Behind the Music: Exploring the Journey of Alibis Rock Band Members

Photo Credit: raw_iso100

I had the pleasure of conducting an interview with Rainy Terrell, the vocalist, and Kris Ferri, the guitarist of Alibis, a rock group from Los Angeles. During our conversation, we discussed both members' upbringings, their musical journeys, the band, and a variety of other topics.

Amit Ahuja:  Let’s start at the beginning — tell us about where you guys grew up. What was your hometown like, and what kind of environment did you call home during your early years? Was it a small, tight-knit community where everyone knew each other, or a lively city full of movement and change? What are some of your fondest memories from growing up there? We’d love to hear about the people, traditions, or everyday moments that helped shape who you are today. How do you think your upbringing and community influenced your perspective on life or the path you eventually chose?

Rainy Terrell: I grew up in Huntington Beach, later moving to Tustin. The community was large, but the young artist community was tight knit and very supportive for kids wanting to perform in the Arts. I loved performing in tons of local and professional musical theatre and all the wonderful friendships I had made. I had a vast passion for performing and singing and constantly was begging my family to take me to musical theatre auditions and singing competitions. My family was very supportive, and I am lucky I had such amazing family to support me.

Kris Ferris: I grew up in El Monte, Ca. A city where you either became a criminal or an addict. The people and the struggles there shaped my need to create and become something, someone with purpose.

Amit Ahuja:  "Let’s start from the very beginning of each your musical journey—can you recall a specific moment, experience, or influence that first ignited your passion for music? Whether it was a performance, a particular song, a mentor, or even a personal challenge, what was it that made you realize music would become such an important part of your life? How did that defining moment shape the direction you’ve taken since, both creatively and personally, and how has it continued to influence your evolution as an artist?"

Rainy Terrell: I was an ice skater at a very young age, and was mainly focused on that, as I was very good at it and loved competing. One day when I was on the ice rehearsing, and a hockey player accidentally knocked me down and I fell and hit my head. I got a concussion and was raced to the hospital where they told my mom I had an epidural hematoma. I had to have brain surgery and would be in a hospital a while. They told me I could never ice skate again without a helmet on, and when I went back to skating with the helmet, it just wasn’t the same, I was afraid to jump. It was from that point on I shifted my focus from ice skating to singing, dancing and acting. And I’m so gratelful that happened! I really found my calling, and I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without that dramatic accident pushing mew towards a different career and focus.

Kris Ferris: It all started at 9 years old. I had one mentor that taught me all the basics, and I took it from there. I learned that music made me feel seen. It was never a hobby it was my way out. It was always a way to express myself, and till this day, where words failed.

Amit Ahuja:  "Which music groups or bands known for love songs are your favorites, and how did they influence your interest in singing or learning to play instruments?"

Rainy Terrell: I love a lot of Jazz, Opera, Rock, Pop and Musical Theatre and all of that music shaped me to the writer I am today. I love Epic ballads, and most ballads are about love. That’s what drastically shaped our single “Damn Love” and really bringing that emotion into the song.

Kris Ferris: A specific band or song doesn’t come to mind. I think love, pain and truth is something we can all relate to. And that’s how we approach emotion in music.

Amit Ahuja:  Can you take us back to the beginning of Alibis? How did the band first come together, and what inspired you to start this journey?

Rainy Terrell: What started the journey was starting my own solo project, I released a handful of singles and really decided after much self-digging that I wanted to start a new rock band. I was searching on Vampr and found Kris, he was actually the first to respond to me. We met for 6 months or so and wrote and wrote and wrote. And later started looking for a drummer once we had a handful of songs. I had seen Cameron had previously left another band and reached out. He loved the music, and from then on it was us 3.

Kris Ferris:  It started with friendship. Late nights, raw ideas. The need to give our art a voice.

Amit Ahuja:  In the process of creating Alibis, what inspired the lead singer to blend various musical genres into the band's overall sound, and how did they approach selecting and integrating those different stylistic elements to craft a unique musical identity for the group?

