The Interview
What inspires you to write and record music?
Darren: At first I think I started making music
just to impress people. Ohh. Look what I can do. Now it's just
plain fun. You have to draw inspiration from your daily life,
for example: I woke up this morning to find that it was a
beautiful day outside and then I made three of the most perfectly
round pancakes ever, all the same proportion and thickness.
I took it as a sign that I should make three songs today.
I am now officially inspired. I think that it has everything
to do with what mood you are in. Sometimes it's good to be
a little moody.
What's the songwriting process for you guys?
Darren: It's different for each song. No formula.
Personally, I always feel that if I come upon a good idea that
it was an accident and I always fear that I'll never be able
to do it again. Nothing is more exciting than when you get a
new song. I don't know if it's an egocentric activity or not,
but I just listen to it over and over.
So when your full-length album comes out, what can we anticipate
from it musically?
Darren: All that I hope for is that it is better
than the EP. So long as we are moving onward, I'll be happy.
I'm really excited about the album. I have a feeling that at
least I am going to like it, and then there's my Mom so that
makes two of us. My favorite song at the moment will be the
last one on the CD. It's called Stallout. It's pretty.
What musicians have influenced your playing the most?
Darren: Oh I wish I could drum like Stewart
Copeland, but not if it means having his personality. Have you
ever seen him in interviews? What a jerk. But perhaps eccentric
personalities are what make for good performers. Why were the
eighties so great for music? Well really every decade had good
music. Personally I think every style of music has at least one
good song. No I take that back. I found a record at the thrift
store the other day entitled disco polka. It's rather disgusting,
but in a charming sort of way.
What CDs are in your current rotation?
Darren: I most recently purchased
Neon Golden by The Notwist. Along with the disco
polka record I found some good stuff by Wire,
Gang of Four, and Tears for Fears. I listen
to as much music as possible. Soak it up.
How do you feel about success? Are you striving for a certain
level of success?
Darren: I promised myself that I wasn't going
to freak out when our album released. But I have failed.
I remember when we first started performing these songs in
our local area that there was a sincere joy for what we were
doing, the actual songs we were playing. I am trying to regain
that feeling. I feel that it is important to pursue success
but not at the expense of contentment. So I guess what I'm
saying is: where do I sign?
To my knowledge you guys are the first act to sign with
Teleprompt Records. What made you guys decide to go with them,
considering they haven't really established themselves just yet?
Darren: It was mainly the opportunity to get
to work with Tedd T (producer galore and founder of Teleprompt)
that excited us at first. I would be content if he were the
only producer we ever work with. Plus he often let me pick
where we ate lunch. When I joined Earthsuit, my first
job was to record drums in Nashville for three songs. I did
so poorly that they had to bring in another drummer. Well
three years later we ended up back in the same studio to
record our EP with Tedd. It was a very redemptive experience,
I felt like I had something to prove. Tedd helped me to not
get so freaked out about mistakes and allowed me as much time
as I wanted to explore ideas.
Are you guys going to go on tour and are there any artists
that you would want to go out on tour with?
Darren: We won't tour heavily until next year.
The thing I am most looking forward to is touring other
countries and playing the US festivals. I want to go to
Asia so badly. Have you seen Lost in Translation?
I would like to do a tour with that movie if that could
be arranged.
Anthony: No, haven't seen it but I hope to
sometime, maybe over the holidays.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Darren: I love conversation. That's my favorite.
I enjoy meeting strangers. I just get a kick out of seeing
how different everyone is. That's my number one form of
entertainment, meeting interesting people.
In closing, is there anything you would like to say to those
who will be reading this?
Darren: Yes, if you practice, someday you
too can make three perfect pancakes in one day.
