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Craig, bass player for Danger Is My Middle Name, was nice enough to answer some questions for me. I’m about four months behind on posting this one, and I apologize. It’s a good read, and I hope those of you who haven’t heard of this band go check them out immediately.

Q. Who makes up Danger Is My Middle Name?
A. Craig, Gabe, Mickey, & William

Q. How old is everyone?
A. We are all in our early & mid 20’s

Q. Where did you get your band name?
A. The band name came from just hearing the saying “Danger Is My Middle Name” and everyone thinks its from Austin Powers, but it wasn’t really what we were thinking of when we named the band. We figured it was well known enough that it would be easy for people to remember and name recognition is half the battle in music.

Q. Even though Sink or Swim is fresh on our minds, what can we expect from new Danger Is My Middle Name songs?
A. We did just finish up a small new bath of songs. They were the songs that we really wanted to record, and songs that really kinda of written to try and be anything specific. We knew when we wrote “Revenge On The Radio” and “Give It Up” that we wanted fun poppy songs. With these we were just like lets do something and how it is, it is, and not force it into one direction or style. So with the newer stuff, its definitely got more personality than anything we’ve done before.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. There’s a lot of great bands that we would love to tour with, but I think we would just shit our pants if we got the chance to tour with Jimmy Eat World, or like Weezer. They are bands that we looked up to so much in the past that it would be just so surreal for something like that to happen.

Q. Where does Danger Is My Middle Name reside in today’s music scene?
A. Thats a question we’ve been asking ourselves for a while now. I mean, there are so many different music scenes and its split so many ways, we just kinda don’t know where we fit in. Which is probably a good thing considering we wont have to pigeonhole ourselves into one category.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep Danger Is My Middle Name alive and making music?
A. I would say keep coming to shows and buying merch. Telling friends and spreading the word. In todays economy its so easy for a band to fall apart with lack of support. Choose the local show over the mainstream artist who doesnt need as much help.

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. I grew up on mostly classic rock (Ted Nugent, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC) but then got into stuff like Nirvana and Soundgarden during the grunge days. I eventually settled on Weezer during high school and began developing taste for more pop styled music, and then got into things like Blink and Brand New and stuff.

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. I got started in junior high when a friend of mine got a bass guitar. I got a guitar, and we started jamming on some early Green Day. I think it was always more of a hobby until I got in a band that played small local shows, and kids would come out and be all into it. It seemed real.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on Danger Is My Middle Name?
A. A band our size and pretty much any band that isn’t the size of Metallica, I think benefits from it. Music is almost worthless these days (not in a bad way, just more like a flyer for your band), and its all about pushing other merch and getting people to go out and support your band. I think its just pointless for bands to complain about people stealing music because there are so many bands that wouldnt have a fanbase without it. It’s not like bands really make much off the actual purchase of music anyways. It’s all about other merch, and licensing.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry as of its current state?
A. Haha. Trainwreck. No one in the music indistry knows whats going on. If you have a fashion sense and can write an ok song, then chances are you’ll get signed to some label. Whether you succeed, thats a different story. I think music is no different than the actual world today. There are millions of poor dying bands, there are a majority of middle class bands who are successful-ish for what they do, but no one outside of the Warped Tour crowd knows about, and then there are the elite few (ie FOB) who are the rich republicans who have the money and are the only one that keep making the money. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A. Well I have been technically involved in what has been going on since 2001 in one band or another. I have had the privilege of seeing the rise of downloading and file sharing, the rise and fall of emo, and most recently the rise and impending doom of dance rock, haha.

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. My favorite records are: Jimmy Eat World - Clarity, Weezer - Pinkerton, Brand New - Deja Entendu, The Rentals - Seven More Minutes, Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue, Rancid - And Out Come The Wolves. Movies, I”ve recently become obsessed with Step Brothers. My favorite book of all time is Dante’s Inferno.

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A. I really wish I would have written “What’s My Age Again”. I think it’s quite possibly the most perfect pop-punk song ever written. Great melody, great hook, very sing along. It’s the perfect formula.

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. I think Twitter has become a way to make bands more accessible to fans. When I was in high school, my family was poor and I did not have Internet and with that the ability to interact with bands online the way kids can today. Although it’s a double edge sword in that when I was young, it was a way bigger deal to see a concert as that was the only time I could see my favorite bands. Today, the addition of social networking has taken some of the magic out of the fan/band relationship and made it a bit more personal. I think it helps bands a lot that are building fans, and becomes somewhat of a headache once you reach a certain point in your career when fans expect you to keep up with something that you really can’t.

Q. If you could co-write with anyone dead or a live, who would it be and why?
A. I would co-write with Rivers Cuomo just because it would be something that the 16 year old version of me would have killed for, and it would also give me a chance to ask him what the hell he has been thinking with his music since 2001.

Q. How does Danger Is My Middle Name go about song writing?
A. There are a couple of different ways. The first way is that one person writes a song and demos it on acoustic guitar then sends it to everyone in the band to help come up with other ideas, then we converge together and tackle it with a pretty solid idea already. The second, sometimes you get lucky and the song seems to write itself. Someone will write, and demo all instruments, then we’ll go in and just learn it and refine it a little bit. The last way, which is honestly the most difficult for me is to just go in and jam for while. Some great ideas come from jamming, mostly just getting cool riffs, etc. Rarely does jamming lead to a really solid song tho.

Q. Who has produced your records, and how have they influenced your writing process?
A. We have gone with three different people for producing. Our first EP was done by Matt Kirkwold in Minneapolis. Matt is an amazing songwriter and really whipped some half assed songs into essential really awesome hits. Going to him, we pretty much learned that no song is done being written until you get the final master back of the recording. We did our latest CD with Marc McClusky and he pretty much instead of fixing already written songs preferred to have us write brand new songs on the spot in the studio. It was definitely a different experience that I’m still not sure how I felt about it. We just went back up to Minneapolis and worked with James Harley who mixed our last two CDs and just kicked out some straight rock songs. He was all about taking what we had and making it hit as hard as possible. That was definitely a really good experience that I think will show in the recording.