Rainy Terrell: It was my upbringing, I had studied Opera for many many years, and with that came a deep appreciation for other styles of music. It was a natural unfolding while in the writing phase of Alibis, and I believe we’ve found our own identity in our unique sound.

Kris Ferris:  Life doesn’t fit into one box. She is a lover of music, and it makes sense to me that her creativity reflects that.

Amit Ahuja:  What was the original vision for your music when you started?

Rainy Terrell: The original vision was exactly what you hear, dark rock/epic/truthful tales of art.

Kris Ferris:  The original vision was to make music that refuses to play it safe. That hasn’t changed.

Photo Credit: CultureRockMedia

Amit Ahuja:   Did you have a different name in mind when you first started thinking of the band's name? What made you guys stick with Alibis?

Rainy Terrell: We had a handful of different names but this one stuck because Alibis really felt like it was fitting. Its provoking and dark, and we are each other's accomplices in this musical journey.

Kris Ferris:  Other names came up, of course. Vatika was the only other one that I can remember. She was the goddess of the underworld and being a female

fronted band, I thought it sounded cool.

Amit Ahuja: "The name Alibis immediately evokes intrigue — it’s bold, evocative, and rich with potential meaning. Could you share the origin story behind this name? What inspired you to choose it, and was there a specific moment, experience, or conversation that led to its creation? Does the name represent a particular philosophy, narrative, or emotional thread that runs through your music?

Rainy Terrell: We are the accomplices in our musical journey together, ones that rise and stir up all sorts of emotions within the listener and hold nothing back. Were a little unhinged and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Kris and I saw it also was a song title of one of my favorite bands IAMX and really loved the darkness and thought provoking that came with it. We felt it fit all aspects of the music and the theatrical imagery.

Amit Ahuja: How do you see Alibis as a reflection of the band’s artistic identity, your journey as musicians, or the themes you aim to explore? Whether it’s about duality, escape, truth, or reinvention, we’d love to hear how this name captures the soul of the band and the vision behind it.

Rainy: Were a very theatrical band, dark and melodic. Somewhat mysterious in our workings and we felt it really encompassed both of us as musicians and the project.

Kris Ferris: Alibis reflect reinvention. We turn old wounds into anthems. It’s about escape, but also the truth you can’t run from.

Amit Ahuja: I’d love to dive deeper into the creative and emotional journeys behind some of your songs. Could you share the inspiration, personal stories, or themes that influenced the writing and production of tracks like What were the ideas or experiences that shaped these songs, and what do they mean to you as a band now that they’ve been released and shared with listeners?" (question for the vocalist)

Rainy Terrell: Everything that’s written about has been about my personal experiences in real life. I feel lately like I’m an open book and have laid a lot of it on the table for people to connect to. It's scary but also a part of my gift I am supposed to share. I try to be vulnerable and real in everything I do and write. “Darkside” was written about having to face myself and really honor the shadow side of myself and the feelings of failure, escapism, facing the Darkside of myself and owning it.

Amit Ahuja: Every great song carries a story—one that begins long before the world ever hears the final mix. For each of you—the bass player, the guitarist, and the drummer—can you walk us through the whole journey behind these tracks? Where did the initial spark come from? Was it a spontaneous bass groove, a raw guitar riff, or an explosive drumbeat that kicked it all off? How did your ideas evolve through rehearsals, writing sessions, and ultimately in the studio?

Rainy Terrell: Our writing sessions are unique when things are first formed. I write all the melodies and chord progressions on the piano, Then Kris and I will sit down and start programming drums together. Kris will then write the guitars, and bass. I then will go back in program synths and work and on production. We have a great method going. Then, Cameron will put his own flair on the drums once were in the studio recording. In our most recent tracks, Cameron has had more of a role earlier in the process.

