It鈥檚 impossible to describe what genre 琉璃神社 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.

琉璃神社 members Bishop, guitarist/saxophonist Corey Bornau and drummer Rob O鈥橠ay connect through their passion for nature, which is at the heart of Meteor Tree.

鈥淚 think individually we have that connection and we experience that differently from each other. I think that鈥檚 one of the reasons we bond together so well,鈥� said Bishop.

She draws from her own experiences to create the music.

鈥�(There鈥檚) a big connection to community and healing, so that鈥檚 kind of where I draw from as well as my own personal journey,鈥� 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.

鈥淚 feel it so intensely though I was never raised in it,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very time I hear that drum or the powwow, I鈥檓 home. I鈥檓 so drawn to it; it鈥檚 like spiritual food and that can鈥檛 be taught.鈥�

Bishop doesn鈥檛 focus on lyrics with her vocals, believing her vocals are like an instrument.

鈥淲hen a person wails or they cry, they create a sound that鈥檚 completely connected to emotion. I find with certain (songs) pull out of me rhythmic melodies鈥� but certain pieces pull out raw emotion that can鈥檛 be expressed in words, only felt.鈥�

She developed the form of singing through meditation.

鈥淲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,鈥� she said.

Not all of Meteor Trees鈥� pieces are 鈥渋nstrumental,鈥� as lyrics are added occasionally.

Bishop described a piece as a canvas, some parts of the painting need to be defined, while other parts don鈥檛.

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

鈥淚 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 they鈥檙e less heard of (the festival) is definitely pinpointing them and I think it鈥檚 a great way to say 鈥榯hey are here, there are chicks who rock.鈥欌��

Bishop said you can expect to dance during Meteor Tree鈥檚 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 .