Eliza Cuts: The Truth Behind the Scissors

The White Flag movement is so much at the forefront of Eliza’s mind. She believes that it’s the best idea she has ever had. When it catches on it will be the raddest thing ever. I agree with this because even though I have never been bullied on the Internet, many younger people have, and still are. A big part of the White Flag ethic is about living your life and that we are not perfect. No one is perfect. Eliza would like the movement to take on its own life, and to find its own persona. She would like to just be in the background; the woman who had the IDEA. The White Flag movement puts out a positive message because, as we all know, there are many negative things out there. Not much of it is positive. In time, maybe it will have people donating money so that it can do things for people that matter. Eliza states that there is a book in publication at this time, and that all the groups on networking sites make it real to and for her. One of the problems for Eliza personally is that its hard to put a muzzle on Freedom of Speech because it’s a right. She really wishes that she could get an Internet Restraining Order because if you visit her My Space page for example, you are visiting her in her home so to speak. You are going to her, she isn’t coming to you. Maybe at some distant point in time, this could become a reality. I personally find that in talking trash and typing it on the Internet is easy because you are anonymous to everyone but yourself. Ultimately, you have to live with your own conscious.

Her other passion besides hair cutting and the White Flags is her new band, The Trouble. Started late in the fall months of 2008, she met her band members through some people who know and work with her best friend, Jenna. Brian and Aaron are the men behind her. Each are unique in their own ways. Aaron is not a talker but more of an observer who is quiet, shy and a bit withdrawn, while Brian is more outgoing and can be quite funny. Each of them brings something different to the table as far as Eliza is concerned. The band’s latest song is called “Option”, which is a haunting melody reminiscent of Cabaret styled music with strong vocals from Eliza. Another song, “Lock ‘em Up”, which has a catchy guitar riff in the background, has stong and unusual vocals in the sense that Eliza’s voice goes from major notes to minor ones. She has a good vocal range.

I was surprised to find that Eliza can sing and can sing well. I am also a musician and a singer so it was nice to hear her powerful voice on Wednesday night at Angels and Kings, which is the bar that Pete Wentz owns. They have Karaokee on Wednesdays with a live band to back you up. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that she is very comfortable being up front and center. I can only imagine what it would have been like to see her perform back in October 2008 at Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago. She gave a good rendition of Alanis Morissettes’ “You Oughta Know”. This was cool because I am Canadian. I also got a good feel of her public life in Chicago, and met some of the people who are closest to her in that sense. Later in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, we went to a ’50′s style diner to reflect upon the evening.

In her band The Trouble, Brian generally does the guitars, and Aaron is the keyboardist, as well as helping Eliza with the lyrics. The mixing of the tunes is done mainly by Brian, but they all have a say in it. The lyrics are written mostly by Eliza, and they are good. They are filled with pain and sorrow as well as joy and happiness. She does have an extreme personality, and so I can see why there are extremes in her lyrics. At the time of this writing, they are searching for a drummer and a bass player to join the band. Having those additions would definitely give the band a “fuller” sound.

Chicago definitely left an impression on me in more ways than one. I had never been to Chicago before this and I enjoyed the trip. I will and am going back there one day soon. I met some really cool and interesting people who may end up being on tour soon because nothing is impossible in their world. I was also inspired by this trip to be creative in other areas here in Canada. Love her or hate her, I think it is possible that Eliza Cuts is someone to watch in the upcoming year.

This article was written by Jade Sperry – www.jadedphotography.com