Q. Who would you want to do to guest vocals on the next Danger Is My Middle Name album?
A. Well we already have Kevin from Quietdrive and Jake from New Medicine formerly A Verse Unsung on a song on the new stuff we just recorded.

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. The Hot Melts from Liverpool, England are some really cool friends that we hung out with at SXSW last year. And our friends The Fold who just put out an awesome new CD, and AM Taxi who we have done literally ever big hometown show with, and our neighbors in our practice space. They just signed with Virgin Records, so we hope all goes well with that for them.

Q. Where would you have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. I think if we did sold out tours in the US, Canada, UK, Japan, and Australia I would say ok, its time to quit.


Q. Are there any shout outs? Last words?
A. Shout out to our boys in AM Taxi, The Fold, The Hot Melts, Farewell, Callahan, World Record Production, our evil boss/manager David, our fine Jewish lawyer Dan :), all our fans, and everyone reading this… Sorry I wasted your time. Haha.

Ally Cupcake released her solo debut EP, Talk of the Town, on iTunes on August 4th, 2009. Since, she has put a lot of work into getting her name out there. From Twitter to video blogs, she has used viral marketing to her advantage. She was kind enough to answer some questions I had for her. Make sure to check her Myspace for fall tour dates which should be posted soon.

Q. Where did the name Ally Cupcake come from?
A. My parents called me Cupcake a lot growing up. One day a couple of years ago, I decided to change my name on Myspace. I had no idea it would take off the way it did, so I just decided to roll with it. It suits me!

Q. What can we expect from the EP you just released?
A. The new EP, Talk of the Town, is more diverse than what I’ve done in the past. It has upbeat songs, harder songs and a softer ballad. It shows off my vocal range more, and I feel like there’s something for everyone. I’m starting to come into my own and grow as an artist, and I believe this EP shows that.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. Something Corporate! I heard a rumor that they’re talking about a reunion tour and I want in! I would also love to tour with Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, Jack’s Mannequin, No Doubt, Let’s Get It, Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182, All Time Low, You Me and Everyone We Know, Ellington…. That list could go on forever.

Q. Where does Ally Cupcake reside in today’s music scene?
A. I’m still pretty low in the food chain, but I’m making my way up the old fashioned way. A lot of hard work and heart goes into everything I do. I don’t want to be a flash in the pan or a one hit wonder, I want as lasting of a career. I’m a solo artist, but I’m working like I’m in a band. Internet promotion and small club tours versus going straight to labels. When I reach the top, I want to look back and be able to say I truly earned it.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep Ally Cupcake alive and making music?
A. Keep listening and keep loving. Pick up the new EP (it’s only $5 at www.allycupcake.com!) and come out to my shows. Pick up some merch and hang out with me!

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. Queen, The Cars, Green Day, No Doubt, Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Something Corporate, New Found Glory. Those were all my favorites.

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. I was four years old the first time I performed. It was a pre-school Christmas pageant, and I was playing a singing goat. I remember being so nervous to get on that stage, but the second I opened my mouth to sing I just knew. I know it sounds crazy because I was so young, but everything just clicked for me, and I spent every moment I could after that dedicating myself to music.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on Ally Cupcake?
A. Illegal downloading is a touchy subject. I firmly believe that the age of digital music is putting a strain on artists big and small. Why would anyone pay $5 for an album when they can download it somewhere else for free or get a friend to file share it with them? The economy is in such a slump that every $5 is starting to count. Unfortunately, I think some people fail to realize that independent artists such as myself rely on that money to cover the cost of recording and need it for things like merch and tour. I don’t have a label to give me money for those things, so every album sale truly matters in keeping me afloat. I’ve been really fortunate to have a handful of friends and fans that understand how important it is to actually buy my record, and I’m so thankful for them.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry as of its current state?
A. I think it’s just a matter of time before the industry comes crashing down around us. Personally, I’m looking forward to that day because I want to have a hand in rebuilding it the right way. I don’t like this trend of people with little to no actual talent being on top of the charts when there are so many good and truly talented artists struggling to be seen and heard. I’m tired of overly auto tuned singers getting so much credit, and I hate to see the younger generation believing that those “artists” actually hold any merit. I want like to see an industry with less greed, more talent, and artists that are doing it for the love of it and not the money.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A.  Yes. There’s been a sudden rise in female fronted bands. Several years ago, when I first started fronting bands, it wasn’t nearly as common as it is now. Paramore hit it big and everyone started jumping on the bandwagon. It’s nice to see more women making it big in the industry, but at the same time I fear it can be taken away just as quickly if it gets too played out. It all goes back to a broken industry that’s more focused on a package and a product than music itself.

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. My absolute favorite record is Leaving Through the Window by Something Corporate. I’m also a big fan of The Cars self-titled album circa 1979, Fall Out Boy’s Take This To Your Grave, and Party for the Grown and Sexy by You Me and Everyone We Know. My favorite movies are Empire Records, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Madagascar. My Favorite books are Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael and Bill Maher’s New Rules. Oh and if comics count, The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite because it’s brilliant!

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A. That’s a really tough question because there are so many songs I love and connect with. In all honesty, had I written any of the songs that have really inspired me I don’t think I would be where I am today as a songwriter.

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. Twitter has done a lot for me, actually. It’s so much easier to connect with people and it’s a highly effective promotional tool. Myspace is starting to lose it’s relevance and more people are paying attention to Twitter above all the other social networking sites. I launched a Twitter campaign over the summer, complete with a video telling everyone to Tweet Mark Hoppus “Ally Cupcake” every day. I never intended it to go anywhere since he has so many followers, but in a matter of weeks he took notice. He tweeted me, listened to my music and followed me for all of 24 hours. It’s really cool watching everyone come together and seeing a result. Twitter just makes it so much easier.

Q. If you could co-write with anyone dead or a live, who would it be and why?
A. I would love to co-write with Andrew McMahon. I’ve always really connected with and been inspired by his music. It would be so great to sit down and write a song with him.

Q. How does Ally Cupcake go about song writing?
A. It varies from song to song. Sometimes I’ll sit down and write lyrics and come up with a melody, then have music put to it. Other times, someone will give me a song and I’ll fit lyrics and a melody to the music. It depends on the mood I’m in and the person I’m working with.

