Trophy Eyes have binned off some of their baggage of old for a much-needed fresh start. Their third album ‘The American Dream’ sees a line-up change after the departure of drummer Callum Cramp, vocalist John Floreani upping sticks from Australia to find himself in (you guessed it) the US, and a whole new sound influenced by some arena rock legends. “Where other people may have felt it too hard to continue, we persisted,” John explains.
It sounds like you guys have been through a lot since the last record – what prompted your move to Texas? That’s a crazy long way from Australia.
Like every good story, I met a girl. Australia held some pretty dark memories and ties to my past that I no longer wanted to bare. I decided to go to Texas and start new. I think we’ve all craved that at some point in our lives – a fresh start where no one knows who you are with a chance to live a normal life; settle down and enjoy the quiet.
Is it a very different place to live? What have been the biggest hurdles to overcome?
I didn’t really experience any hurdles I don’t think. It was an easy transition into a friend circle that quickly turned into family. I guess the hardest part was accepting everyone’s kindness and hospitality after living on my own and depending on myself exclusively since I was about 17. Letting people love you when you don’t feel worthy is hard to get accustomed to, but I learnt that love always wins.
What impact has the move had on you, do you feel like you’re still the same person as before?
I did a lot of growing up in Texas. Learning the values of family and community and letting people in definitely changed me. I’m grateful to have experienced normal life for a little while. If you spend enough years being an asshole, you’ll eventually convince yourself that that way of life is all you deserve. Overcoming that kind of self-image was hard, but eventually, I grew to understand that I didn’t have to live like that. Everyone is capable of change, and everyone deserves at least a taste of who they aspire to be.
