THE BAND / INTERVIEW / BIOGRAPHY / NEWS

In 2003 we asked Jared a few questions via e-mail, here's some of what he said:

HAPPYALONE.COM: Firstly, could you each say a little bit about yourselves?
JARED FOLLOWILL: Everything kind of goes through Caleb. He'll tell you if he doesn't like something. Nathan is kind of like the mother somewhat. He tries to look out for us and gets on to us. Me and Matt are pretty much just there having more fun than anyone can imagine, we hang out alot. We all just party ALOT. Caleb hangs out w/ nacho most of the time. we all hang out together as well. we don't have any interests other than our music. we sit around and come up w/ new songs all the time.

HA: You guys are back home at the minute so what are you up to while you’re there?
JF: We just swim in our pool, drink, play music in our basement. We are going into the studio w/ angelo to cut demos of our new songs. They are real gems.

HA: How did your recent UK/European tour go?  And what was it like playing the festivals?
JF: It was incredible. The best crowds we've ever had. More female than we've ever had.

HA: What is your favourite track on the album?
JF: That is different for each member i think. I think trani is special to all of us. It was the last song recorded and we were all more than pleased with it.

HA: Who is angelo and how did you guys end up writing together?
JF: Angelo is our best friend and mentor. Caleb and Nathan had been writing songs for a year and a half with him before the band was. He brings alot of inspiration. He does not write our songs or come up w / our parts for us. He just helps the process. If he doesn't like something sometimes we will come up w / something different and it usually ends up sounding a good bit better.

HA: What do you think about the UK release of Youth and Young Manhood being copy-controlled? And how do you feel about fans sharing your music over the internet?
JF: I think thats cool i guess. Selling records gives us more leverage and opportunity to continue doing what we're doing. I think if people are downloading our music it will effect the sales of our record it just turns our art into a job.

HA: What made you decide to change 'California Waiting' for the album? Which version do you personally prefer?
JF: We like the new version without a question. We didn't feel that the old version captured what we are as a band. We had five days to record that so we knew there would be stuff we might not like. That was the one song we thought was too polished and too overthought.

HA: Do you all play any other instruments other than what you play in the band? How long have you all been playing and who/what inspired you to start?
JF: We all tinker on other instruments but none of us have truely settled on another instrument. We've all really only been playing hard for little over a year give or take. We all got inspired by different things.

HA: What are you enjoying most about being in a band?
JF: Being in a band.

HA: NME have dubbed you as the 'Southern Strokes'. What do you think about all of the strokes comparisons?
JF: Who gives a shit. We like what the Strokes do. We don't want to be the Strokes.

HA: What kind of music are you into at the minute?
JF: The Kills, The Rapture, Townes Van Zandt, The Cure, The Pixies, Interpol.

HA: Who's the coolest person you've met so far on your travels?
JF: Ummm....that's tough. We've met alot of really cool people. I don't think we could pick the coolest. Maybe Glynn Johns.

HA: If you could play a gig with any band or artist [past or present] who would it be?
JF: We would open up for the Velvet Underground or something.