Q. Who has produced your records, and how have they influenced your writing process?
A. The EP I did with The Soundtrack was produced by Jason Andrews at Spotlight Sound. Until I got my new music up, that’s all I had to go on. Jason was interesting to work with because he likes a very polished sound and pushes you really hard. As a result, my range really stepped up by the time I was done with the record. My latest EP was done with Tom Denney (ex-A Day to Remember guitarist) at Titan Studio. The recording process was very rushed and I did six songs in three days, including my harmonies and ad libs. I did everything on that record in three takes or less, so it’s a lot more organic and heartfelt than my last record. I plan on starting my full length this winter and I really hope to showcase my range a little more and grow as a songwriter.

Q: Who would you want to do guest vocals on the next Ally Cupcake album?
A. Andrew McMahon! I’m so set on getting him on a song with me. I’d also love to work with Patrick Stump or Alex Gaskarth because I think our voices would mesh really well.

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. Ellington! LISTEN TO THEM NOW BECAUSE THEY’RE AMAZING! Also, make sure to check out We Are Only Fiction, Dang We’re on Fire, and American Me.

Q. Where would you have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. “Making it” is subjective, really. For me, I already feel like I’ve made it in little ways. Every time I’m on the radio, every time one of my songs airs on MTV, every time someone knows who I am….I feel like I’ve made it a little further. I’d  definitely like to be touring eight months out of the year and have my CD and merch in stores though. Until then, I’ll just keep enjoying the small accomplishments as they come!

Q. Are there any shout outs?  Last words?
A.  Make sure to check out my music and pick up a digital copy of my new EP if you dig it! Also, I hope to meet all of  you while I’m out on the road this fall and winter. Tour dates will be posted on myspace shortly. And of course, huge thanks to Jan for being so supportive of my music. Hopefully you’ll all be wearing Applicant Apparel shirts when I see you at my shows! :)

iTunes: Download
Myspace: myspace.com/allycupcakemusic

Mark Rose was the primary songwriter in the band Spitalfield. If you are fan of the band, fan of his new solo project, or a fan of music; this interview will bring you up to date where this artist is coming from and where he is going.

Q. The Greatest Lakes is your latest release. For those who have not heard, what can we expect upon first listen?
A.  I guess it depends what kind of expectations you having going in to the first listen.  If you’re expecting “Spitalfield Part Deux” then you’ll be a little shocked.  For better or for worse, depending on if you like the direction of my new material.

Q. How long were you writing for The Greatest Lakes, and what was the writing process like for the record?
A.  “The Greatest Lakes” is more of a collection of material and less of an “album”.  It’s my debut EP, and it was the seven songs I decided on putting together after almost two years of writing.  While Spitalfield was together, I had always written music on the side. It was just never a priority.  When the decision was made that Spitalfield was going on a farewell tour, I started to get a little more serious about the writing.  I think this EP is a great introduction to what I’m going to do next, a “starting point” if you will.  I’m very excited to put together my first full length album.

Q. How was Spitalfield part of your life, and how has it made you who you are today as a person and an artist?
A.  The band started when I was 14 years old.  It was a part of me since I can remember.  It was late 2002 / early 2003 when the band became a full time commitment.  Dropping school, putting our normal lives on hold, and kicking off what would become our “normal” lives for the next five years was a pretty defining moment.  We definitely worked hard, and not too many things came easy. I’d like to think that helped build character & understanding of the music business, at least on some level.  We really got to experience so much, and there is nothing that can substitute for that.  We were a band for almost ten years, from the first song we wrote to when we stepped off the stage on December 23, 2007.  I turned 26 a few months ago, and it really feels good to look back on everything and realizing there is still so much to do & I still have the time to do it.

Q. You have some big shows coming up with The Academy Is & The Secret Handshake (November 19 in Poplar Grove, IL) and four days in California with Craig Owens.  What can fans expect from the live performance?
A.  Most of my performing has been with a backing group, from a trio to a five piece, depending on what dates we’re talking about.  Part of the fun of the solo singer/songwriter direction is the ability to switch things up.  Most of my upcoming dates, through the end of 2009, I am performing with just a guitar (most, but not all).  Some new songs, some songs from “The Greatest Lakes”, a Spitalfield song or two, some covers…

Q. What bands/artists do you look up to as songwriters?
A.  I am all over the place regarding both style & time periods.  Some groups/artists that have had a huge effect on me include:  Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Depeche Mode, John Mayer, Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, The Promise Ring, Phil Collins…  I could go on, but that’s a good start.

Q. You have been making music since 1998.  When did you know this is what you wanted to do with your life?
A.  Spitalfield started in 1998— I think I wrote my first song in 1993.  I think I knew I wanted to play music when my uncle gave me “Jimi Hendrix:  Are You Experienced?” on cassette for Christmas when I was about nine years old.

Q. With over a decade being in the music industry, what advice can you give to baby bands just starting up? bands just signing to a label? and bands in general?
A.  When it comes to bands, it’s important to have everyone on the same page regarding what your goals are and why you have them.  Being passionate about what you’re doing is the most important thing when it comes to making music, but having an understanding and good head on your shoulders when it comes to the business side of it is also extremely important (if it gets to a point where business becomes a factor).  I think all bands are different when it comes to what makes them work out together (or not) as musicians.  On that same note, it’s not always easy to figure out what makes a band successful or not. The industry can be a bit of a game at times.  Some things you have to figure out the hard way, but the more you know, the better.

Q. If you could tell people something they can do to help you continue your career in making music, what would you ask them to do?
A.  I think in general, and now more than ever, it’s important to truly support the artists you care about.  In a new era of digital music (legal & illegal), picking up merchandise, coming out to a performance or simply telling a few friends about the music can go a long way.  In my opinion, tours used to be in support of albums.  Now, it’s almost the exact opposite.  At least from a financial standpoint.

Q. Who are some bands you would like people to know about?
A.  There’s a lot of wonderful music out there.  If you have a minute, check out:  Empires, Halloween Alaska, Owen, and Hey Mercedes.

