed and dry, we reconvene in the sitting room and I get the chance to expand my questioning to the rest of the band over lunch.
Thank you all for letting me document this.
Wendy: Of course Lu!
Gray: We wouldn't trust anyone else, to be honest with you.
Well, I'm deeply flattered by that. I asked Gajeel and Levy earlier, but I'd like to hear what you think people should expect from this new record?
Natsu: I think it's a lot of the stuff people love about our sound, but in a more "grown up" way.
W: I like that you air quoted "grown up" because you definitely haven't done that Natsu!
Gray: It's definitely a victory cry. Kind of a "fuck you" to the people who said we were never going to make a come back.
W: it feels triumphant.
And do you have a favourite track, or one you're particularly proud of?
W: Are we allowed to include the B-side? Because I think my favourite is "Bulletproof Love" - I actually got to work really closely with Levy on that one and the whole process was just incredible.
Levy: Plus your vocals are on it, and they sound amazing!
Gray: For me, it's got to be "The Light". I think it really captures that sense of determination and redemption that we've all been striving for.
N: You already know mine is "I Know What I Am" purely because it's just so fun and different. But I'm also really proud of Levy for being so vulnerable and putting a song like "Dear Agony" out there.
How was that process, Lev?
L: Honestly, it was quite cathartic. I don't think I ever hid what happened, but I know I didn't talk about it - or my feelings around it - as much as I probably should have, so it actually felt quite good to get it all out.
When you talk about what happened, are you referring to Gajeel's addiction?
L: No. "Dear Agony" sat unfinished in my notebook for years as a way of processing my grief and feelings of inadequacy after our miscarriage.
Dear readers, you probably didn't know that Levy and Gajeel have been pregnant before. Just once, around six months before they split up, which ended in a miscarriage that was, understandably, quite traumatic for them both. I remember, because I was there. We all pause for a moment, sharing sad smiles and squeezing hands. We were all there through those moments and we all share the grief Levy is talking about.
G: We're all really proud of her for being so open and just putting that out there. I love you kitten.
L: I love you too, 'Jeel.
N: I just want to get back to the interview, please and thanks.
Of course hon'. So, obviously you were all affected by Gajeel's addiction. Can you tell me a little bit about what that was like for you?
W: I remember getting the call that he was in hospital, and just being terrified. Gajeel is like my eldest brother, and so you always assume them to be indestructible and it was a big shock for me to learn otherwise.
Gray: If I'm honest, I could see it coming. We've been friends long enough that I could see him spiralling, but I hoped he'd pull himself together.
N: I was so angry with you when your Pops called me and explained. I couldn't understand why you would do that and throw away everything good in your life.
G: I remember you came to visit me at rehab and your threw a cushion at my head while you were yelling.
N: Oh yeah. I was pissed because you were just moping around and not taking it seriously, and we were watching Levy wither away because she was so sick and stressed and pregnant without you.
G: And you wouldn't tell me anything.
N: Well, yeah, it wasn't my place. Anyway, I've learnt since then that it wasn't something you had control over by that point and that we just needed to help you get better.
W: So we all kept coming to see you at rehab, and checking in when you got back here.
G: It was like a revolving door of visitors!
Gray: But you needed that in the early days. You were fresh out of rehab, newly single and newly sober - those are big things to try and navigate on your own.
W: You would have done the same for any of us.
G: That's true. I definitely wouldn't be at this point of my recovery without you guys, so thank you. I know I don't say it enough, but I really do appreciate you all and everything you did for me.
And now? Do you feel like the experience has changed how you guys relate to each other at all?
W: I definitely think it made us more open with each other. Like, we talk more about the hard stuff now.
N: For sure, we all seem to communicate better now.
Gray: I think we're all more aware of what to look for, not just for Gajeel, but just in terms of if someone is having a bad day or a hard time.
L: No one's afraid to open up, or ask if you need help with anything, which is really sweet. Sometimes asking for help is the hard part, so if one of they guys can see we're struggling, it kind of helps to just be able to go "oh my gosh, yes please".
Can we talk about that infamous open mic night?
L: Absolutely not. The only thing I will say is that it was a lovely opportunity to meet some of our fans - it was very fulfilling to get to share some advice with those kids, and I hope we helped.
G: I think we all remember what it was like, being young and full of dreams and having no idea what it was really going to be like.
N: We really had no idea what we were in for, so being able to give them a heads up will hopefully help.
W: I think that's something we'd all like to do more of?
Gray: For sure.
Fair enough. Is there anything you want to say to all the critics who said that you were finished?
Gray: I'd like to say lots of things, but Cobra made me promise not to.
W: I think the record speaks for itself?
G: The squirt's right - everything we could have to say in response is on there, so I guess they'll have to buy a copy and hear for themselves.
W: Stop calling me Squirt!
And how about the fans who've stuck with you through everything?
G: Thank you.
L: That's really all there is to say. We love and appreciate you guys, and we're so thankful for your support.
N: Without our fans, we wouldn't get to have this insane life.
Gray: We really do owe them everything, right guys?
L: Absolutely.
That feels like a pretty great note to end our interview on, readers. I could keep going all day, because these people are my family and I love the hell out of each and every one of them, but I'm pretty sure you have no interest in the mundane things we talk about outside of work.
This new record is one of conquest, of slaying the demons - and dragons - within each of us; and I hope it leaves you with the same feelings of victory and success it was so clearly written with. The Dragon Slayers have had one of the most enduring careers in the pop-punk scene, and it shows no signs of slowing any time soon. They are a lesson in growth and adaptation, and gratitude.
The Dragon Slayers - "Victorious"
9.5/10
I know it's almost been a month (sorry!) but I wanted to try something different to kind of break up the story, kind of a breather before we shift into the next stage. Hopefully it reads okay and fills some of the blanks because I purposefully left the last update a little vague on some details for this exact reason. Anyway, I'll try and update this one again before too long, which might be possible because who knows how long this current lockdown is going to last. There'll be another "Scars" update soon too (which has actually overtaken this one as my longest fic, go figure!) so if you're stuck at home like I am, at least you'll have plenty to read! Stay safe out there guys!
- A.V xxx
