UN: Hot Cross features members from some fairly known bands within the underground. Yet it seems like the name Hot Cross is just starting to get spread. Is it important to distance yourselves from your previous bands?

Billy(vocals): We don't specifically set out to distance ourselves from our old bands. The music and our attitudes towards it just reflect a maturity and taste that comes with being involved in making the same kind of music for a very long time. You get to a point when you like to have things to mark certain times in your life and our previous bands serve as those kinds of markers.

UN: You guys have a work ethic that puts most bands to shame. Do you think success is much sweeter when all of the blood sweat and tears were DIY?

Billy(vocals): It is nice to think that we have done all we can to make sure that we are in control of all the band's functions, from recording to artwork, to even releasing the records ourselves, as Greg (drums) runs Level-Plane. If you want to succeed with your music in an independent forum you HAVE to have that kind of work ethic and you have to be on top of every aspect of the band at all times. So, I am not sure I can say that success is sweeter because of a DIY mentality when it is really all we know right now. We don't really have an alternative to compare it to.

UN: “Fair Trades and Farewells” has an urgent and very live sound. Is it important for you guys to capture that intensity? I think that perfect production and playing can take away from the impact at times.

Billy(vocals): Oh, absolutely. One of the things that bothered us the most about the sound of our "Cryonics" full length is that at times we feel it doesn't capture that live intensity that we need to hear in our music. At best, our live sound has always been a visceral and physical experience, so there is no reason why the records should reflect anything else. At the end of the day, I think we would like to consider the records a nice companion to what we put into the live show.

UN: Hot Cross essentially sounds like a band with tons of influences. Does it take a long time to refine the songs until everyone is happy? The songs are definitely urgent yet they are still put together incredibly well.

Billy(vocals): Surprisingly, we rarely butt heads about arrangements or sequencing during the writing process. Because the lyrics are written completely separate from the music, there are times that I will need the rest of the band to repeat phrases one or more times than they anticipated, or to cut the number of times a phrase is played. We are lucky in that we have gotten to the point where we are nearly sharing a collective creative brain, and when someone introduces a song or a fragment of a song at rehearsal, everyone is already anticipating what the other band members will be contributing and have a rough idea of how they will shape the sound of the song. We typically only have one or two rounds of serious editing as a band and then we tend to leave what has come out of that. You really risk shooting yourself in the foot if you are too conscious of details in some cases. There is certainly something to be said for a sense spontaneity and urgency when you hear the song and those things cannot be planned ahead.

UN: Few DIY bands manage to make the trip to Japan. How was the Japanese tour earlier this year? A lot of bands say that touring Japan is one of their dreams when they start a band.

Billy(vocals): Japan is a simultaneously beautiful and crazy place. We were fortunate to tour with Envy, who is enormous in Japan. They had just released a record and were ready to support the material on the road. Luckily, they wanted to go when we were available to join them and it was an inspiring and just life affirming experience. I think if any of us had any doubts about Hot Cross, they were completely obliterated as soon as we played the first show of that tour in Tokyo. I can definitely understand why so many bands would want to go there. Kids there are so grateful and are not spoiled for choice in the same way that Americans and to some degree Europeans are too. They don't have their choice of 12 local shows every weekend and hundreds of local bands to check out on an almost daily basis. They are so appreciative and gratifying when you make it over there to play. It is just an amazing atmosphere to play music in.

UN: Are you guys always going to be on Level-Plane? I guess it would be the easiest due to the fact that your drummer runs the label. If the right deal came along though, would you consider it?

Billy(vocals): Well, yea, you're right. Our drummer pretty much IS Level-Plane and at this time we can't really think of a label that would be interested in Hot Cross that could do anything more for us than we are already doing for ourselves. If it came to a point when we were just not able to do everything, and we needed to look to other avenues to help get things done, then yea. We may talk to other labels. For the forseeable future, there doesn't really seem to be a reason to look elsewhere.

UN: I know that a few members are involved in other bands, does this limit the amount of touring the band can do? It still seems like you guys are on the road most of the year though.

Billy(vocals): The only member that really has other touring side projects is Josh, our guitar player. Hot Cross is his first priority though and if he needs to go out with other bands, he first checks our calendar to make sure he is available. It is never really the other way around. So, no. Side projects don't really interfere with what we need to get done.

UN: What can we expect next from the band? The EP hasn’t been out long so I’m assuming another full-length is a ways off. Any splits in the works?

Billy(vocals): We will be releasing a 12" to coincide with our upcoming US tour in the fall. It will include a live radio set we recorded in Chicago in April as well as a few alternate takes of already released material. As for all new material, we are going to begin working on our full length in August. Casey and Josh apparently have 30-40 songs between them to work on and I have pages and pages of lyrics.. It is just a matter of getting together and writing. Hopefully the new LP will be out in mid 2005 some time. As for splits, there are no plans right now.

UN: What advice would you give to bands starting out? Obviously you would encourage the DIY ethic. Do you think it’s important to not wait for things to come to you, instead you should look them out?

Billy(vocals): In a recent interview, the band Darkest Hour advised that bands should not get discouraged when they find themselves playing for 5 unexcited kids in a large hall. This attitude is crucial. Persistence and humility are key. As soon as you start believing you are owed things or that you should be getting respect without putting in the hours and getting your hands dirty, it's time to pack it in. Also try to have as much control over your own affairs as you can. Don't assume you need a manager, a booking agent, a merch person, etc. etc. It is very possible to handle most, if not all of these things on your own and the more you do, the more you will learn. Finally, even if you swear by DIY and will never ever see yourself venture out of the indie realm, it is a good idea to learn about the music business and how corporate music works. You can't stand against something when you haven't got the first clue about how it operates. Finally, keep your eyes and ears open at all times... There are some valuable lessons to be discovered in the most unlikely places.