Q. What bands did you listen to while you were growing up?
A.  The first bands I really got into were artists like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Metallica, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Before getting into bands, my parents always had the radio in the car tuned to “oldies”. I listened to a lot of older stuff that really helped me understand where the newer music was coming from.  Whatever phase I went through (alternative, punk, metal, jazz, soul), there was always a side of me that appreciated most all music. You name the genre. I’ll name artists I enjoy.  That’s how it’s always been.

Q. What books/movies/songs are you into right now?
A.  There are so many movies out right now I’d like to see— I’ve made a list and am slowly checking things off.  I really enjoyed “Inglorious Basterds” & “Zombieland”.  In my car, I’ve been listening to the new Third Eye Blind, some older D’Angelo & even older REO Speedwagon.  Seriously.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry, and where do you think it is headed with the digital boom in full swing?
A.  I think it’s easy to become jaded when things change.  I think it’s even easier to be jaded when things stay the same.  That being said, I really miss an era where people actually bought albums rather than singles.  I know some people still do, and I am one of them.  I’m a bit terrified by the new wave of popular music, but I think that’s how it always is and will be regardless of what era we are entering as a society.  I just hope record sales make a comeback and that Pink stops making music.

Q.  What can we expect from a new release, and when can we expect it to be available to the public?
A.  TBA & TBD (laughs).  How’s that?  I’m working on it.

Q. Logging shows in three continents, what were your favorite places to play? and who were some of your favorite bands you’ve toured with?
A:  Touring in Australia was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had.  My favorite tour I’ve been on to date was Spring 2005:  The Early November, Hey Mercedes, Spitalfield, and Limbeck.  It was almost too much fun.

Q. For the gear heads, what kind of equipment do you use on stage? for recording?
A.  For most of my new stuff, I’ve been rocking a Fender American Strat Deluxe & a Hot Rod Deville 4x10.  I have a few different guitars I use for different things, but that has been my main axe of late.  I used to be mostly Gibson/Marshall, but this makes sense with the direction I’m going.

Q. What records have had the biggest impact on your life?
A.  “Clarity” by Jimmy Eat World, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, “Nevermind” by Nirvana, “Do You Know Who You Are?” by Texas Is the Reason, “Continuum” by John Mayer, ”What’s Goin’ On?” by Marvin Gaye, and “Invisible Touch” by Genesis.

Q. Being from Chicago, what local bands that are just starting up would you want to give a shout out to?
A.  Empires & Skad and the Apostles.

Q. What are some of the classic venues you’ve had the chance to play in Chicago?
A.  I’ve played tons of great venues in Chicago.  Some classics include the Fireside Bowl, The Metro, and The Riviera Theatre.

Q. What are your thoughts on the astonishing numbers of bands/artists that have sprouted up from the Myspace/iTunes age? Does if have any effect towards you?
A.  I think it’s impressive and scary.  It does have an effect on me, because that is now the age I am in.  In a lot of ways I’m starting over— just with a platform to jump off of.

Q. Do you think people are too bombarded by new bands and “flashy lights” to be able to actually find bands who are genuine and real?
A.  I think there is always gonna be BS mixed in with the real deal.  People who can’t figure it out on their own get what they pay for.  I’ve spent far too much time and effort being confused by what people like and don’t like.

Q. What are some last words you might have for everyone reading this interview?
A:  If you’ve made it this far— thanks so much!  Hope you enjoy what you hear, and don’t be a stranger.

iTunes: Download
Myspace: myspace.com/markdanielrose

Samantha Darnell resides in Baltimore, MD. She has fronted bands in the past, and now she is taking the solo approach to songwriting. She is recording an EP’s worth of songs October 14-20 with a release in early 2010. You can hear demos on her Myspace page.

Q. What can we expect from the EP you are going to record?
A. It’s definitely going to show a side of me that no one has heard yet throughout my music career. A more mature and sensitive side. So, I guess you should expect the unexpected.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. Bright Eyes. Hands down.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep Samantha Darnell alive and making music?
A. Spread the word as much as you can! Post bulletins, add my songs and banners to your MySpace page, Tweet my link, pass out flyers at local shows, malls, school, etc., make videos telling people to check me out, come to my shows when I perform and be sure to buy my music when it’s available!

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. Definitely a lot of classic rock. Some of my favorites were Aerosmith, Queen, Journey, The Eagles. The list goes on and on. Then, I got really into pop-punk as a young teen, listening to a lot of old school Green Day, Blink 182, Mest, Yellowcard, MXPX, etc..

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. My dad and uncle were the ones who exposed me to music since birth. They have both played in bands all their lives, and I would go to their shows and just be in pure awe. I had always known I had a passion for singing because it was all I would do since 3 years old…every day, all day, but the moment it really hit me hard that it was what I feel I was born to do was when I sang my first solo ever on stage in my 5th grade choir. I was instantly addicted to the stage.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on you?
A. That’s a tough one. I have mixed feelings about it. Being a starving musician, getting paid for your hard work and art is pretty much necessary. After all, if you aren’t making any money from it, you can’t do it for a living, and ultimately, that’s what every true performer wants to do… to be able to do what they love for a living. At the same time, big stars who have already made their big bucks, such as Madonna, have been giving their music downloads away for free which I think is fantastic because music should be about the music.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry as of its current state?
A. At first, it scared me. The fact CD sales have gone way down and labels becoming more of a distribution company than anything worried me. Now it’s kind of cool because artists these days can be so independent and DIY.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A. Absolutely. It used to be all about signing to a huge label. Now, it makes more sense to sign to a smaller label at first so that you get the attention and dedication you need from one.

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. My favorite records are ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’ by Bright Eyes, ‘Say It Like You Mean It’ by The Starting Line, ‘Is A Real Boy’ by Say Anything, any of the Sugarcult records, and ‘Deja Entendu’ by Brand New. I could listen to those for the rest of my life without getting sick of them. My favorite movies are the sappy, romantic ones…Titanic, The Notebook, A Walk To Remember (laughs). I’m really girly when it comes to that. I like to read non-fiction. Right now, I’m reading Emergence. It’s life-changing.

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A. I was saying the other night how much I wish I had written ‘Come On, Get Higher’ by Matt Nathanson. So good!

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. Twitter is such a rad phenomenon! I love when fans Tweet my link to help spread the word. It means a lot!