Kris Ferris: Musically, between Rainy and myself, ideas evolve the more we push each other. I couldn’t do my job without her first doing hers. And she does a damn good job at it! It can be intimidating when working with one of the best artists in music today, but we have great chemistry together.

Amit Ahuja: What was the dynamic like when you were developing your guys' parts—were there moments of instant creative flow, or times when things just weren’t clicking? How did you adapt or challenge each other musically to serve the bigger vision of the song? Once in the studio, what were some key turning points—either breakthroughs or setbacks—that helped shape the final sound?

Rainy Terrell: Developing the songs is journey as far as finding things I can force myself to be very honest with. I usually have to be alone while I’m coming up with a chord progressions and melodies and prefer it that way so I can pour every ounce of myself into the song. There are many times, we have to change things or rewrite parts. Its just the natural progression of the songs. The studio is a different beast. I usually have a very distinct vision of what I want it to sound like. I never stray away from that vision.

Kris Ferris: There were nights when everything clicked and others when nothing felt like it worked. All creatives go through this. If we’re all excited about it, we know we’re on the right path. If not, Command-Delete lol

Amit Ahuja: And beyond the technical aspects: what were the emotional or psychological challenges for you personally throughout the process? Did the songwriting and recording journey reveal something new about your identity as an artist or as a bandmate?

Rainy Terrell: We have learned the art of tightrope walking as far as what we are willing to change and what we’re not. It's an ever-evolving art haha! But I have a vison and never stray too far from the path.

Kris Ferris: The hardest part wasn’t technical, even though that shit is difficult, but it was facing ourselves. The courage to tell our story and convey that through music to match perfectly what was being said.

Photo Credit: CultureRockMedia

Amit Ahuja: "Could you walk us through the deeper meaning and emotional narrative behind your EP titled 'Damn Love'? I'd love to hear the personal stories, inspirations, or experiences that shaped the overall concept of the project. Additionally, could you delve into each individual track on the EP—explaining the lyrical themes, the creative process behind them, and how each song contributes to the larger story or message being conveyed through the project? Whether it's heartbreak, growth, vulnerability, or reflection, we’d love to know what each track meant to you personally when you wrote it and what you hope listeners take away from it."

Rainy Terrell: Damn Love is my favorite song off the EP; I think it really showcases the emotional vulnerability and honesty that makes us unique. I had a very hard break up, of someone that was in my life for a long time, supporting me on my musical journey. It felt like death to me. I was in a very dark place, where all I had left was my music and my gift. I channeled that suffering into Damn Love. And I chose for the visual of the music video to showcase that. I was at one of the lowest points in my life, and that song was the very first song written for Alibis and for the project. It hits home of how the project started.

Rainy Terrell: Mother – was written about my experience being sent to a lock down facility in Utah. I was a kid and it was a difficult journey for me. I felt I had lost my mom, my voice, my art. I couldn’t escape being there and had to face myself. The song is about wishing I could be with my mom, and the enormous amount of sadness, and devastation I felt being there. The video was based in a hospital to show the lock down facility. We tried to get the actual place in Utah, since it has been shut down, however, we they wouldn’t allow us to film there.

Rainy Terrell: Sell Out – was written about the media and politicians and the enormous amount of influence they play on our lives and sometimes playing us against each other. We loved the idea of using the concept from “They Live” the 80s movie where they can see the real message behind the message per say. So we went with that and had a quite a lot of fun filming it.

Rainy Terrell: Siren Sonata- I wanted to make a different version of “Darkside” that had a smokey jazz club vibe that was acoustic of just vocals and the piano/strings. I had always wanted to push myself to see if I could write another version of a song, and this was my opportunity. I wanted the song to be orchestral and larger than life but still convey the vulnerability of the lyrics. That song took me 2 months to write, I didn’t leave my studio, I basically lived in there at time. I loved the concept of the smokey jazz club and brought a 1920s vibe to it. It brought a theatrical vibe that I love and really felt like we brought the song to life.

