As I dug into the alternative Christian scene as a teenager there there a few bands I kept seeing pop up that I didn’t really look into until years later. Perhaps with age came more open-mindedness. One of those projects of which I speak is Leper.

Leper are somewhat of an anomaly in the music scene. For over a decade, Leper have quietly been making waves in a gothic rock project that have become a staple of the Cornerstone/Audiofeed lineups. Skot Shaw, the mastermind behind the project, is rarely seen without a veil obscuring most of his face. He has explained in previous interviews that the anonymity allows him a method to avoid pride that could come with widespread recognition as he goes about everyday life.

Leper have described their music as for fans of Pink Floyd, Nine Inch Nails, and The Cure. It is our distinct privilege at Tuned Up to have the opportunity to help our community get to know Leper a bit more. Skot answered our Q&A below:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDvjq9FAikM[/youtube]

Who would play your ideal festival and where would it be?

[It would be] somewhere in the UK, (Scotland)
Virgin Black Savior Machine
Starflyer 59
Old Lsu (Mikal Nott)
The Choir
Deitiphobia
Grave Robber
Dark Valentine
Mortal
Nyves
The Last Dance
The Awakening
Sincerely Paul
Batzz in the Bellfrey and others

What is your favorite music released this year thus far? What are you looking forward to?

Nyves, but I cant think of anything im aware of that im waiting for.

What summer movie are you most looking forward to?

Civil War. I still haven’t seen Risen which is really bugging me.

Assume I know NOTHING about your band. In one sentence, why should I listen to you?

You probably shouldn’t, but I guess it depends on what you want to here and why you want to hear it. If you’re looking for something to make you super pumped, so you can lift weights or something, you probably don’t want Leper. If you wanna dance, maybe some leper’s for you. If you wanna sulk or brood or contemplate the mystery of God, sure. If you wanna just get creeped out or spooked, mmmmmmmmmmm, I hope I can accommodate.

Who on the Audiofeed lineup are you most stoked about this year and why?

I’m not really there for the line up but rather for the people I may meet or have met.

If your band had a mission statement, what would it say?

That’s a pretty big mouthful, but short version – Leper is for the kid in the background no one likes to play with or thinks is kool or “hip” enough to notice. If that is you rest assured that God has taken notice, and that God sees you, respects you, loves you and dosent care how kool or “put together ” you are… (fwwwhhhfff gettin worked up I need to calm down a sec (lol)).

What band from your area do more people need to hear? That most Audiofeed attendees (and beyond) would not have heard of.

I have no idea how to answer that.

What song do you hear and immediately think “Summer!”?

“Colors” by Rez band.

What is something you’ve been learning on your life or faith journey lately?

Hhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm, probably that I need to show as much grace to people as I need to receive from people, that I need to communicate more and more clearly.