Q. If you could co-write with anyone dead or a live, who would it be and why?
A. Conor Oberst. His song writing is genius poetry.

Q. How do you go about songwriting?
A. I usually write the guitar riffs first, then come up with a vocal melody, then the lyrics.

Q. Who has produced your records, and how have they influenced your writing process?
A. This is my first record, so no one yet, but Mike Bridget will be helping me with that.

Q. Who would you want to do guest vocals on your album?
A. It would be really fun to have someone I’m friends with in the scene do that with me. I would love to have Damien Rice or Amos Lee do something. They’re amazing.

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. I feel that Tears of Mars from Maryland and Kingsfoil from Pennsylvania haven’t gotten nearly enough of the recognition they deserve. I’ve been following both bands since I was young and love them.

Q. Where would you have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. If I was happily signed and able to tour the world, I’d be satisfied.

Q. Are there any shout outs?  Last words?
A. Jan Powers! Duhhhh! :P

Myspace: myspace.com/samanthadmusic

The Scenic are a Philadelphia, PA band who are signed to Victory Records. They are currently on tour with The Status and writing new songs for a 2010 release. Jake Sciscio, the band’s guitarist, was able to answer some questions I had for him.

Q. Who makes up The Scenic?
A. Jeremy Menard - Vocals, Jake Sciscio - Guitar, Zach Andresen - Guitar/Vocals, Frank Romantino - Bass, Shane Reynolds - Drums

Q. How old is everyone?
A. We’re all in our early to mid 20’s!

Q. Where did you get your band name?
A. We don’t really remember who came up with the name. I think we just had a list of names that sounded cool (laughs). I mean, who wouldn’t love something ‘Scenic’?

Q. What can we expect from the new songs you’ve been writing?
A. You can expect more energy and power in the new songs compared to the songs on our debut album, Find Yourself Here. We definitely know what type of songs deliver the best live, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish with the new album. We want them to be feel good, fun, and hooky songs all around.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. We’re big fans of Weezer, Third Eye Blind, Everclear, etc. Basically any 90’s alternative/rock band that have had that staying power.

Q. Where does The Scenic reside in today’s music scene?
A. Somewhere between the asshole and the balls.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep The Scenic alive and making music?
A. Just do your best to come out to shows and support touring bands. It boosts moral and is a lot of fun interacting with all the fans in-person.  Make sure to pick up our new album when we release it in 2010!

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. We all have a very wide variety of inspirations. Anything from The Smashing Pumpkins, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin to Weezer, Blink-182, Midtown, and NoFX. Basically everything and anything.

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. My dad bought me my first guitar when I was 9 years old. I took lessons for a few years and eventually started playing with friends in high school. It grew from there, and I helped start The Scenic.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on The Scenic?
A. For smaller touring bands, illegal downloading obviously hurts them the most. Still, everyone does it no matter what genre or form of media. Just like every other band, it hurts The Scenic just as much. It is great that people can access our music, but it would just be more helpful if people purchased our album through us or other legal transactions (laughs).

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry in its current state?
A. The music industry is definitely hurting as of right now, but it is finding ways to stay afloat. Since CD sales are down, labels try to find other opportunities to make up for their loses. Either through taking cuts of other sales or cutting down spending all together. It also sucks how many kids actually go to shows now a days. It’s not just the music industry. It’s the economy in general.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A. As far as the local scene, yes. I remember when I was in high school, there would be a show about every two weeks or so around my area. It would be packed out and so much fun! Shows today are still a blast, but not as many kids come out to support. It sucks to see our local scene go downhill.

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. I love anything 90’s alternative/rock. Weezer (Blue/Pinkerton), Everclear (So Much For The Afterglow), and Third Eye Blind (Self Titled) are some of my favorite bands/records. I still love other genres: anything from classic rock like Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, to pop/rock music like Michael Jackson, New Found Glory, and Valencia. I haven’t been much of the reading type (laughs), but I do usually read books about Ninjas or Martial Arts (laughs). I’m a dork.

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A. Boheman Rhapsody is obviously an amazing song. It is beyond my musical capabilities, but it would have been awesome if I came up with it (laughs).

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. It definitely touches base with fans and keeps them updated on what we are doing. It is crazy how many people have and follow Twitter.

Q. If you could co-write with anyone dead or a live, who would it be and why?
A. Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, Stephan Jenkins from Third Eye Blind, or Art Alexakis because they are my heroes, my inspirations, and are the reasons why I play music.

Q. How does The Scenic go about song writing?
A. Jeremy or Jake usually has an idea. The two of them and/or Zach jam on it. Usually something pretty decent comes out, if not, we scrap it and move on (laughs).

Q. Who has produced your records, and how have they influenced your writing process?
A. Mike Watts, owner of VuDu studios in Long Island New York, produced, recorded, and mixed our debut album, Find Yourself Here. We have definitely learned a lot from playing with him. Our songwriting, musicianship, and attitude has progressed since spending time with Mike. We plan on recording demos for our next album sometime in late October of ‘09.

Q. Who would you want to do to guest vocals on the next The Scenic album?
A. If any of my heroes did it, it  would make my life (laughs). It would be sweet if someone like Kenny Vasoli from The Starting Line or Aaron Marsh from Copeland would do it.

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. Obviously, I would want more people to know The Scenic, but there are so many good bands out there: The Status, Go Radio, Sparks The Rescue,

Q. Where would you have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. Selling out 10,000 capacity venues across the nation would just about do it for me (laughs).

Q. Are there any shout outs?  Last words?
A. SWAP MEET! DOB SHEE! and LEMME LICK DAT BUTT JAN!

iTunes: Download
Myspace: myspace.com/thescenic

The Goodnight Anthem are a Philadelphia, PA based band who have made quite a name for themselves thus far.  They have played shows with All Time Low, The Summer Set, Eye Alaska, Valencia, The Downtown Fiction, and The Scenic. Tony Rodini, the band’s vocalist/guitarist, was nice enough to answer some questions I had for him.  The band have a deluxe edition of their Nights To Know You EP out now on iTunes.

