SLIPPING OUT OF DARKNESS
‘Cholo goth’ duo pushes to the edge of mainstream success
It’s been quite a year for Leafar Seyer.
One-half of the “cholo goth” duo Prayers, Seyer says the duo has seen its profile rise quickly in the music scene.
This is in part to its most recent record, “Young Gods,” which was released last year and produced by Travis Barker of Blink-182 fame. And Seyer is taking it all in stride. Readying for a show in Portland, Ore., he is already talking about the next album — which is nearly complete.
“We have a few more songs to master,” he says. “Then it’ll be ready for release in a few months.”
Seyer, born Rafael Reyes, joined forces with Dave Parley nearly three years ago.
The outfit started as an outlet for both of the musicians.
After The Cult’s frontman, Ian Astbury, chose Prayers to open a few California dates in 2014, the duo’s profile has been on the rise.
Seyer and Parley strike the perfect balance when it comes to music.
Seyer says Parley is a producer and focuses strictly on the sounds.
Meanwhile, Seyer writes all the lyrics, and the writing often serves as therapy sessions for the musician.
“I’m a very sensitive person,” he says. “Everything that I write is what I’m feeling. I have anger issues, and this helps me keep from going out and getting in trouble. It’s therapy for me, and it also keeps a lot of people from getting hurt.”
With Prayers, Seyer is working on turning his life around.
A lifelong gangbanger and member of the Sherman Grant Hill Park 27 gang, he served six months in prison for assault back in 2010 — an incident for which he caught two strikes under California’s three-strikes law. If he catches another, he could wind up in prison for life. And he’s aware of this. “Having music has saved my life,” he says. “We started this group to make music for ourselves, and it keeps growing. People are finding us, and it’s great to see the audiences out at each venue.”