Pumping Metal: KOBRA AND THE LOTUS Vocalist Kobra Paige Discusses Her Varied and Intensive Workout Routine

It’s an exciting time to be a fan of Canadian heavy metal group Kobra and The Lotus, thanks in large to the recent release of their sixth studio record, Evolution. Never ones to take a break, the Napalm Records-signed band continue to bring it with their new album, now nine years since the release of their 2010 debut Out of The Pit. Unleashed on September 20th, Evolution (stream/purchase options here) sees the quintet deliver more of their signature hooks and stunning guitar riffs behind the impassioned vocals provided by lead singer and band founder Kobra Paige.

The album was written at the end of 2018, when Kobra and The Lotus regrouped in the Orlando recording studio of Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge, Tremonti, Slash, Trivium). The entirety of Evolution was written face-to-face, with all of the band members active and together. The result is an album that takes a step away from the more traditional Kobra and The Lotus metal sound towards modern hard rock territory, a perfect outlet for Paige’s powerful vocal range.

With a slightly refocused approach, Kobra and The Lotus are ready to take the rock and metal world by storm. They have already been touring hard behind the release of Evolution and are currently at the tail end of an extensive North American trek supporting Sebastian Bach on his 30th-anniversary tour. Lead singer Kobra Paige was able to take a step away from the tour to speak with us in another edition of our Pumping Metal interview series. Read on as Paige details at length her appreciation and approach to fitness, why she takes exercise so seriously, and her full weekly routine as it currently stands.

Check out Kobra and The Lotus’ recently released lyric video for “Get The F*ck Out Of Here:”

Why and when did you get into fitness in the first place?

Kobra Paige: “Being active was always a big part of my innate being. I was a competitive figure skater from a very young age. We trained on dry land in various ways (resistance, Pilates, HIIT, dance, etc) as well as on ice. I also grew up with a very active family. We would hike, road bike, and mountain bike in different countries during the holidays. My mother was a figure skater and my father an outdoors/adventure enthusiast. As I’ve become an adult, staying in shape has been one of my top priorities. It has not only benefited my health but has also impacted my vocal performance, stage performance, inner confidence/courage to operate in the world, as well as balanced my mood/mental health. Being active is nature’s greatest happy pill and stress reliever. I wish more people realized that!”

Weights, cardio, calisthenics, CrossFit, MMA… what’s your jam?

Paige: “Ooh I’m literally an activity junkie. I’m in soup to nuts. I’m a bit shy of contact sports so I’ve only incorporated kickboxing with bags into my regimen. I enjoy: regular resistance training, stadium stairs, long distance running, HIIT and plyometrics once per week (more is too hard on my knees at my age), hot vinyasa/ashtanga/hatha/yin yoga, spin classes, TRX, hiking, biking (road and mountain), kayaking, dance…. if we’re moving, I probably love it. While on tour I do low impact stair master daily with resistance training. I’ll add more leg based exercises in on average (3-4 times per week) and try to work out every muscle group once during the week. In between sets, I will incorporate some simple HIIT to ensure my heart rate doesn’t drop too much. This will be: skipping, burpees, bridges, elbow to hand plank movements, step ups etc…

I also stretch every day. The cardiovascular element is very important for my vocal abilities. I have much more freedom to run around and sing well when I’m in proper shape. I want to clarify what ‘in shape’ means to me. It means a generally lower resting rate while active and high efficiency of oxygen use while moving… not the in shape as in looks good on the outside but is out of breath from a flight of stairs.”

Check out our gallery of exclusive images of Kobra Paige getting pumped up!

What music gets you extra pumped when you’re exercising?

Paige: “Limp Bizkit, Rage Against The Machine, and Nine Inch Nails.”

Describe your weekly routine and/or an average workout for you?

Paige: “Let’s say I don’t have a gym and I’m at the venue. Here is a typical routine for me where I would be going for AMRAPS (as many reps as possible):

– 30 Wide Stance Push-ups
– 50 Dips
– 50 Jumping Squats w/ TRX
– 50 Jumping Lunges w/ TRX
– 40 Jumping Squats w/ TRX
– 40 Jumping Lunges w/ TRX
– Continue on all the way down to 10 and 10 reps. All of these with 45 seconds in between.
– 50 plank to push-up
– 100 Mountain Climbers
– 100 Shoulder Taps
– Tabata: 8 rounds of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off Burpees with jump and push-up
– 30 Diamond Push-ups
– 2 sets of 2-minute wall sits ( 1 minute of rest in between)
– 3x Side Plank Right hold 1 minute with 15 hip dips
– 3x Side Plank Left hold 1 minute with 15 hip dips
– 3x 25 Russian Twists w/ medicine ball
– 3x 25 Jacknifes
– 3x 25 Leg Drops”

Released this past July, watch the music video for Evolution track “Burn!”:

What about exercise, health and fitness makes you take it seriously?

