Life on the road for a sole female musician must get lonely at times, so Paris Luna had the right idea when she recruited her three-man band to back her up both in the studio and on the road. "I started out like most women in music do," recalls Paris, "as a one-girl show." After spending her college years playing at local hot spots she picked up drummer Kane Russell, guitarist Michael Harris and, after a lot of chopping and choosing, bassist Billy Lyons. For most girls, spending months on end on the road with a group of guys might sound like torture, but Paris attributes her laid-back nature to her ability to deal with the tough times on the road. And the Hello Kitty blanket she carries around on tour may help soothe her anxieties too. Combining their individual skills and influences, the band were able to create the fantastic debut album, 'City Lights', which is filled to the brim with a wonderful blend of pop and rock tunes, and is released this month. So far the album's pre-release reviews have been positive and Paris and her man-band have been touring the United States for the last few months to showcase the album and plan to hit the road even harder in 2008. "We focused on the Southeast this year, but we were able to play in St. Louis, New York City and Buffalo," says Paris. "We hope after the record releases nationally in December we'll be able to go all over the U.S."

If you've been to a music showcase you're probably familiar with the standard set-up. But Paris Luna are breaking free from the usual formats and giving the fans something a little more unique. "We are known for a four-hour show that includes all of our originals from 'City Lights' as well as some songs that are not on the album," explains Paris. And at a time when lip-synching or performing alongside a pre-recorded backing track seem to be all the rage, Paris Luna and her band pride themselves on their live performance skills. "A lot of times you buy a record and a band sounds one way and then you see them live and they do not sound exactly the same, I am so proud that I can give fans a good show on the stage, not just in their CD players!" Take note Britney Spears.

Although the band focused mainly on the Southeast region of the United States when touring this past year, Paris hopes the release of the album will allow them to spread their wings and travel a little further. "We were able to play in St. Louis, NYC, and Buffalo, but we hope we will be able for go all over the United States." And it isn't just the U.S. fans who are in for a treat, the band is currently in talks with the United Service Organization about a possible spot in next year's USO Tour, which could take the band everywhere from Japan and Korea to Cuba and all across Europe. But Paris admits she still loves to return home and play at her local church, even though the silence in the audience during the performance can often provoke what she calls "freak out moments." "It's funny, one of the hardest places to perform is my hometown church. The audience is so unlike any club I have ever played."

Like many musicians, Paris utilizes her real-life experiences to inspire her song writing. "It is easier to write about sad or hard times than happy ones. I'm not sure why that is," says Paris. But despite the slightly negative tone of many of the songs on 'City Lights', Paris says the fans' responses to the album has been nothing but positive. "I have a lot of fans that write to me and say that songs like 'Having a Hard Time' have helped them because they were going through the same thing," says Paris. And Paris admits she is no stranger to heartbreak herself. "Most of the songs are about one guy that I dated, and I thank God every day that the relationship is just being written about in songs instead of being a part of my real life. I guess I bury the memory of those feelings in songs." Other than real-life heartbreak, Paris does have other influences, all of which are a lot more positive. She names her mother, a classical pianist, as her number one inspiration. "She's my best friend," says Paris. "She's surrounded me with music even before I was born and I have a true and deep love for it because of that." As Paris grew up and her musical tastes expanded she discovered Prince and The Beatles. "I was drawn to Prince's melodies, songwriting and stage presence," she explains, "and I can't even think of one song by the Beatles that I didn't love right from the start. The longevity of their careers in music inspires me and keeps me pushing forward." Well keep on pushing, Paris! We wish you and your band all the best for the future!

- Jennifer Haughton, Associate Editor