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Thought Crime Q&A w/Scott



1.) who are your main influences?
It’s very broad, we all like a lot of stuff. Sean and I are both into thought-conscious hiphop, like Talib and Tribe Called Quest etc. and I’m into different kinds of metal, more than Sean is for sure. I’ve always been into heavy bands like Ministry and Bad Brains, and a lot of punk, ska and reggae, and acoustic folk stuff. Kenji is into some weird stuff, haha, I’ll walk into the rehearsal room and he’ll be jamming some crazy lead pattern with octave effects. He likes everything from Korn to obscure jazz records. And Eddie Van Halen. I think most guitarists have been influenced by him at some point! Myk’s into a lot of drum and bass, jungle stuff. Suspense likes a lot of underground indie bands. So it's like a melting pot, which is how we want it.

2.) what got you interested in starting the band?
For me, I’ve always done music, but I didn’t really know how to make the music I wanted until the last few years. I know how to write songs but I knew I needed a different voice to go along with it, somebody who thinks about rap like they would play an instrument. So I answered Sean’s music ad saying he was like the John Lennon of white rappers or something, but we never really met up. A few months later, he answered my ad, and then we started passing music back and forth and writing and eventually recording.

3.) where do you see yourself in the future?
Touring and selling cd’s! Hopefully being successful enough to live comfortably and get out of this shitty apartment. Playing huge venues. It helps to have big goals, but right now we’re just trying to take the right steps to make it possible.

4.) do you intend on a big label or to stay indie (considering the current situation of the music industry)?
Well you never know what’s going to happen, but I think we’re intent on getting hooked up with a cool indie label that has the reach to get us across the world. The industry IS totally wacked right now and I’m always hearing about bands getting bad record deals with a big label, or they do a record and get dropped before its even out. So I guess we’re just trying to stay really focused on getting our music and package out there the best way we can and not worry too much if a big label will like us or not— what really matters to us is if the fans like us.

5.) If you could choose from anyone. Who would be your top 5 people to perform with?
Scott- Most of my idols are dead, but it would be Hendrix, Sublime, or the original Alice in Chains if they were still around. Present day would be Atmosphere, Fishbone, or Mixmaster Mike. Sean- Fort Minor, Talib Kweli Kenji- he just wants to play he doesn’t care who it is with, haha..

6.) What inspired you to write “Jimmy Dean”?
That was a song that I started with another lyricist before TC formed, we stopped writing together because he only saw things in one way.. so I took all the music that I wrote and started over with the lyrics. Sean latched onto the vibe and wrote his parts. We went back and changed it again a few times, to make it more sincere lyrically and it took us a while to get really in the vibe of it. I knew a guy at the high school I went to that took his own life by slitting his wrists in the shower, and that had an effect on me, but the thing that really motivated the suicide/death theme was when my best friend in LA died while we were working on the EP. He didn’t commit suicide, it was accidental and he died in his sleep at 22 years old- but it had a huge impact on me and motivated me to never give up on doing the band. When relatives die of old age it’s sad but you’re kind of more prepared. When someone who you hang out with every day dies- I just can’t put into words, it was devastating. So the song became like a therapy for me and it has a deep meaning that I think a lot of people can relate to. Or at least maybe they can understand the message.

7.) It took you about one year in the making of your upcoming EP. Lots of things usually change during such a period of time. If you look back now, what were the most significant moments?
I wish it had only taken one year! Altogether its more like 5 years, from when the first track was written. Not counting periods of time where we just ran out of money and had no way to finance anything. The songs on our demo have been through a lot of remixes and changes- so I’d say having the CD in our hands is the significant moment! That’s when you know you’re one step closer.

8.) How do you feel about all the (internet) support from your fans like building up streetteams and fanpages etc.?
Its dope! Other bands ask me how we get people to help out, and really I guess it just starts with cool music, and then being cool to people like sending them free stuff when they make banners or fanpages and stuff. We love everyone who helps us and one day we hope to be in a position to REALLY repay the help!

9.) If you could change something that happened during the last year, what would that be?
I wish I had quit my job sooner so I could have gotten the record done quicker!

10.) Tell me something about Sean’s solo record. Does it have any effect on the band?
Sean has been working on his solo record for the last year, and it’s his thing and it’s a dope vibe. I play guitar and do backing vocals for his live shows, so in a way it’s just a trade off.. we both have extreme desire to be successful so we’re down to do whatever it takes.

11.) When will you start playing live?
End of summer ’08. It’s been a long time coming and we are getting ready for a sick live show.. stay tuned!