It害羞草研究所檚 impossible to describe what genre Kelowna band Meteor Tree belongs to.

A mix of the metal sounding Tool, the vocals of Amy Lee from Evanescence with a little bit of Portishead, lead-singer Theresa Bishop said the band has always been stumped when asked to define their genre.

Meteor Tree formed officially two years and will be performing at the female-focused Metalocalypstick Fest at the in Lone Butte B.C., July 1 and 2.

Kelowna members Bishop, guitarist/saxophonist Corey Bornau and drummer Rob O害羞草研究所橠ay connect through their passion for nature, which is at the heart of Meteor Tree.

害羞草研究所淚 think individually we have that connection and we experience that differently from each other. I think that害羞草研究所檚 one of the reasons we bond together so well,害羞草研究所� said Bishop.

She draws from her own experiences to create the music.

害羞草研究所�(There害羞草研究所檚) a big connection to community and healing, so that害羞草研究所檚 kind of where I draw from as well as my own personal journey,害羞草研究所� she said, adding she also draws from her aboriginal heritage.

Bishop never experienced the same challenges aboriginals struggled with in the past but feels her generation is the one to focus on healing.

害羞草研究所淚 feel it so intensely though I was never raised in it,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淓very time I hear that drum or the powwow, I害羞草研究所檓 home. I害羞草研究所檓 so drawn to it; it害羞草研究所檚 like spiritual food and that can害羞草研究所檛 be taught.害羞草研究所�

Bishop doesn害羞草研究所檛 focus on lyrics with her vocals, believing her vocals are like an instrument.

害羞草研究所淲hen a person wails or they cry, they create a sound that害羞草研究所檚 completely connected to emotion. I find with certain (songs) pull out of me rhythmic melodies害羞草研究所� but certain pieces pull out raw emotion that can害羞草研究所檛 be expressed in words, only felt.害羞草研究所�

She developed the form of singing through meditation.

害羞草研究所淲hat really pulled me into melodic chants was I used to sit and drum and breath deeply and get in touch with my spirit, and started exploring (myself) through sound,害羞草研究所� she said.

Not all of Meteor Trees害羞草研究所� pieces are 害羞草研究所渋nstrumental,害羞草研究所� as lyrics are added occasionally.

Bishop described a piece as a canvas, some parts of the painting need to be defined, while other parts don害羞草研究所檛.

As a woman in a heavier-sounding band, Bishop said people didn害羞草研究所檛 take her seriously when she first started. While performing at open mics, announcers described her appearance rather than the music.

害羞草研究所淚 think what Metalocolypstic is doing is shining a light, or taking a magnifying glass and amplifying women in the genre. They are there, but because they害羞草研究所檙e less heard of (the festival) is definitely pinpointing them and I think it害羞草研究所檚 a great way to say 害羞草研究所榯hey are here, there are chicks who rock.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Bishop said you can expect to dance during Meteor Tree害羞草研究所檚 performance, but also feel a connection to the environment.

The band is currently working on their debut album, The Budding, which does not have a release date yet.

For more information on the festival visit the Metalocalypstick .