Butcher Babies frontwoman Heidi Shepherd has opened up about the significant transition she’s undergone following the 2024 departure of co-vocalist Carla Harvey, discussing her new role as the sole lead singer of the acclaimed metal band. In a candid interview on Knotfest’s "She’s With The Band," a platform dedicated to amplifying women’s voices across the music industry, Shepherd detailed her feelings, the band’s operational continuity, and the palpable energy driving their upcoming album. The conversation provided a comprehensive look into the inner workings of Butcher Babies as they embark on a new chapter, emphasizing the collective strength and shared vision that propel their continued success.
Navigating the Shift: A New Era for Butcher Babies
Shepherd’s reflections on becoming the sole lead vocalist were marked by a sense of preparedness and a deep appreciation for the years of collaborative experience. "Being a co-lead vocalist, I think that each of us had our own identities in this as well," Shepherd stated, emphasizing the mutual growth and learning that occurred during her tenure with Harvey. "I think that I learned so much in all the years of the give-and-take. I’ve run this band, this business out of my living room for the last almost 20 years. And so it kind of really was just the next step, taking all those lessons that I had learned in the past and just kind of like putting it all in. But it’s been fine. And I feel comfortable. And I’m so lucky that I have my team."
This sentiment underscores a crucial aspect of Shepherd’s perspective: the transition was not an isolated event but a carefully navigated evolution supported by a robust and long-standing professional network. The band, which formed in 2010, has cultivated a significant operational infrastructure over nearly two decades, positioning Shepherd not just as a vocalist but as a seasoned leader in the business aspects of their career. Her assertion that she has managed the band’s business from her home for nearly 20 years highlights her deep involvement in the strategic and administrative facets of their operation, a testament to her dedication and foresight.
A Collective Effort: The Backbone of Butcher Babies
Shepherd was quick to emphasize that her current role is far from a solo endeavor, attributing the band’s resilience and forward momentum to the unwavering support of her team. "This isn’t just me," she clarified. "[Butcher Babies guitarist] Henry [Flury] has been in this band from the beginning, and my team has been here forever. My lawyer has been my lawyer for almost 17 years now. And so this is so much bigger than just two singers in a band. This is so much bigger than that."
This acknowledgment of her core team – including guitarist Henry Flury, who has been with the band since its inception, and a legal counsel with nearly 17 years of service – paints a picture of a stable and dedicated unit. The inclusion of their tour manager, manager, and agents further illustrates the comprehensive support system in place. Shepherd’s statement, "There are people that feed their families off of what we do. There are people who, their jobs are coming on tour with us and helping our show be as successful as it can be day in and day out," powerfully conveys the significant responsibility she feels towards the individuals whose livelihoods are intertwined with the band’s success. This sense of obligation to her team has undoubtedly fueled her determination to maintain and elevate the Butcher Babies’ legacy.
The interview provided a chronological context for this stability. While the exact founding year of the band is 2010, Shepherd’s mention of "almost 20 years" in business management suggests a history that predates the formal band structure or encompasses early independent ventures. Her lawyer’s tenure of "almost 17 years" further solidifies this long-term operational framework, dating back to approximately 2007, a period when independent music careers were increasingly reliant on robust business acumen.
Embracing the Challenge: Public Perception vs. Reality
The transition to sole lead vocalist presented Shepherd with a unique challenge concerning public perception. She openly discussed confronting these anxieties in therapy, articulating her initial fears about whether the audience would accept her in this new capacity. "Well, that is actually something I had to tackle in therapy," she admitted. "That was the initial thing, is, ‘People, are they even gonna believe in me? I’ve been the lead vocalist of this band for 20 years, but are they gonna think that I can still do it?’ I’ve been doing this, but now I just do a couple extra lines, lyrics on stage – I sing a couple extra lines on stage. And that was something that I’m, like, ‘What if people think that I can’t do this? What if people think that, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be horrible,’ and blah, blah, blah."
Her therapist’s guidance proved instrumental in reframing these internal doubts. "And [my therapist] told me, she’s, like, ‘But that’s a story you’re making up in your head. That’s something you are making up in your head. And then you’re gonna believe it.’" This therapeutic intervention encouraged Shepherd to adopt a more positive self-narrative, focusing on audience support rather than potential criticism. "So why don’t you tell yourself that people are gonna rally for you, that people are gonna be excited for you, and that people are gonna love what you come up with next? Why don’t you think that people are going to look forward to this new chapter instead of closing the book?’"
This psychological approach has become a daily practice for Shepherd. "And I was, like, ‘Oh, okay. You know what? That’s how I need to think.’ And granted, that’s an everyday – that’s a process every day. I still have to tell myself, ‘I need to think this way, I need to think this way, I need to think this way.’ Of course, every once in a while I’m gonna run across a shitty comment or someone’s gonna say something to me, but I have to not let my day be ruined by those little things." This resilience and conscious effort to manage her internal dialogue are key to her continued performance and leadership.
Her philosophy aligns with the band’s genesis. Shepherd revealed that the band’s initial success was built on overcoming skepticism and proving doubters wrong. "In fact, that’s how this band became successful in the first place. So that’s how I’ve always lived my life. I’ve lived my life by the ‘no’. When people tell me ‘no’, I say, ‘Actually yes.’ So, doubt me. I want to feel like I’ve got something to prove, so that’s fine." This inherent drive to defy expectations has become a foundational element of her approach to leadership and artistic expression.
