Gloriana hails from Nashville, that tiny little city where big big sound comes pummeling through the airwaves, and the likes of Jack White have called their home. The city oozes with talent, you can't walk half a block without tripping over the next "big thing" to hit the mainstream. It stands to reason that Gloriana would be among the smorgasborg of fiery talent burning through the city.

Founders Tom Gossin, vocals, guitar, and Mike Gossin, vocals, guitar, brothers who originally played sans les femmes fatal, Rachel Reinert, vocals, and Cheyenne Kimball, vocals, mandolin, soon discovered that adding a couple of chicks to the mix not only enhanced the vocal range of the band, but stretched the bands sound into something more memorable than they were able to achieve on their own.

Despite the brothers' vast experience of playing live over 250 nights a year, adding the girls to the band definitely changed the dynamics. Of course it certainly complimented their visual image as well. The blend of female vocals catapulted the bands harmony into a magical and defined sound.

Be not fooled, these two girly additions are no fools. They are incredibly passionate, fiercely determined, and plain ol' ass-kicking. Bringing them on was like bringing a mystic to the party. Everyone wants to be around the magic.

Coming off a tour with Taylor Swift, Gloriana has achieved a respectable status in their circuit. Though a modest band, they are riding high on their apparent instantaneous success as a foursome. antiMusic had the chance to catch up with the band upon their return from their recent European tour.

aM: How does living in/growing up in Nashville influence you?

Rachel: Nashville is a great place to live if you're a musician and/or songwriter. It's not just for country music, either. They call it MUSIC City for a reason. Practically everywhere you go, you're immersed in such a diverse and incredible music scene. The tight-knit community in Nashville is also something that you can't really find anywhere else. It's a small town, so practically everyone knows each other, and there's so many wonderful and creative people to meet and learn from. Because of all these reasons, Nashville has influenced me not only as an artist but as a person.

aM: Who would you compare your sound too? How would you describe country music in the 21st century?

Rachel: Our music has all kinds of influences. Each of us grew up listening to many different types of music, but the one thing we all had in common was a passion for country music. I would say our sound is a mixture of Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Sugarland, and Nicklecreek. I'd say country music in the 21st century has definitely evolved from traditional country from the past. There are a lot more pop and rock elements being mixed into country music, and it's becoming a lot more "modern" and different.

aM: Living together as a band can get really personal and emotional quote quickly. How did you manage to maintain your creativity level without killing each other? How did you escape when you needed privacy and time to "be"?

Rachel: We honestly haven't really gotten into many emotionally negative situations. We've been living in close quarters as a band pretty much from the beginning, so we know what makes each person tick, and we're sensitive to each other's needs. If there's ever a conflict, we handle the issue pretty quickly and let it go within minutes. We realize that we live and work together practically 24/7, so there isn't any time or space for petty arguments. We're like a family, we're not perfect, but we respect each other tremendously. If there's ever a need for "escape", Cheyenne normally goes to her bunk on the bus, I usually put in my headphones and go into a quiet room by myself, Tom will go for a long walk, and Mike just disappears; He's mysterious like that.

aM: What songwriters did you grow up admiring?

Tom: Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, Brian Wilson, Ryan Adams

aM: What is your favorite album of all time? Why?

Tom: Pet Sounds --The Beach Boys--I love the arrangement of both the vocal harmonies, the instrumental production, and of course the great songs!

aM: What is your favorite track on your album?

Tom: The last track, "Time to Let Me Go".

aM: You have shared the stage with many a great musician, what is it like touring with a mega force like Taylor Swift? Do you feel like you have "arrived"? If not, what would it take to get there?
Cheyenne: We feel so blessed to be on the Taylor tour. We are having an amazing time. Of course one day we would LOVE to headline our own tour though! We have already discussed that we will most definitely treat our opening act as well as Taylor has treated us.
aM: Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you realized you wanted to play?
Cheyenne: I had been playing music for two years and I entered myself into a local talent contest. I was 10 years old. The second I got on that stage and the little lights shined on me I knew that was the only thing I ever wanted to do with my life. I love playing live... it's an amazing feeling. -
aM: Do you use social marketing tools like Myspace, Facebook, Twitter? What has your experience been thus far with them?
Cheyenne: Oh Gloriana uses ALL things internet! We have such a good time Twittering especially. Being able to connect with our fans one on one like that is so fun for us. I just wish I was able to Twitter Hanson when I was 9!!

aM: Talk about the rapid rise from when you as brothers moved to Nashville to acquiring Rachel and Cheyenne. Did you think you would be so successful so quickly?

Mike: Well it took Tom and I 10 years of playing bars, weddings, clubs, and restaurants, so we felt like we were ready as far as having experience on stage. We were doing about 250 shows a year. Once we found the girls we knew we had something special and it was only a matter of time before someone saw that. We are really grateful it happened so quickly. It's been crazy.
aM: What would you be doing for a thrill if you were not playing music?

Mike: I always wanted to fly jets. If my music career didn't exist. I would have loved to join the airforce. I really want to fly a F22 Raptor.

aM: What sort of advice would you give other musicians just starting out?
Mike: Make a demo, get a lawyer to represent you and pitch you music to investors or record labels, get a booking agent, love what you do, don't be lazy, don't suck, and recycle.

Now, I may be a closet country music appreciator, but I think what this youthful band offers is something pretty worthwhile. Some of you may find the tracks to be a bit vanilla but I was truly engaged and entertained. I recommend checking them out. You may even find yourself doing the boot-scoot-and-boogie yourself.