Rainy Terrell: Darkside – Darkside is about facing oneself and the shadow side we all have. It's about feeling like a feeling like you're loosing yourself and questioning how low you want to go. This I wrote when I was moving out of my apartment in Orange County and moving to LA. Kris loved this when I first played it for him, and we knew we had something really special with this song.

Rainy Terrell: The visual for this was one of the interplays between light with the very bright band scenes and the darkness of the heavy red solos scenes and lighting. It foreshadows a sense of heavy artistry and dramaticism yet to come in later videos, with the dance movements in front of a setting of the sun scene. The plunge into the exploration of darkness and the interplay between both light and dark. You can see a little of my dance background in this video, in front of the setting red sun. Something I don’t often get to showcase. This song was a true testament to putting Alibis on the map and we knew we had to release this first.

Amit Ahuja: "If you guys had the incredible opportunity to open for any band or embark on a two-month tour, which artists would you be most excited to travel and perform with—and why?"

Rainy Terrell: We would be MOST excited to open for Sleep Token, Muse or Evanescence. These bands have really influenced me as an artist and would be such a humbling and rewarding experience.

Kris Ferris:  Artists of today I would say Muse or Sleep Token would be a dream come true because they carry power and honesty we admire.

Amit Ahuja: What inspires you guys as artists?

Rainy Terrell: Everyday life, everyday struggles, and the most profound feeling that I have something to say and I’m going to say it!

Kris Ferris: We’re inspired by truth. The kind that’s uncomfortable, but undeniable.

Amit Ahuja:  What insights or recommendations do you have for musicians who face rejection or experience setbacks in their careers? Specifically, how can these artists cope with disappointment and use those challenges as steppingstones for future growth?

Rainy Terrell: I have faced many setbacks, that too is a part of the journey, and I think it's all a process of shaping the artist within you. They are necessary to really see if this I what you want. Not everyone has the same journey, but for those seeking a similar path, you must keep going. It will pay off, believe in yourself and shut out all the naysayers.

Kris Ferris: Rejection is part of the game. You can’t fear failure or what feels like failure. You take that and use it as gasoline not as an anchor.

Amit Ahuja:  When you are all creating music, does it feel more like a form of release, a journey of self-discovery, or a confrontation with something deeper inside you? Or a combination of all three?

Rainy Terrell: All three, it's definitely all three.

Kris Ferris: It’s all there. That’s why it feels necessary.

Amit Ahuja: What do you do to connect emotionally with the audience during a performance?

Rainy Terrell: I sing from the heart and really sing the songs with all my soul. I make eye connection, and I don’t need to do much when you feel it, you feel it.

Kris Ferris: I’d say we leave it open to individual interpretation. Music should be a mirror. We share experiences that most people have gone through and if you haven’t, I hope you never do.

Amit Ahuja: Is there a message that each of you hopes fans take away from listening to your music, or do you prefer to leave it open to individual interpretation?" I like to leave it open to interpretation so fans can make it their own.

Rainy Terrell: I like to leave it open to interpretation so fans can make it their own.

Kris Ferris: I’d say we leave it open to individual interpretation. Music should be a mirror. We share experiences that most people have gone through and if you haven’t, I hope you never do.

Amit Ahuja:  Is there a particular song that’s especially meaningful for you to perform?

Rainy Terrell: I love singing Damn Love and Mother. They really hit a deep spot in my soul.

Kris Ferris: The most meaningful for me are the ones that we had the hardest time writing. They hit different live.

Amit Ahuja: Where do you see the band heading musically over the next few years?

Rainy Terrell: I think we’ll continue to grow, keep trying new things and experimenting with genres.

Kris Ferris: Pushing boundaries. Writing something darker, louder, more vulnerable.

Amit Ahuja: I would love to hear about any exciting projects, tours, or collaborations you have on the horizon! What are you looking forward to the most? I’m looking forward to these new songs coming out! I think people are really going to love the new music.

