Home | Audio Samples & Mailing List | Bio | Resume | Tour Dates  Q & A with 13 hands by freelance writer Mike Rubino MR: At last your new record is here. What a wonderful sounding "independent" recording. What was the process like? And how did this get done on 8 tracks and only 3 weeks? AJ: It was great Mike and thank you. We had just spent 9 months playing live trying to get comfortable with the 5 million songs Dan threw our way. With our busy work schedules we agreed that four months was a reasonable amount of time to get it done; which amounted to 170 hours or 3 weeks of time spread over 4 months. We wanted an honest sounding demo, without nitpicking it to death. As for the eight tracks question, we should let Daniel answer that one...Danno? DM: Daniel keeps mumbling......"I will never do unautomated mixing ever again. Oh I'm sorry did I make that clear? I will never do unautomated mixing ever again! Did I fail to mention that I'll never do unautomated mixing down again!!!!" MR: So how was Nashville and what kind of response did you get in the "Country Music Capitol"? JK: Nashville was cool. The trip was unnerving though. I think we're going to get eyelid vices for AJ to keep him awake when it's his turn to drive. But the shows, they went well. We got to open up for Jonell Mosser, in front of 400 people. They really understood our folk-rock hybrid direction. Much to our suprise, there is a lot of music going on there besides country. MR: I love every song on this record. The arrangements are beautiful. My favorites are Ballerina and This Girl. What inspired these songs? They are tragic stories but still very spiritual and inspiring. DM: I am very happy the songs made an impact. It's important to make your own interpretations though. I like to write songs that discuss overcoming adversity and finding ones' inner strength, As for This Girl, it's a love song. MR: You've had the privelege to play with some really great acts. How do you view those opportunities? AJ: We feel very lucky and priveleged befriending new bands and being able to play for new crowds of people. It's very much a community type of thing. Everyone we've played with has been nothing but supportive. MR: Why aren't you signed? If I had the money, I'd sign you in a second and make you the main priority at my label. JK: Well show us a contract there Mike! As for the label situation, it hasn't presented itself yet. For a long time we've known we have something to offer. The next step will be taken when we feel the ground below the foundation won't give way. We're patient. Heck, you want to know how to define patience, ask Daniel. He trains racing turtles as a hobby! Home | Audio Samples & Mailing List | Bio | Articles | Tour Dates |