The "Sincerity" Single and Audience Reception
The recent release of "Sincerity," Butcher Babies’ first single since Harvey’s departure, has garnered positive feedback, a fact Shepherd acknowledged with a touch of playful detachment. While she admitted to not reading comments directly, she noted the palpable positive energy from live audiences. "Oh, really? I didn’t read them. [Laughs] I don’t read comments… but I can tell from people’s reaction live that it’s been a good reaction." This indicates that the live performance experience serves as a more immediate and validating barometer of audience engagement for the band.
The single’s positive reception can be seen as an indicator of the broader market’s willingness to embrace the new iteration of Butcher Babies. In the competitive landscape of heavy music, where established bands often face scrutiny during periods of change, a successful single launch suggests that the band’s core appeal remains strong and has potentially resonated with new listeners as well. The fact that "Sincerity" is their first release with Shepherd as the sole lead vocalist positions it as a significant marker in the band’s history, and its positive reception provides a strong foundation for future releases.
A Band Fired Up: The Energy of a New Album
Shepherd described the current atmosphere within Butcher Babies as one of intense energy and shared enthusiasm. "The shows have been really fun," she enthused. "It has been so fun. There’s just such a fire in this band right now. And it’s not [just] me – it’s our drummer, it’s our bass player, it’s Henry, our guitar player, our tour manager, our manager, agents, everybody. Our lawyer – our lawyer’s fired up… He’s been the backbone of this band from the beginning… Our whole team has just this incredible fire right now."
This collective "fire" suggests a renewed sense of purpose and synergy within the band and their extended professional circle. It highlights a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of their music and performance. The mention of their lawyer being "fired up" is a unique indicator of the enthusiasm extending even to the legal and business aspects, implying a robust and optimistic outlook for the band’s future ventures. Shepherd’s ability to harness and articulate this collective energy is a testament to her leadership, transforming potential challenges into motivational fuel. The analogy of a "roller coaster" ride, while acknowledging its intensity, ultimately frames the experience as exhilarating and enjoyable, reflecting a positive outlook on the journey ahead.
Carla Harvey’s Perspective: A Decade and a Half of Shared History
The departure of Carla Harvey in 2024 marked the end of a significant chapter for Butcher Babies. In a December interview with Matt Wake of AL.com, Harvey offered her perspective on the split, which occurred after a decade and a half with the band. She cited a serious eye injury that prevented her from participating in a fall 2023 tour as a catalyst, stating, "I couldn’t do a tour [in the fall of 2023] because I had a serious eye injury and they went and did a tour without me. Then it was, like, ‘Well, we’ll just do the band by ourselves.’ When you have put your heart and soul into something for so long and you do get kind of squeezed out of it, there’s a moment when you’re, like, ‘I can either lay down and not do anything else, or I’m not gonna let someone else tell me when I’m fucking done doing what I do.’"
Harvey’s statement suggests a feeling of being sidelined due to her injury, leading to a decision by the remaining members to continue without her. This experience evidently ignited a resolve within her to pursue her own path and not be dictated by external circumstances. Her words convey a strong sense of agency and a refusal to be defined by her departure from Butcher Babies, indicating a continuation of her musical journey.
In an earlier interview on "The Ward Bond Show" in October 2024, Harvey also elaborated on the evolving demands of life on the road and their impact on band dynamics. "So there’s so much that goes into being in a band, especially as you get older and your life changes, you have relationships, you have a partner. I have a stepdaughter, and the idea, all of a sudden, of being on the road 10, 12 months out of the year became just a lot to handle." She highlighted the inherent challenges of reconciling personal life changes with the rigorous touring schedules common in the music industry. "And in a band there’s five people, and half of those people may feel like they want to be on the road constantly all the time and then some people are, like, ‘Maybe it’s halftime.’ So it doesn’t always work out for the greater good of everybody." This sheds light on the complex interplay of personal priorities and professional commitments within a band, suggesting that differing life stages and desires for touring can create significant logistical and personal friction.
A New Album on the Horizon: "Lost In Your Touch" and "Sincerity" Lead the Charge
The forthcoming full-length album from Butcher Babies, slated for release later this year, represents a significant milestone following the band’s recent single releases, "Lost In Your Touch" and "Sincerity." Shepherd confirmed the completion of the LP in an interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of 96.7 KCAL-FM’s "Wired In The Empire." "It is dunzo, it is finished," she stated about the album, adding, "And we’ve been working on it for a while." This announcement signifies the culmination of considerable creative effort and production.
The new album is being released through Judge & Jury Records, a label co-founded by multi-platinum producer Howard Benson and Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace. Benson’s extensive resume includes work with iconic artists such as My Chemical Romance, Seether, Skillet, and Of Mice & Men, positioning him as a highly influential figure in the rock and metal scene. Sanderson’s involvement further underscores the label’s commitment to high-caliber rock music production.
The instrumentation for Butcher Babies’ new LP was meticulously crafted by Benson and Sanderson themselves at West Valley Recording Studios, Benson’s personal studio located in Woodland Hills, California. This collaboration suggests a meticulously produced album, leveraging the expertise of two seasoned professionals to shape the band’s sonic direction. The involvement of such prominent figures in the music industry indicates a significant investment in the band’s new material and a belief in their potential for continued commercial and artistic success. The combination of Shepherd’s strengthened vocal leadership, the band’s cohesive team, and the production prowess of Benson and Sanderson points towards a compelling and impactful release for Butcher Babies in the coming year. The strategic release of singles like "Lost In Your Touch" and "Sincerity" prior to the album’s full launch serves as a calculated approach to build anticipation and gauge audience reception for the new sonic direction.