Q: Hey guys, how have you been?
A: Excited, overwhelmed, bored, disappointed, ecstatic, exhausted and invincible.
Q: You’ve been on tour with the Police for a while now. How has it been thusfar, playing all over the world in these big venues?
A: It took a few goes to get used to the bigness. In some places the front row is so far away that you can’t even see it! Not complaining though. It’s been unbelievable.
Q: How is the response of the Police audience to Fiction Plane. Do you think that you are getting a whole new bunch of fans out of them?
A: I think so. The great thing for us is that so few of them know who we are and playing live is our greatest strength. It’s nice to feel that there is no filter between us and the crowd.
Q: You guys released “Left Side Of The Brain” this year, which includes the smash hit “Two Sisters”. How different is it from your former release “Everything Will Never Be OK”, and where are the key differences?
A: There are now 3 of us instead of 4, which strangely makes us sound bigger. On this record we were fortunate enough to have NO record executives/mangers/producers poking their noses into our business while me made it. The result is, music that WE like. Hopefully others will like it too but that’s almost just a side effect.
Q: “Two Sisters” is doing incredibly well in a lot of places, have you guys already thought of the follow up single? Any idea what song it might be?
A: It’s A Lie is the next single. Making the video next month, releasing in december/january!
Q: Left Side Of The Brain, how did you guys end up with this album title? Is there a story behind the title?
A: Most of the album is about right-brain stuff, emotions, feelings etc. The left side is more logical and clinical and the title is therefore slightly ironic but also the chance to escape from pain is the great thing about the left side. Simple things. Ahhhhhhh.
Q: Fiction Plane has played shows in a ton of different places, but of all the places you’ve played, what is your favorite place?
A: In terms of audiences it’s a toss up between Paris and Amsterdam. In both places, the response was so vociferous we couldn’t believe it! As for just an insane place that is interesting to be in, it has to be Japan.
Q: And also, is there somewhere that you really want to play a show one day? If you could pick any place in the world.
A: Baghdad.
Q: And if you could pick any band or musician in the world, who would you like to tour with most? And why?
A: We would LOVE to tour with Muse. We just have total respect for their musicianship and attitude.
Q: Who writes most of the songs for Fiction Plane? And can you tell us something about the process? Do you start with a jam, with a melody, with lyrics, or is it different every time?
A: It’s always different. I (Joe) sit awake in my living room all night coming up with various bits and when it comes together I bring it to rehearsal. Sometimes we change it from there, sometimes it works right away. Sometimes we just jam and I start mumbling things. Later on I’ll listen back to it and write lyrics based on what I think I was saying.
Q: What inspires you for writing songs? Personal experiences? Something else?
A: Everything ever. Being pissed off is the quickest.
Q: And who would you list as your biggest influences when it comes to your sound and song writing?
A: God, Satan and Michael Jackson.
Q: What is the best thing about being a musician, and what is the worst thing about being a musician?
A: The best thing is picking up a guitar and, wow, you’re “working”. The worst thing is having personal lives disrupted due to extensive travelling.
Q: Is there a song by another band or musician that you wish you would’ve written? And if so, what song, and why?
A: Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode. It just says it all for me.
Q: Okay a few random questions now.
Q: Day or night?
A: NIGHT
Q: Club venue or arena venue?
A: CLUB
Q: CDs or digital music?
A: CDs
Q: Okay, final question. What are your thoughts on people downloading music, both legally & illegally?
A: It’s slightly not as fun if you don’t have the box. I love that you can get hold of nearly any music in seconds, but, there is a bit of mystery removed. Musicians need to figure out a way to get paid for some of the downloads etc. Someone is making $$$ out of myspace, and it ain’t us!
Thanks Fiction Plane, for doing this interview!
A: Excited, overwhelmed, bored, disappointed, ecstatic, exhausted and invincible.
Q: You’ve been on tour with the Police for a while now. How has it been thusfar, playing all over the world in these big venues?
A: It took a few goes to get used to the bigness. In some places the front row is so far away that you can’t even see it! Not complaining though. It’s been unbelievable.
Q: How is the response of the Police audience to Fiction Plane. Do you think that you are getting a whole new bunch of fans out of them?
A: I think so. The great thing for us is that so few of them know who we are and playing live is our greatest strength. It’s nice to feel that there is no filter between us and the crowd.
Q: You guys released “Left Side Of The Brain” this year, which includes the smash hit “Two Sisters”. How different is it from your former release “Everything Will Never Be OK”, and where are the key differences?
A: There are now 3 of us instead of 4, which strangely makes us sound bigger. On this record we were fortunate enough to have NO record executives/mangers/producers poking their noses into our business while me made it. The result is, music that WE like. Hopefully others will like it too but that’s almost just a side effect.
Q: “Two Sisters” is doing incredibly well in a lot of places, have you guys already thought of the follow up single? Any idea what song it might be?
A: It’s A Lie is the next single. Making the video next month, releasing in december/january!
Q: Left Side Of The Brain, how did you guys end up with this album title? Is there a story behind the title?
A: Most of the album is about right-brain stuff, emotions, feelings etc. The left side is more logical and clinical and the title is therefore slightly ironic but also the chance to escape from pain is the great thing about the left side. Simple things. Ahhhhhhh.
Q: Fiction Plane has played shows in a ton of different places, but of all the places you’ve played, what is your favorite place?
A: In terms of audiences it’s a toss up between Paris and Amsterdam. In both places, the response was so vociferous we couldn’t believe it! As for just an insane place that is interesting to be in, it has to be Japan.
Q: And also, is there somewhere that you really want to play a show one day? If you could pick any place in the world.
A: Baghdad.
Q: And if you could pick any band or musician in the world, who would you like to tour with most? And why?
A: We would LOVE to tour with Muse. We just have total respect for their musicianship and attitude.
Q: Who writes most of the songs for Fiction Plane? And can you tell us something about the process? Do you start with a jam, with a melody, with lyrics, or is it different every time?
A: It’s always different. I (Joe) sit awake in my living room all night coming up with various bits and when it comes together I bring it to rehearsal. Sometimes we change it from there, sometimes it works right away. Sometimes we just jam and I start mumbling things. Later on I’ll listen back to it and write lyrics based on what I think I was saying.
Q: What inspires you for writing songs? Personal experiences? Something else?
A: Everything ever. Being pissed off is the quickest.
Q: And who would you list as your biggest influences when it comes to your sound and song writing?
A: God, Satan and Michael Jackson.
Q: What is the best thing about being a musician, and what is the worst thing about being a musician?
A: The best thing is picking up a guitar and, wow, you’re “working”. The worst thing is having personal lives disrupted due to extensive travelling.
Q: Is there a song by another band or musician that you wish you would’ve written? And if so, what song, and why?
A: Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode. It just says it all for me.
Q: Okay a few random questions now.
Q: Day or night?
A: NIGHT
Q: Club venue or arena venue?
A: CLUB
Q: CDs or digital music?
A: CDs
Q: Okay, final question. What are your thoughts on people downloading music, both legally & illegally?
A: It’s slightly not as fun if you don’t have the box. I love that you can get hold of nearly any music in seconds, but, there is a bit of mystery removed. Musicians need to figure out a way to get paid for some of the downloads etc. Someone is making $$$ out of myspace, and it ain’t us!
Thanks Fiction Plane, for doing this interview!