(Cord Magazine's questions are in blue. Artist responses are in grey.)


Okay we have a little 10 questions thing that we ask everybody who we talk to. What do you do when you're on your downtime, on the road, or waiting for shows to start, or at home...

I don't know, listen to music. Watch movies. Go to the beach. Go surfing. Relax. Go on holiday. I don't know, a lot of it is like... our lives are pretty like... it feels like my whole life has been music basically, so, lots of music. Even when I'm not touring or recording or something I like to listen to music.

What is your vice of choice?

Probably alcohol.

Easy answer. Favourite venue or city to play in?

New York's always a pretty fun one. I always enjoy playing there. New York or Sydney. They're really fun, and Newcastle as well... aw no that's too many. I'll commit to New York!

What issues and aspects of the world most concern you these days?

Global warming. That concerns many people.

When you were growing up, what was your favourite Saturday morning cartoon?

Oh geez, probably like... Disney Classics or something? Like you know... Donald Duck and kind of like the old school animation, not all the computer stuff. But no, I can't really name... I remember I used to have this VCR of like all these ones that I've taped from the mornings but I don't know what they were called. They were just like the Disney Donald Duck or Daffy Duck?

Daffy was Warner Brothers.

Oh really?

Yeah.

You know your cartoons (laughter).

I do, yeah. I liked the Warner Brothers ones, with all the anvils and everything... they were violent. (laughter) When you were growing up, although you just said your whole life has been music, but what did you want to be when you were a kid?

To be honest with you, I don't know. We started so young, I hadn't really made my mind up. I mean we started when we were 12 so ... I can't really remember anything before that. I remember when I was, when I was... ohhh no it was when we started. When we started we were 12 and I remember saying to my dad once, we saw a band, a live band came on TV, and I said, I remember so clearly saying, 'That's what I wanna do. That's how I wanna make money and have...' well, I mean, it's not about the money, but you know, that's what I wanna do for the rest of my life. Or was that... no wait how did I say it.. it was clear. It was something like that's what I wanted, that's what I want to do, that's what I want to be.

Side note - this has nothing to do with the 10 questions, but did you guys ever bother going to vocational school or anything?

What kind of school?

Like college or university or anything like that?

No, no... (laughs) We finished high school though! We finished year 12. And we passed.

That's good.

I don't know, I think there may have actually been a little bit of um, kind of like our principal called the education board or something - stuff that we didn't ever know about - kind of like saying, 'You gotta pass these guys, I don't care what they get, but they have to pass.'

Interesting.

Yup. Something like that went on, I'm not too sure but... should you put that in there?! Just in case someone from Australia's gonna go, 'hey!'

So THAT'S how they get through...

Yeah!

One of my friends from high school had sort of a love-hate relationship with you guys because she was a musician as well and the same age as you and you were huge, but she liked your music as well.

(laughs) Cool.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be, and why would you be them?

Umm... who would I be for a day. Hmm I don't know. Maybe Britney Spears?

Wow!

Just to kind of see what... I don't know. Do I have.. do I know it's me, or, and do I have the same thought patterns as hers? It depends how deep, what kind of deep level we're going to...

Yeah I guess... you'd be vaguely aware that you're yourself in somebody else's body but you have the ability to do whatever they do...

Whatever they would... Yeah I'll commit to that, I'll be Britney Spears for a day, just to see how far I can push the envelope.

What's an interview question you could care less to hear again?

It's one of the first interviews I ever did. I will never forget it. I remember coming through the house when I was living with mum and dad, and I'd never done an interview. Like it was, I think literally it may have been number one, the first one I ever did. And the guy had asked all these questions and right at the end he goes, [in American accent] 'What would you do if you were in class at school and you got a boner and you had to stand up?' And that was it. I was just thinking, ummmm... 14, I'm just thinking like, this is reeeeeally weird. 'Um, I don't know? I'd probably try not to stand up?'

Interesting... that's an odd one.

So that was it, so... hopefully I'll never get that one ever again. It wouldn't really be relevant 'cause I don't go to school now. (smiles)

Okay there is a shark and there is a bear and they're going to get into a fight. (to label rep) You always are here for this one.

(also to label rep) You know what's coming, do you, with this question?

The shark is in a small pool of water just big enough to fit him and the bear is on a small rock in the middle of the pool. Neither have been fed for a few days, neither have been trained... they're both pretty mad at each other and they fight to the death. Who wins?

(sounds confused) Who... what is the... well there's gotta be something...

I don't have the answer to this. I've never put them together to see what would happen.

I don't know maybe... I still don't get the point of the question... they... what's the point of the question? Like if I answer it are you gonna go, "Ahhhh!" (points finger in an 'aha' manner)

No no I don't think there's any sort of psychological stigma behind it. We're basically just sort of taking a survey.

Okay so who would win, a shark in a small pool or...

Are you more on the side of the shark or the bear?

Probably say shark.

Yeah?

Yeah. I don't know why. But I just think the shark would win. They're more dodgy and agile and... I don't know! I just think they're a bit more streamlined and ... Yeah I think the shark would definitely win actually. He would definitely win. Even if the bear grabbed hold of the shark I think he'd still be able to get away.

Yeah I'm always on the side of the shark too myself but the bear seems to be pulling ahead.

Really!

This might be an Australia versus North America thing. You're probably a little more familiar with sharks than bears.

...Yeah the more I think about it, the more I think it'll go the distance. But I don't know how it would get the bear, like could it pick him up and drop him into the water and then...

They can get out of the water...

...the shark could come up.

Yeah maybe. Just leap, lunge, take the bear down. Slap with the tail.

Like Free Willy, kind of like... (makes whooshing hand motion)

Haha... take his head off in one bite.

Yeah!

And the last question... if you could ask me one question, what would that be?

What... brand... of eyeliner do you use?

I think it's L'Oreal. Liquid... brush [oh now you know my beauty secrets!]

Really?

Yeah. (laughter). Now you know. Well thank you, that is all.

Cool, thank you very much.

I'll leave you to your candles and your pre-show fun.

Elsewhere

By Andy Scheffler
Photos : Andy Scheffler
Published : July 2007.