tell us a little about the band - how did you guys get started? how did you get signed to deep elm?

We got tired of watching tv all the time and decided to start playing music instead. The five of us have always been playing music and doing it together was just a natural thing that just sort of happened. Deep Elm heard the four songs, like it, wanted to work with us, and that's about it. Nothing very glamourous about it.

how would you describe fire devine to someone who hasn't heard your music?

Fire Divine is just us. It is just the five of us being natural and playing what we feel like. There isn't an easy answer to this one. I'm sure the easiest thing would be to compare it to something else, but I'm not sure who to choose. I would much rather have someone listen and describe the music to me, because I don't know how to. Since I have to, I think of it as well rounded. It's fast and slow, quiet and loud, I think the music has a little bit of everything. I would describe it as sounding natural. We never tried to be something other then ourselves.

how did you come up with the name?

Alin came up with it one day. I don't even know what he was thinking about when he came up with it. He suggested it we shoke our heads and that was about it. Naming the band was not a big deal. Honestly, if there wasn't a name at all I wouldn't be surprised. The name of a band has nothing to do with the music a band makes. I hear some people talk about having an appropriate band name or something that serves a purpose. We would rather just call it our band.

who would you say are your main influences?

I don't want to answer for anyone else but I would say that the five of us have our own influences and styles and each of those is present in the music. For me The Smashing Pumpkins are my favorite band. But at the same time I've always tried to approach music without thinking about what I like as much as just letting it happen. As far as writing the EP we were each others main influence. We worked off of each other so much for ideas, that listing other bands would simply serve for answering the question. It was very much a process of feeling the songs out and seeing what needed to be done with each of them

deep elm just released your debut ep "it's all a blur", were you happy with how it turned out? is there anything you'd change looking back?

We recorded the EP for 36 hours straight with about a six hour break where we were locked in the studio to sleep. I wouldn't change anything I love how we recorded it, I loved not being able to think straight while we recorded it. It was perfect. So, NO. I wouldn't change a thing.

what's your favourite song off the ep?

I like the EP in general I don't play favorites with the kids.

what are the main themes behind your lyrics?

I think it's important for people to take lyrics and make them personal. When I wrote them I was thinking about something in my life that is personal to me, so I wrote lyrics that I understood and were appropriate for what I was feeling at the time. But when someone listens to the lyrics I want them to find their own personal meanings in them. I want you to find meaning in them that relates to your life. What they mean to me doesn't matter as much as what they mean to you. But, to answer the question they are about life and getting through life as smoothly as possible. At that time there was lots of drama in my life that I was mostly responsible for and the lyrics kind of turned into a way of venting for me.

so whats next for the band? what can we expect from the next fire devine release?

Right now Bob and Alin are very busy playing in A Life Once Lost, they'll be on tour forever so you should go see their band. Ian actually lives in California now. Jordan and I are in New Jersey living our lives. I'll soon be moving to Wisconsin actually. Everyone is very busy so we haven't sat down to put a time frame on what's next yet. As soon as we do deep elm will know which means you will know.

what are your live shows like? why should people come see fire devine?

Because I'll be there making a fool out of myself. We also tend to give away free beer and drugs for everyone. We think it just makes the experience more enjoyable.

which would you prefer - to play to a few hundred people or a few thousand?

I just like playing. To me it could be 10 people or 10,000 people you still approach it the same. Go out of stage and give that audience, big or small, everything you have to give.

who would you most like to tour/play with (past or present)?

Well me personally, The Smashing Pumpkins. Simply because they are my favorite and I can't think of any other band I would want to see play night in and night out as much as those guys.

do you have any interesting or scandalous tour/show stories?

Ummmm, sure do. Will I be repeating them? No. I will tell you that when the five of us are together we have a lot of fun.

do you have a favourite place to play?

It is always nice to play in Philly or South Jersey because you know that you'll be sleeping in your own bed that night.

what bands are you listening to at the moment?

I was just listening to the newest Fountains of Wayne, which is just an amazing pop album. Hella is brutal. I've also been listening to a Neil Diamond compliation/greatest hits CD tjat I really like a lot.

what album couldn't you live without?

The Smashing Pumpkins. As you might already be able to tell that's "the band" for me. They are the end all be all.

anything to add?

I've mentioned it before but I just want to thank all the people that like the EP and all the people who have e-mailed us and showed us their support. It's overwhelming to find out that people enjoy the must you make and I just want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks go out to Tad, Fire Devine, and Chuck @ Deep Elm for setting up the interview.

Deep Elm Records