JAMES: Yeah.
ALYCE: ... because you can't really be defined.
JAMES: Right...
ALYCE: Are you starting to find, now you're getting to this point where ... you're hoping to break past ... playing small places like Fiddlestyx ... some place that will give you more attention like a festival or something, do you find that you're being asked to define yourself into a little pigeon-hole?
JAMES: Very much so. I don't really like defining, but you know that you have to because people always want to know, "What type of band are you? If you get a show here, I want to know." So, without really thinking, you always kind of compare yourself to other bands. And it's a horrible thing to do, because once you do, that let's people have this, "Oh, they sound like..." for example, just say Blink 192, "Oh, they sound like Blink 192," and they have it in their minds, and when you play for them, they say, "Oh, yeah, they sound exactly like Blink 192."
ALYCE: And then they think you're imitating them...
JAMES: Right.
ALYCE: ...when it was a way to describe yourself.
JAMES: Right. Whereas if you never would have said, "Blink 192," if you would have said, "Linkin Park," which is totally different, they'd say, "Yeah, they sound exactly like Linkin Park." You know, and the best thing to do in that situation, is you gotta go ... "We don't try to sound like anybody, but if you have to compare..." ...
ALYCE: I was thinking that one of the songs that you have on the new album would almost be, I could almost see it hitting, I know, the Top 40 stations and stuff like that. It's totally inappropriate because of one of the lyrics.
JAMES: [laughs]
ALYCE: I think you know what I'm talking about.
JAMES: Yes, I think so.
ALYCE: Yeah, "Star Washed." Was that intentional? I mean, to make something that was so bouncy and light and catchy, and then totally sabotage...
JAMES: I can't really say because our guitar player, Chris, came up with that and brought it in and ... We work in different ways. Usually someone comes in with something and says, "Here's the root of it. Let's start with this, and see what we come up with." But Chris took the other angle, because I guess he was tired of arguing: "No, I don't like that part; I don't like this." So he pretty much came in with a full product, and we didn't have much of a choice. ...
ALYCE:... Can that account for some of the differences, from song to song, you may go from something that's more like heavy alternative to something that's more like power pop to something that's techno, almost... Is it because different people are writing stuff?
JAMES: We all add something to it, but Bill's been writing the majority of it, and I would say, yeah, that would be an easy way to define it, but Bill will come in with a heavy song, and then he'll come in with a ballad. So you can't really say. We all have our influences. Of course, I think there's a difference between influence and what comes out of you. ... I listen more to the older music. And I can talk to you all night about that, but I think sometimes on certain songs ... I'm putting in parts that don't really sound old.
ALYCE: You're adding whatever your experiences are.
JAMES: Right.
