Kiyomi McCloskey of Hunter Valentine on Colorado performance and the ‘Real L Word’

Kiyomi McCloskey and her band Hunter Valentine has been tearing up the music scene since the group began in Ontario in 2004. Though some of the band’s members have come and gone, the group has stayed true to its rocker roots. Enter The Real L Word and things just got even better – just one aspect of the great developments.  

With their new album “Collide and Conquer” coming out October 23, McCloskey and Hunter Valentine will get to see what kind of boost their connection to the popular reality show has given them.

OFC had the opportunity to talk to McCloskey, The Real L Word favorite badass, about life and love when everyone can see, being on the road, and what the future holds for her and the band.

You’ll be playing at The Walnut Room in Denver October 16. Have you played here before?

We’ve played Denver a bunch. I’m not familiar with the Walnut Room. We always hit Denver up when we’re on tour. Denver is so beautiful – of all of the landscapes across the country, it’s always really refreshing.

Has your audience changed since The Real L Word, or has it just gotten bigger?

Yeah, we’ve developed a lot of new fans. It’s pretty amazing to see that all go down. I don’t know that the fan-base has changed. What I do know is that they’re really supportive of what we’re doing. And that’s cool.

What’s changed for you and the band since the opportunity of The Real L Word has thrust you into a new kind of spotlight?

I, as an individual, have been offered new and different opportunities. I’m in LA right now. I just finished shooting a short film with Michele Abbott who created The L Word, the drama series. That was a whole new experience for me. I haven’t really acted very much. They found me through the show. There are a lot of different things that are being presented to us. And it really seems like we’re going forward at a really rapid pace.

Like what?

Two days ago I found out I might be going to Australia and yesterday I found out the band is going to Japan. So, it’s looking like we’re going to be really, really busy in 2013. Even before that you know, it’s a pretty exciting time.

Was acting something that you’ve always wanted to do or has this just made it easier to explore that?

It’s made it easier to explore that. It’s just like, I’ve been doing the band for a really long time. Like anybody else, I wanna learn. And I wanna learn new things, learn different forms of art and explore those artistic ways of expression. And acting is one of them. When an opportunity is presented to me, I love a challenge. And I’m going to take it on.

Does that mean with these new opportunities that the band takes a back seat?

No, the band is always the most important thing to me. It’s not taking a backseat at all. It just makes me want to do as many different things as possible. That’s with the band as well. I’m excited for the band to be able to visit new territories and new countries and really spread the word of the music.  You know?  I’m just excited for that.

What haven’t you done that you would like to do?

I want to get to as many different countries as possible with the music. And really, really make sure that people can hear it. That’s my major goal. I’m also starting a clothing line. That will be the extent of it. I’m not one of those reality stars that just starts up a million businesses just because they’re in the spotlight. For me, these are the things I’m passionate about – my interests. So, I’m going to try it out and we’ll see what happens.

Your kind of in a new relationship now, what kind of challenges do you find to your relationships traveling, being in the band, being on a reality show?

You know I’m in a relationship right now. In the past, it’s been a challenge to maintain.

At this point, we paused in the interview for her to have a packing conversation with the woman she’s been dating Lauren Russell, who is also on the show. They are leaving for a wedding after our interview.

There you go, you just witnessed how to handle a relationship, while being on the road.  It can be really challenging. The most important thing is communication. And making sure that the person that you’re with knows that you’re always thinking of them on the road, making sure that you talk to them everyday, making sure they know what your experience is out there and what is going on with them at home. There is that physical distance. So, it’s important to make sure that everyone is on the same page. It takes a lot of work sometimes.

After the wedding you’re attending, you’re hitting the road?

Yeah, it’s pretty much non-stop until the end of November, in terms of being on the road. The record comes out at the end of October, and then we’re hitting up every major city in the US and Canada. So, a lot to come.

Wow, with a schedule like that, how do you keep your stamina up? How do you stay healthy on the road?

I try to eat as healthy as I can, which means not a lot of fast food. I drink a lot of water. Some tours I get up in the morning and run. Also, if it’s a really strenuous tour, I will not drink a drop of alcohol. Which can be a difficult thing sometimes. Being on tour can be stressful and that’s what you want when you’re stressed out. It helps though, to keep your health on the road, to keep it dry.

Catch local favorite Jen Korte and her Violent Femmes cover band, The Dirty Femmes, opening for Hunter Valentine on Tuesday, October 16, 2013. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets available at press time, for $8 (thewalnutroom.com).