ANSWERS
What is your favorite flavor JELL-O?
The original red stuff
I’ve heard that you’re straight edge. What made you choose this lifestyle?
I just realized at a young age that it makes life easier. I don’t think of myself as “straight edge”. I just try to live life free of addictions, free of uncontrollable problems, free of people and things that I can’t trust, and free of stuff that I see could lead to negative consequences. Makes sense, doesn’t it?!
How long do you see yourself staying involved in the music industry? When you’re middle-aged will you still want to tour? Will you produce or manage? Or will you get a “normal” job?
No matter what I do for a living, I doubt I will ever have a “normal” job. I see myself in music as long as it can fulfill my basic necessities to happy life. If I’m 30 years old with 2 kids and I’m still playing tiny shows, I won’t be able to afford be a full-time musician. No matter what I do for a job, I know that I am going to be working for myself and I know that I will be working to affect, inspire, motivate, and change people. The music business is just my vessel to be able to do those things. If I still do it through music at 50 years old, great. If I don’t, that’s OK too.
I know your favorite bands are Blink-182 and Switchfoot. What other genres do you listen to? What music inspires you?
I like a little bit of everything if it’s good enough. I dig Lady Gaga, Eminem, Taylor Swift, Kanye, MGMT, and a lot of other different types of music. The bands that I like most, of course, are the pop-rock bands. I love Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, Jack’s Mannequin, Dashboard, The Used, Hillsong, Brand New, The Maine, The Fray, and all of that good stuff. That kind of music generally inspires me the most.
PCFH hasn’t been touring very far beyond the east coast lately. Will that change soon?
We are planning on touring down to Texas for South By Southwest next month. The whole music industry sort of slows down in the winter months, so we haven’t been touring much since Thanksgiving. That will change once Spring comes. I promise.
I like you. Can we be friends? :)
Yes. Friends are my only real asset in this world. Without people, I’d be nothing.
Warped tour this year? Even just promoting? I’d love to see you back in Texas!
This depends on our situation. We might be playing acoustic this year at Warped under a tent. If not, we will try to get an opening spot on a solid tour. If that doesn’t work either than we will definitely be promoting at Warped. Whatever we do, we will no doubt be touring the country this summer
I saw that you’ve written some about your faith, I think that so cool that you are pretty open about it. Would you share you testimony? I’d LOVE to hear all about it (:
Growing up, I didn’t really understand what Christianity is. In junior high and high school, I finally got a grip on it and it really changed my life. It gave me a purpose in this world and gave me hope more than anything else in my life could. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus. I know that that is weird to some people so I try not to push people away. I don’t want them to deem me “Christian” and then not think of me the same way. Instead, I love talking to people about universal virtues that everyone could accept. To be a successful person, to be a happy person, to overcome struggles, to give abundantly, to feel confident that there is more than yourself guiding your life, to know that you have a purpose, to stay away from greed and addictions, to be humble, to be appreciative for everything you have, to love even when you don’t feel loved, and to have hope. All this comes easier when you can believe in more than just yourself.
Who is your biggest inspiration to you, not just in music, but in life in general?
That’s hard to say. I try to feel inspired a little bit from everyone. Fans, family, acquaintances, students, friends, loved ones… I can’t pinpoint one or two right now that have inspired me the most.
Will you be playing in New Hampshire anytime time soon?
Yes. We are playing a private party in Salem on March 6th. Crash it.
What do you look for in a girl?
I definitely am attracted to the bad girl type. However, I know I could never really logically date that kind of girl because it’s not who I am. So, I need to find a bad-good girl who I could see marrying. A girl that isn’t sheltered, a girl that isn’t incompetent, a girl that’s real (I mean REAL, not fake). Someone who is truthful and reliable. Someone that would like me whether I’m playing music in front of thousands or crunch numbers alone with glasses on and a calculator (cause I love crunching numbers). I need someone who like’s me for me… NOT BECAUSE… I forget the rest.
Will i see you at Monadnock Bible Confrence in July? (i hope so! :D)
I’m not sure. It depends on my schedule. If I can make it then I definitely will be there.
With no church or bible study to go to, how do you keep your faith strong on the road? how do you stay up?
It’s hard to be disciplined on the road with no “home”. But I’ve learned that my faith grows through talking with people at shows. I definitely get down on myself in the van sometimes, but I try to keep a routine, to keep happy, keep studying, keep in shape, and I constantly remind myself that I am living and playing music for a purpose bigger than myself.
Did you celebrate halloween as a kid? If so what was your best costume ever?
Yes. My brother got me a Cartman costume when I was like 10. That was kind of crazy.
Besides your dad, you don’t talk about your family much. Do you have siblings? Cousins? Grandparents?
I have a dad and a mom. They used to have dads and moms. But the only grandparent I have left is my grandmother on my dad’s side (a few of you guys have met her before at a show in Poughkeepsie). I have an older half brother and half sister. They are both cool, chill people. When I’m not on tour, I live with a family back at home that I consider my family, even though I’m not related to them by blood. Confusing I know, but it’s my life.
Thanks for all of your questions. If you liked doing this we will do it again sometime. I really want you guys to get to know me. I don’t want to hide anything from you or feel like I’m some unattainable figure. I’m just me and your you. Nothing more, nothing less. Got it? Good.