Q. Who makes up The Goodnight Anthem?
A. Tony Rodini, Joe Flack, Max Perla, Kurt Cain-Walther

Q. How old is everyone?
A. Everyone is between the ages of 19 and 21.

Q. Where did you get your band name?
A. We really wanted the name to be something that represents all of us. The majority of our time spent going out is at night. Whether it’s hanging out with friends, playing shows, whatever, we’re out at night and we wanted the music to represent that and tell our stories. Our songs would, so to speak, be the anthem to these times.

Q. What can we expect from new The Goodnight Anthem songs, and when can we expect the new EP?
A. Well with this EP we tried so many new things with the writing process that we have never done before. We co-wrote with Dan from A Change of Pace on a song and Sam from The Format. Co-writing is something totally new to us. Also Grabe was a much more hands on guy than anyone else we have worked with. I think you can expect a much better sense of production on the CD, as well as new tricks to the songs that we learned. We are hoping to release the EP in a month or so. As of now it’s all up in the air because we have to figure out if we will be releasing it on our own or not.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. Well my favorite band is Third Eye Blind, so obviously them.  I would love to tour with My Favorite Highway because I love their songs, and they are super nice dudes. Also The Maine because they were very nice guys to us as well, and we really look up to them.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep The Goodnight Anthem alive and making music?
A. Just staying as supportive as they have all been. Between something small like re-tweeting some news about TGA, and the bigger things like buying our releases and coming out to shows. The fans have been 100% amazing to us. We hope to keep the fans who have been with us since day one and gain more with new releases and more time touring!

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. We were huge on our local scene growing up. That’s what got us into music. I won’t name any of those bands because you probably have not heard of them unless you were in middle school at the time going to shows at the West Chester YWCA (laughs)! However, some bands to mention are Hidden In Plain View, Third Eye Blind, and Valencia.

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. Just being around music all our lives got us into it. Like I said, we have all been going to local shows and playing shows since we were 13 (in various bands of course). We looked up to the guys who were playing shows on the fire hall floor, and as we got older our aspirations grew bigger.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on The Goodnight Anthem?
A. Well I can say that I have searched Google about our name before and about nine sites host our EP for free! Illegal downloading can be a great way to get your music in front of new fans. At the same time, that is a lot of money that is being taken away from the band. I would say that illegal downloading does hurt both signed and unsigned bands a lot, but at the same time it can be just as helpful sometimes. As long as iTunes stays as huge as it is bands and labels may be able to survive.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry as of its current state?
A.  I would say the industry now is very interesting. Labels are finding different ways to stay afloat financially. Publishing in the industry is huge. Listen to any song in the background of a commercial or credits of an HBO series. Artists and everyone in the background are getting a piece of the check from that. The state of the industry in my opinion is slowly getting better and better.  The existence of iTunes helps keep record and single sales up as well.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A. For us as a band? Not really. We are an unsigned band and never wanted to jump into things too fast without developing a fan base and history by ourselves. I would say as we really got into music, iTunes started taking off. Luckily for us we have always been able to utilize iTunes and get our singles and EPs for sale on there.

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. One of my favorite records at the time is My Favorite Highways’ recent full length. Favorite movie is going to have to be Super Bad (laughs). My favorite book, as practically all kids would say I’m sure, is The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A.  ”Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey.

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. It has be huge with promoting new releases, videos, any TGA news! Kids re-tweet it and that helps out so much for new people to find out about us.

Q. You guys did some co-writing for your new EP.  Some big names!  Can you explain how this happened and how the studio sessions went?
A. We were lucky enough to co-write with Dan from A Change of Pace and Sam from The Format. It was new to us but really beneficial. The sessions for a majority were just one-on-one with acoustic guitars. Just me (Tony) and the other guy writing away and bouncing ideas off each other. In most instances Dan or Sam would already have an idea, maybe a chord progression or just a simple line to base a song off of. We would just dive into the song from there.

Q. How does The Goodnight Anthem go about songwriting?
A. In the past it has mostly been us jamming full band, and then I would go back by myself and put lyrics to what we have. Now it seems to be more beneficial to write a full song acoustic and then take it to everyone and have everyone add their ideas.

Q. How did producer Matt Grabe influence your writing process?
A. He pretty much taught us that it is better to write acoustic rather than as a full band. He also gave us some ideas as of what part of a song needs to be shorter, what needs to be extended, etc. Production wise we learned a lot from him. We learned to do some things in the background of songs that you might not even notice in the mix, but when it’s all together it makes the song sound huge.

Q. Who would you want to come sing with you on the next The Goodnight Anthem album?
A. If I could have anyone sing on the next album, I would have to say Katy Perry.

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. There are so many bands, big and small, that I think everyone should know about! This Century, The Scenic, Phoenix, Back Ted N Ted, Miniature Tigers, Passion Pit, Danger; there are so many!

Q. Where would you have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. (Laughs) Good question. I would say when we can financially support ourselves personally, that’s a good start to having “made it”. We do well supporting TGA with the help of iTunes sales, merch, and everything, (especially as an unsigned band) so I would say we are on our way!

Q. Are there any shout outs?  Last words?
A. Shout out to Applicant Apparel and Jan for all the support over the past year or so! And to all our fans, thank you so much and get stoked for our new EP, tour dates, and the future of The Goodnight Anthem! L<3VE you all.

iTunes: Download
Myspace: myspace.com/thegoodnightanthem

Mandy K’s vocalist, Anthony Musior, was nice enough to let me ask him a few questions about the band.  He had a lot of great things to say about the future of the band and new music. There are so many bands trying to “make it” out there. Mandy K’s work ethic and new songs should help them on their way to doing just that.

Q. Who makes up Mandy K?
A. Mandy K is me (Anthony) and I sing, Mike plays guitar and sings, Kevin plays guitar, Trey plays bass, and John plays the drums.

Q. How old is everyone?
A. I am 19, Mike is 19, Kevin is 20, Trey is 18, and John is 20.

Q. Where did you get your band name?
A. It came from a girl that Mike and I grew up with in South Buffalo. Mike went to school with her and we thought it would be funny to name our band after her. Mind you that Mike and I have been playing music together since we were 13, and the name has just stuck with us since then.

