Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerilyn Hayes.
Hi Gerilyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Becoming a frontwoman, I have found, is no easy feat.
But somehow, I lucked into it a few years back thanks to a dear friend of mine, Jake Rousell. We had dreams of forming our own little punk rock outfit. With the backing of a couple of talented musicians and the Austin punk community, we made our musical dream a reality and named it Skink. (Indeed, we named the band after a lizard.)
From that point on, my sights were set on the stage. Any venue, any soundboard, any band. You called it, I wanted it.
Although the *lil’ punk band that could* couldn’t play any longer, my musical ambitions were championed by a cool dude known as Mister Patrick-a drummer and all-around incredible human with a heart of gold. We played in a now-defunct punk project called Sugar Pill, gigged all over the city, and realized that our musical chemistry was unmatched.
Fast-forward to 2018 and you’ll find a fully-formed psychedelic rage punk band called BÖNDBREAKR-founded by “Mister Patrick” Van Veghel, visionary guitarist Ciarán “Red Death” McCloskey, and myself Gerilyn “Hurricane G” Hayes. Our current lineup includes Thad Stevens, the prolific and laser-focused bassist who elevates minds with his talent.
It is now 2021 and this Galveston, Texas native finds herself in fits of awe every time she gets a chance to make music with these exceptional artists. And yes, I often wax on and on in the third person because I’ve found myself in a dream that I never want to end.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Much like the woods, the road has been lovely, dark, and deep.
Yes, I’ve found myself asleep at the wheel before the miles run out. But that’s what bandmates are for; making the trip less tenuous, turning the so-called struggles into mere bumps in the road.
Past and present challenges that I have faced as a frontwoman, as a Black woman were and are made surmountable because of the mutual respect my bandmates and I have for one another. Ours is a creative relationship borne of shared yet varied struggles, some known and some veiled.
After years of playing with the founding members of BÖNDBREAKR, I can say with great confidence that I do not carry the torch alone and am deeply grateful that my bandmates give me the creative space to be my complete, unapologetically Black self. Each of them, in their unique way, makes the most precarious of roads ones worth traveling.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My name is Gerilyn “Hurricane G” Hayes. I am a music recording artist with a values-centered point of view.
As frontwoman for BÖNDBREAKR, a psychedelic rage punk band, my specialties include lyric writing, songwriting, music composition, and playing cowbell because everyone could use more cowbell in their life.
My personal pride is insignificant, being no match to the admiration I hold for every woman in my family and in my friend group. They are the reason I roar. They, the women, are my pride.
Professionally, my musical artistry and ability to view challenges through a multitude of lenses make me unique. Also, the clarinet is the primary instrument I use to compose songs. Evidence of my clarinet-transposed-to-guitar compositions can be heard in ‘Angry Tooth’, the second single off the self-titled EP BÖNDBREAKR released in late summer 2020.
We all add value to the human tapestry. Therefore, I choose to remain a blazingly hued thread, woven into its complex and infinite beauty-never set apart, forever outstanding.
How do you think about happiness?
The happiness of others makes me happy. The “why” of my happiness is rooted in my mother’s love.
With gratitude, I am blessed with the gift of a wonderful mother whose attentiveness, intelligence, and grace tether me to reality. I’ve watched my mom build a nice, quiet, and creative life for herself, and I have been witness to how well she treats others. She wants for their happiness as much as, if not more than, her own. I admire that particular attribute of her tremendous character. Every day I aspire to hold that exact same compassion in my heart.
Contact Info:
- Email: bondbreaker.atx@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.bondbreakr.band/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bondbreakratx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bondbreakratx
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BONDBREAKR_ATX
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/PdG_BJ7ObYw
- Other: https://linktr.ee/bondbreakr
Image Credits
Robert Staley
NecroBlanca Texas Metal Photo & Design
Tony A.
Chelsea Morgandorffer
Kristine Compton
Alison Shows