Rainy Terrell: I’m looking forward to these new songs coming out! I think people are really going to love the new music.

Kris Ferris: We’re excited to take our music, both new and old, on the road. Tours, collaborations, anything that expands the world of Alibis.

Amit Ahuja: Who are three individuals for each of you who have had a significant impact on your life— personally or professionally—and how have they influenced your journey?"

Rainy Terrell: My mom, my voice teacher, my family, and Kris Ferris have all been incredibly supportive throughout my career, believing in me from the start. I wouldn't be where I am without them.

Kris Ferris: Some family, some friends. Each have gifted me

guidance and fire.

Amit Ahuja: What kinds of TV shows, movies, books, or podcasts do you all connect with—and what is it about them that draws you in? Is it the storytelling, character development, the themes they explore, or just the overall craft?

Rainy Terrell: I love super artsy films, “Birdman” is one of my favorites. I also love Amelie, the French film, and of course Harry Potter. I love the storytelling, the and the vision of the films.

Kris Ferris: Myself, I have always connected with music and film. I love dark dramas, complex characters. I love everything about music. I love when art is unafraid.

Amit Ahuja: How do you all define happiness in your life, and how does that connect to your vision of success? Being able to sing/and perform in massive arenas and share my gift, and know that I’m able to completely support myself though my art.

Rainy Terrell: Being able to sing/and perform in massive arenas and share my gift, and know that I’m able to completely support myself though my art.

Kris Ferris: Happiness is freedom. Success is building a life

where we never have to fake it.

Amit Ahuja: "Are there any particular hobbies, passions, or interests outside of your guy's involvement with music that really energize or excites you all—things that you love to spend time on or that bring you a sense of purpose or joy when you're not immersed in your musical pursuits?"

Rainy Terrell: I am very much into meditation, and Chi gong. It gives me a lot of happiness and purpose.

Kris Ferris: Outside music? Nothing. Music. Is. Life. Only when we succeed in that will I find other interests. Something in film perhaps.

Amit Ahuja: Can you guys share your personal experiences with mental health challenges? What coping strategies, tools, or support systems have helped you most? Additionally, what advice or insights would you offer to others your age who might be going through similar struggles?

Rainy Terrell: I think we’ve all gone through some tough times and there has many times in my life, I have felt I was at my lowest of the low. Music and meditation helped me find my way out. Trust your heart and seek friends that will listen to you. Find healthy ways to express yourself and never give up on you.

Kris Ferris: We all have good days and bad. We all face battles of mental health on some level or another. You should never be afraid to say, “I’m not okay.” And if you are going through struggles, you are not alone.

Amit Ahuja: What message would you share with humanity if you had the world’s attention for five minutes?

Rainy Terrell: I would tell them “You’re in a simulation silly!”

Kris Ferris: Feel deeply, love recklessly. Drive fast and take chances. Do what makes you happy. You don’t get a second chance at life.

Amit Ahuja: Thank so Much to Rainy Terrell & Kris Ferri from Alibis, for sharing your stories and more about your music, best of luck in the future.

Photo Credit: Stacey Hartman of Bad Kitty Photography

Please review Alibis' Linktree below, where you can explore their music and follow them on social media.

https://linktr.ee/alibisofficial?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeydzwd43N4LCsHEKVMRQEEKOEnWSdaH-ElzOQrO476TZuzvOMW12wR0lCPYg_aem_ISXdoDPShd2apEypPJS2AQ

If you wish to follow Rainy Terrell and Kris Ferri of Alibis, you can find their Instagram profiles at the links below:

Rainy Terrell Instagram Page:

https://www.instagram.com/rainyterrell/

Kris Ferri Instagram: Page:

https://www.instagram.com/kris_ferris_official/

*** All video credits are attributed to Alibis, and photo credits are attributed to the following individuals: Stacey Hartman of Bad Kitty Photography, Raw_iso100, CultureRockMedia unless otherwise noted. ***