Q. What can we expect from new Mandy K songs, and when can we expect a new release?
A. New Mandy K is going to be a little more mature. You’re going to hear more real life situations that we go through or have gone through as we’re entering adulthood. We have a new song on our Myspace called “Ashley” that you can check out as part of our “Mandy K’s Black Book” demos that we are going to be releasing periodically as we write for this new record. I’m not sure when we’re going to be putting out a new proper release but expect one sometime next year.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. I would do anything to tour with Brand New when they were touring Your Favorite Weapon. Jesse Lacey has always been a huge influence on me and it would be an honor to share the stage with him. Blink 182 would be a dream come true as well. We also love touring with Sparks The Rescue and we would love to head out with All Time Low. Those dudes are hilarious and it would be awesome to see them every night.

Q. Where does Mandy K reside in today’s music scene?
A. Right now we’re trying to tour and get to all of the places we hit on Warped Tour this year. I feel like we’re more of an underground band, but we would love to be a regular name in today’s music scene.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep Mandy K alive and making music?
A. Keep coming to our shows and spending time with us! There is nothing that make us happier than fans coming out to the shows and singing along to our songs! Picking up a record couldn’t hurt ether ;)

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. I was very into Brand New and Taking Back Sunday’s first records. I loved everything Blink 182 and New Found Glory did, and I was a huge fan of Fall Out Boy’s first record.

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. Mark Hoppus actually got me really into playing bass. I wanted to him so bad as a kid. Mike was really into Blink as well, and we would just play their songs together. As soon as we started writing our own songs together, I realized there was nothing I would rather be doing.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on Mandy K?
A. I think illegal downloading is fine. As long as kids have our music and are coming to our shows to hang out, I’m happy. I don’t think it effects us negatively at all. As long as kids are listening, I’m stoked.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry in its current state?
A. I think the music industry is different than it’s ever been right now. Labels are becoming solely sources of money to record records. Company’s like Tunecore are making it possible for bands to release their music digitally on their own and I think that’s really cool.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A. Not really. I mean for the short amount of time that we have been a part of it, it has for the most part just becoming more and more digital.

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. My favorite records are Your Favorite Weapon by Brand New, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, and New Found Glory’s self-titled record. My favorite movies are Fight Club, BASEketball, and Garden State. My favorite books are Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson.

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A. I wish I wrote Twist and Shout by the Beatles because it is such a fun song and it would be so much fun to play live. Plus it was really big for them.

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. Twitter has been really effective for us in promoting things going on with the band and keeping us in touch with our fans. We all update a our twitters all the time because it’s fun to do and kids can comment on it which makes it even more fun. I think it helps keep kids interested in what we are doing.

Q. If you could co-write with anyone past or present, who would it be and why?
A. I think co-writing with Mark Hoppus would be awesome because I think he has a really good grasp on the genre were in. I mean the man was in a band that helped shape the scene we’re a part of and the music we play. I can’t think of anyone who I would rather sit down and write a song with.

Q. How does Mandy K go about songwriting?
A. Well all of us write songs individually and we present them to each other and perfect them the best we can. Like with Plans, Kevin wrote most of the song and brought it to us, and with While You Were Out, Mike wrote the intro, and then we wrote the rest of the song together at practice.

Q. How did producer Paul Leavitt influence your writing process?
A. We actually had all of the songs written before we went to Paul and he kind of put his 2 cents on the songs here and there.

Q. Who would you want to come sing with you on the next Mandy K album?
A. I would love to have Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday sing on a track. I love her voice. It would also be rad to have Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die to sing on a track because I love his singing voice.

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. I think everyone should check out our friends in a band called This Is An Empire. They are an amazing electronic band and they just recorded a new EP with Casey Bates (Chiodos, Portugal the Man) that will blow your mind.

Q. How does your relationship with your manager, Damon Bodine, work?  Explain it to a fan, not someone part of the industry.
A. He is our best friend in the world and he is like our boss at work. He gets us shows, and he tells us how to present ourselves and the band in the best possible way.

Q. Along with the previous question, how would you explain your relationship with your publicist, Tony Pascarella, to the outside world?
A. Tony gets our name out to the world. He sets up interviews for us and gets our CD into the hands of the right people. He’s really smart about the music industry and he knows where we need to get our name.

Q. Where would you have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. I mean you could take the term “making it” so many different ways. I guess I’d have to say when we are touring full time and kids are consistently coming out to see us and singing along in sold out clubs, then we’ve made it.

Q. Are there any shout outs?  Last words?
A. I have to give love to Damon and Tony and of course Jan and Applicant Apparel. Make sure you check out the new Applicant Apparel V-necks because they are really sick. Also keep an eye out for new Black Book demos @ mandykmusic.com and check out “Ashley” now!

iTunes: Download
Myspace: myspace.com/mandykmusic

The band Ellington have been biding their time since the release of their EP: More Like The Movies, Less Like Real Life.  The guys have been busy preparing for their opening slot on select dates of the Kenny Vasoli acoustic tour of Australia as well as writing new songs for a release which is talked about more in-depth below.  Jake Bosci, the band’s songwriter/frontman, took the time to answer some questions I had for them. Here is the Q&A with Ellington.

Q. Who makes up Ellington?
A. Jake Bosci - Vocals, lyrics, guitar. Michael Beatson - Guitar, Lloyd Budd - Bass, Stevie West - Drums.

Q. How old is everyone?
A. Jake Bosci - 22, Michael Beatson - 22, Lloyd Budd - 24, Stevie West - 25.

Q. Where did you get your band name?
A. Not so much the most amazing story you will ever hear. We were young kids just out of high school trying to think of a band name.  We had previously been called Everything In Memories, and we were sitting on the roof of our old bass player’s pool house when Ellington came up as a suggestion.  It was our guitarist’s sister’s street name or something and we thought whatever, done.

Q. What can we expect from new Ellington songs, and when can we expect a new release?
A. It’s been far too long between releases for me personally. I think we all thought we would be back in the studio much sooner. We’re have a whole bunch of songs to choose from, and I’m really excited about them.  The last EP was an introduction and that was it.  I think we’re in a really good position and totally stepping it up for an album release. There’s a lot more motivation and inspiration behind all these songs, and they really tell the story of the past year of our lives. I think it’s a lot more exciting and edgy, but I’m biased because I’m really excited to record the songs! I’m just finishing up some studies and after that we’re free to do what we want musically, so look for us to be recording our debut album sometime early in the new year with a label release hopefully half way through 2010.

