91Èȱ¬

Anyway, last week we were offered the chance to interview Hayley and Zac, and naturally Sam seemed to be the perfect man for the job.

He's good in lots of other ways too, but for this, he was actually perfect...once he'd stopped vibrating with excitement, obv.

Here's how it all went...

==============================

ChartBlog: I heard you on Radio 1's Live Lounge this morning, and it was fantastic.
Hayley: Thank you
Zac: I didn't do anything but thanks! [laughs]

ChartBlog: OK, so I thought I'd start with the album, 'Riot!' is your second album, did you find any pressure writing 'the difficult second album'?
Hayley: If there was any pressure, it was pressure from ourselves because we wanted it as badly as we did with the last record.

ChartBlog: Your label Fuelled by Ramen is currently ruling the pop punk world with Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco and whatnot. Is it better to be among bands with a similar outlook?
Zac: We kind of try and stay away from that whole bubble. With bands like Panic, who have become very popular in such a quick time, like over 2 years... We've been playing for 5 years to get to where we are now. Those bands kind of stay and tour together. They are all really nice guys, but we felt like we wouldn't like to be a part of that whole world.

ChartBlog: Last year you went out on your third Warped Tour, is that right? How do you prepare for such a long haul?
Hayley: Each year we are more ready. I love it, not even the heat bothers me anymore. It's so great to be around so many cool people, who either love making music or working for music. I just love it all. It's amazing.
Zac: Let me tell you the truth. Warped tour is the most brutal tour ever. It's so hot and that sucks. The kids are awesome and all ways so passionate, but the tour is brutal. You wake up and it's so hot, you go do press and it's so hot, and then you play and its even hotter!
Hayley: One time I had to take my shoes off on stage and I forgot to put socks on, because we were rushing to get ready. So I pulled my shoes off and the floor was so hot it was crazy! Also my Mom was there that day and was shouting "why aren't you wearing any shoes?" Honestly I think I'm the only one that loves Warped, I love the heat.

ChartBlog: You are touring here with New Found Glory, and you are also headlining Give It A Name festival, which is more than bands like Jimmy Eat World have achieved. How does that feel?
Zac: It's humbling.
Hayley: It really is, I mean we are as big fans of those bands as everyone else is so we look at it and feel very privileged.

ChartBlog: Are there any English bands you would like to take back with you to tour with in the States?
Hayley: I love Gallows.
Zac: We want to bring over LostAlone, those guys are great.
Hayley: Yeah, we love that band. Also we loved the Klaxons record, we listened to it a lot when we were recording 'Riot!' and it's a fantastic record.

ChartBlog: What inspires you to write songs anyway?
Hayley: Other than listening to Jimmy Eat World [laughs]. I just really write about things that are happening in our lives, just things that happen really. Anything that's going on or is real to us.

ChartBlog: 2007 was a great year for you guys, a highly rated CD release, great gig reviews and some amazing collaborations with bands like Say Anything. What has 2008 got in store for you guys.
Zac: We want to get a collaboration with Jimmy Eat World [laughs].
Hayley: We are in a really great place now - we have the opportunity to tour with great bands that are very passionate about their music, and a lot of different bands. I think more people are now seeing where we came from other than just what we play, we get to bridge a gap in the music which is great and hopefully it will be a fantastic year.

ChartBlog: Thanks guys, very much
Both: Thank YOU!

==============================

Your ChartBlog interviewer was: Sam Horner

Here's the video for 'Misery Business' which is out TODAY...