Itsa国际传媒檚 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 Osa国际传媒橠ay connect through their passion for nature, which is at the heart of Meteor Tree.

sa国际传媒淚 think individually we have that connection and we experience that differently from each other. I think thatsa国际传媒檚 one of the reasons we bond together so well,sa国际传媒� said Bishop.

She draws from her own experiences to create the music.

sa国际传媒�(Theresa国际传媒檚) a big connection to community and healing, so thatsa国际传媒檚 kind of where I draw from as well as my own personal journey,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淚 feel it so intensely though I was never raised in it,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淓very time I hear that drum or the powwow, Isa国际传媒檓 home. Isa国际传媒檓 so drawn to it; itsa国际传媒檚 like spiritual food and that cansa国际传媒檛 be taught.sa国际传媒�

Bishop doesnsa国际传媒檛 focus on lyrics with her vocals, believing her vocals are like an instrument.

sa国际传媒淲hen a person wails or they cry, they create a sound thatsa国际传媒檚 completely connected to emotion. I find with certain (songs) pull out of me rhythmic melodiessa国际传媒� but certain pieces pull out raw emotion that cansa国际传媒檛 be expressed in words, only felt.sa国际传媒�

She developed the form of singing through meditation.

sa国际传媒淲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,sa国际传媒� she said.

Not all of Meteor Treessa国际传媒� pieces are sa国际传媒渋nstrumental,sa国际传媒� as lyrics are added occasionally.

Bishop described a piece as a canvas, some parts of the painting need to be defined, while other parts donsa国际传媒檛.

As a woman in a heavier-sounding band, Bishop said people didnsa国际传媒檛 take her seriously when she first started. While performing at open mics, announcers described her appearance rather than the music.

sa国际传媒淚 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 theysa国际传媒檙e less heard of (the festival) is definitely pinpointing them and I think itsa国际传媒檚 a great way to say sa国际传媒榯hey are here, there are chicks who rock.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�

Bishop said you can expect to dance during Meteor Treesa国际传媒檚 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 .