Q. Who are the bands you would do anything to tour with?
A. I have always been a huge Dashboard Confessional fan. I can’t explain how stoked I would be to head out on tour with bands like Lydia, A Rocket To The Moon, Relient K, Taking Back Sunday, Copeland… the list goes on and on really!

Q. For those in the States, where does Ellington reside in the Australian music scene?
A. We would be something of a small spec of sand on one of the world’s largest beaches. No, honestly I feel like we have been making really good inroads into becoming a really promising Australian band. I think we will step it up with our debut album, and I get really excited because there is a lot of amazing support behind us and people doing amazing things behind the scenes.  Hopefully it all comes to fruition next year come release time. Australia is a hard place to tour for any band, not as many cities or people; but it’s great if you don’t mind driving long distances for one show.

Q. Given the chance, what would you tell your fans to do in order to keep Ellington alive and making music?
A. I would kindly suggest they buy large numbers of our releases (laughs). Come to our shows, have fun, and leave inspired or at least smiling. That is all.

Q. What bands did you listen to growing up?
A. Dashboard Confessional inspired me to pick up a guitar and learn. Through high school I loved/still do love bands like The Early November, Something Corporate, Spitalfield, Waking Ashland, Taking Back Sunday…

Q. What got you your start in music? When did you know it was what you wanted to do with your life?
A. I used to surf a lot and really didn’t have much to do with music at all. I had a buddy in science class at school who was in a band, and he kind of told me to check out a band called Dashboard Confessional. We would always talk about music. The day I checked out Dashboard Confessional I watched this live on MTV Unplugged video and knew I had to make music and inspire people the way he did. My buddy and I ended up starting a band which later became Ellington.  I still miss that dude, and it’s nice to think about how it all started so simply but became something I felt compelled to do no matter what it meant.

Q. What are your thoughts on illegal downloading, and what is the effect of it on Ellington?
A. Well our entire EP became available on an illegal downloading site, and I guess it’s good for exposure but bad for sales. Sadly it can kill a band starting out trying to pay off the amount they spent on recording kind of thing. I think if kids knew how much bands put into making a record from the day they have the idea to the day it’s released, they wouldn’t do it… but they do. I want to film it all one day, and hopefully it brings some perspective on what bands go through to fans etc. It’s your life, your heart your soul… I can see how one would be fustrated and upset that their piece of art was illegally being downloaded.

Q. What are your thoughts on the music industry as of its current state?
A. I think honestly there are so many amazing bands out there that will never get to see their full potential. Whether that’s because of major labels, the cost of gas/fuel, or the state of music… I don’t know. There’s a lot of really amazing fish in this huge sea, but a lot of them get caught and if you’re lucky enough not to get caught then best of luck to you. If you’re true to yourself and love what you do, then hopefully things work out. Some bands will never get to tour every day and some will play to huge stadiums. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it because this old world always needs new music.

Q. Has the music industry changed for you even though you have been a part of it for a relatively short time?
A. Yeah, in the sense we are learning the ways different models work.  Like, major labels being so different than indies. I don’t know man, at the end of the day I think the industry is changing everyday.  It’s always been like that.  You just roll with the punches (laughs).

Q. What are your favorite records, movies, and books?
A. Records: Dashboard Confessional - The Places You Have Come to Fear The Most, Lydia - Illuminate. The new Dangerous Summer record is kick ass! Big stand outs for me the last few years! Movies: Seven Pounds. The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas was intense.

Q. If you could have wrote any song in existence, which one would it be?
A. Jack’s Mannequin - Dark Blue. That songs is so moving!

Q. With Twitter becoming the new way to interact online, what has it done for your band?
A. Its easier to tell fans what’s up and helps communicate with them in a really unique way. I like it.

Q. If you could co-write with anyone past or present, who would it be and why?
A. Working with Matt Thiessen was amazing because that dude is so talented, and I look up to him a lot as a person. I think it would be cool to work with Elvis Presley just to see what was up in that dudes head when he wrote songs, what inspired him you know… apart from babes.

Q. How does Ellington go about song writing?
A. I’ll be inspired, sit down in my room, and it usually just all comes pouring out onto my little 8-track recorder. Sometimes it a quick process.  Sometimes it can take days to write a song.

Q. How did producer Matt Malpass influence your writing process?
A. He really pushed us to be the best we could be, you know?  Every take he is passionate about how it will sound, and he is so chill to work with at the same time.  He has a great balance and makes kick ass records, so it works.

Q. You had some pretty big time guest appearances on your last EP. How did this happen, and can we expect more collaborations?
A. I would love to work on some collaborations for sure!  It’s really motivating and such a good learning to see how musicians you looked up to as a kid work! We were lucky, and Malpass knew a bunch of cool people that would stop by and like the songs and contribute in some way, whether it was piano or singing a line.  It was really cool!

Q. What are some bands you want people to know about?
A. My buddies The Dream The Chase and Courage, both Brisbane bands with rad dudes in them!

Q. How does your relationship with Sony Music Publishing work in Australia? What do they do for you?
A. $$$ and help us develop our songwriting.

Q. Along with the previous question, how does your relationship with Billy Blue Music and Jake Challenor work?
A. Jake is our manager and a really good fit for us. He understands the project, the music, and our direction completely. He’s doing amazing things for us and is always busy behind the scenes. We have some big changes and announcements to make and we can’t thank him enough for supporting us and guiding us through it all.  That was very deep and meaningful (laughs).

Q. Where would Ellington have to go for you to say you “made it”?
A. I will totally be complete if we can spend a few year touring in North America, playing shows every day with amazing bands.

Q. Are there any shout outs?  Last words?
A. Well I have to say thank you dude!  You have always been a huge help since we started out, and we all really appreciate it! Thanks to our fans, and if you have $10 make sure you head to iTunes and buy our EP. <3

iTunes: Download
Myspace: myspace.com/ellingtonrock