Paige: “There are only benefits in my opinion. As I said before, this is a wonderful, and I believe critical, tool for mood stabilization and overall regeneration of the cells in the body/elimination of toxins. People need to move a minimum of 30 minutes a day and get their heart rate up. It’s a life changing thing that we were meant to be doing. Movement is also the human fountain of youth. It’s also critical to self-esteem. When it’s me in the gym or at yoga or at a spin class, it’s just me versus me. I’m there for myself and myself only. This is so healthy and necessary for building/improving self-esteem. You get to accomplish a challenge that was only for yourself and walk out of it feeling better.”

Do you ever listen to your own band’s music when working out?

Paige: “I only do if we have a new record coming out and I want to hear what it sounds like on headphones.”

Being a touring musician, how do you stay fit on the road?

Paige: “It depends on which territory we’re touring in and if we get lucky with our driver. Currently we’re on tour in the U.S. and our driver really values staying in shape. We wake up every morning at a Planet Fitness. It’s been a dream. Otherwise, we usually tour with a set of dumbbells, TRX, and various bands. Ultimately you can have one of the toughest workouts with just your own body weight.”

Kobra and The Lotus’ sixth studio album Evolution was released on September 20th via Napalm Records:

Some people go vegetarian and vegan while others slam steaks, whole poultry farms, and a kitchen sink in regimented six-meal sittings. Where does your diet sit?

Paige: “(laughs), This is a funny description. I have very serious allergies to soy, nuts, and legumes which has made it challenging to honour my values and stay healthy. I’m also a celiac and dairy intolerant. I’d prefer to be a vegan but haven’t found a way to sustain myself with my current allergies. I do my best to source humanely raised (as much as possible) chicken and/or fish. I eat salad twice a day, take many vitamins, steam sweet potatoes, occasionally eat gluten free oats, seeds, avocados, pea protein in small doses, healthy oils such as olive/flax/avocado, and also munch on way too much dark chocolate…”

Supplements, yay or nay, and why/why not?

Paige: “Well, depends on what you’re referring to. If it’s exercise supplements, I’ve never been one to stray outside of protein powder. I’ve tried vegan BCAAS and creatine in the past and I didn’t care for them. If you’re talking about more hardcore supplements, they’re not for me. I do however take a lot of natural detoxers like activated charcoal and vitamins/minerals. I really believe in how they benefit my immune system. I also am an advocate of taking a great, daily probiotic.”

Morning, noon, evening, night… when do you like to exercise? Does it even matter?

Paige: “I’ve done it all because of my mixed up and ever changing schedule however if I have my choice, I prefer: Resistance training in the afternoon. Spin in the morning. Yoga in the evening. When I’m on tour, working out in the afternoon is best. It ensures recovery well ahead of show time and also gets me warmed up with lungs open for the show to come.”

Check out the lyric video for “Thundersmith,” also off of Evolution:”

How do you find your healthy lifestyle impacts your music and/or live performance?

Paige: “It impacts it profoundly. Singing is based off of great breath support. With great fitness comes more freedom to move and express without becoming breathless. You can also ensure the notes can be held out without issue (breath extension). More benefits to having great breath control and proper breath support is the overall control you gain over your voice whether it be even breath during notes or pitch.”

Do you balance the “rockstar” lifestyle with being fit/healthy? Or is it one or the other for you?

Paige: “For me there is no middle ground. I believe in living life to the fullest and that is a different definition for some. I’ve already had serious health complications from being run down on the road. I never want to return to that place again. Our bodies are to be honoured and cared for. We only get one and they have exceptional capabilities. I feel great when I care for my body and that in turn improves everything in my life. It’s a priority value.”

Have you ever tried steroids?

Paige: “No.”

What’s your opinion on performance-enhancing drugs?

Paige: “It’s not my place to say what others should or shouldn’t do. All I know is I don’t like putting anything unnatural in my body if I can help it.”