You describe your music as being "Total Music". Can you elaborate on the term and tell us what it means?
"Total Music" is an approach to songwriting that ignores genres, extends linearly, not cyclicly and celebrates harmony.
What bands do you think have been most prominent in influencing the Total Music sound?
Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Apart from yourselves, which other bands in your opinion specialise in Total Music?
None
Moving on from the last question, what do you think of metal today and can you give a reason as to why you rarely perform in front of real metal crowds?
I don't listen to much modern metal. There are a few good bands - Mastodon, Confessor, Meshuggah... We don't consider ourselves a metal band and therefore are not suprised when we don't see a lot of metal heads at our shows.
What do you think of The Darkness?
It's good when you're trying to sleep.
Speaking of which, what do you think of the trend where a lot of bands (including your own) have "The" preceding their name e.g. The Pixies?
I don't really know if that's a trend. Way back when, people were calling the messiah 'the' and the pharoh 'the'.
Which guitarists do you admire and what tips would you give to someone just starting out on playing guitar?
John Mclaug...