1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?
Well, I started as a drummer, first and foremost, which I sort of fell into. My Dad offered me a dusty, decrepit old kit that he had lying around. Shortly after I started playing drums, I saw the music video for "Show Don't Tell" by Rush,and going into the second chorus, Neil Peart does this massive drumfill...the camera zoomed in on his kit for it, and I KNEW I wanted to do that. With singing for me, it was more a matter of necessity. I was in a trio and we needed more voice for harmonies. I discovered that I loved to sing, but there was no real polarizing moment for me.
2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?
As mentioned previously, I love Rush, and so does Tyler. We're still trying to sell Dean on them. In general, we have many common influences, and many disparate ones. I'll try and include a sampling of artists here that represent all our tastes.
Queen, Steely Dan, AFI, Pantera, The Cure, Aphex Twin, Bad Religion, Coheed and Cambria, Midnight Oil, Prince, Iron Maiden, U2, Circa Survive, Thrice, The Beatles, Three, Bad Brains, Squarepusher, Knapsack, Foo Fighters
3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?
Wow, that's a tough one. I think our new record Currents is honestly the most proud I've been of a record that we've done. The songs, the production, the performances....it feels like something that I will be able to listen to for years without thinking about what we could have done differently, you know? To pick a specific moment from the record, though? I think I'll go with the a'cappella bridge in "Crossing The Rubicon". That feels like a real moment to me...
4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?
Music, just like any artform, is just a language. It's a way of communicating things. Everything you learn about it, everything you hear, just increases your vocabulary, and your ability to communicate more efficiently. It can be overt or subtle, but it affects you nonetheless. That's why people get songs that they claim to hate stuck in their head. They CONSCIOUSLY hate them, with a certain calculated pretension, but they SUBCONSCIOUSLY are affected by them. To that end, music is a mirror of our collective experiences. I'm not going to lie, a lot of my personal philosophies and political viewpoints have been shaped by musical artists. I've been inspired to be involved in social activism by music, to write my own, to blog, to talk....music can really affect people. But without proactivity, music changes nothing. It only opens a door to inspiration. PEOPLE still need to make changes.
5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?
It's a double-edged sword, I suppose. Technology has made the industry less profitable in a traditional sense, but opened the door to many new avenues of creation and distribution. You can't say that it's all bad or all good Ultimately, we're all still making music, right? THAT is what's really important. New tools always take some time to get used to. People innately either fear change and resist it with all fervour or embrace it without foresight or caution. I prefer a more moderate viewpoint with technology and music. Use whatever works best for you in the current climate...
6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?
Haha...well, I guess we'd be a good, comfortable pair of sneakers.
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