What’s next for you guys?
Recording album #6, rehearsing for our UK tour in May, rehearsing for Australia in September and attempting to upgrade our live rig for the 22nd century.
Who were your main musical influences growing up?
AC/DC, Rush, Ani DiFranco, Metallica, Prince, Fugazi, Walt Mink and too many more to list.
Which song do you wish you had written?
Penny Lane… It’s almost too good! Perfect pop song. Other than that, Book of Love by Magnetic Fields.
Have you got any advice for new bands starting off at the moment?
Work hard to discover something new about music & make it your unique stamp. You’ve got nothing to lose and despite popular cliche, there ARE new things to be discovered. Stay the hell away from record labels & 360 manager deals. You only need a manager when you start selling so much music that you can no longer keep track, and with the digital distribution services available that should only be after you are financially stable. Treat venue staff very well; those people work very hard and the job can be quite thankless… Empathy, friends, empathy!
Whose idea was it to make The Jupiter EP available on a pay-what-you-want basis?
Mine. I wanted to do that on our second record. I pitched it to Sony but they laughed at me… That was in 2003.
When did you start playing the guitar? Got any tips for wannabe guitarists or songwriters?
I started when I was nine… I would listen to the music you love and figure it out on your own, as this will train your ears and advance your listening skills. The ability to listen to the musicians you are performing with is THE most important skill you can hone.
What comes first for you guys – the lyrics or the music?
Usually neither. I like to start with the story. I need a narrative or an emotional scenery to start writing. That’s when it makes the most sense to me. Everything else flows from that.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Lots of Imogen Heap. She’s a genius. The End.
Would you ever consider writing a musical or a concept album?
I am currently working on a musical – The Jupiter EP is a concept record, as is The Lightning EP. I was such a huge Rush fan as a kid I probably wrote fourteen shitty concept records by the time I was fourteen… Rush saved my life though, so Hemispheres and 2112 were both very important records for me.
How do you feel about the support you get from your UK fans?
Best in the world. Scotland takes the cake, to be specific, but England & Wales are closely tied for second.
Describe yourself in three words?
Chocolate, Olives, Trout.
