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We got an email back in December from a local Toronto band called Isle Of Thieves suggesting that we check out their myspace. I did. And I honestly liked what I heard! These guys have a great sound! Manda and I had the chance to talk to them before a show back in February (I apologize for the lateness. Life is busy!) about their music, their thoughts on the industry and cookies and we had a lot of fun! So enjoy and check out Isle Of Thieves! (because we said so!)

“So I think a band at our level or just starting out has to respect the fact that somebody out there knows more and you are not the superstar that’s gunna get this Wayne’s World record contract. It's not like that. You really have to respect people.”
Japeth: Isle Of Thieves

For our readers who don't know who you are, could you please introduce yourselves and what you do for the band?

Mike - Michael Marsh isle of thieves and I play guitar.

Justin - Justin Kwan and I play keyboard.

Japeth – I’m Japheth and I sing and play rhythm guitar.

Matt - Hi, I’m Matt and I play drums.

How did Isle Of Thieves come to be and where did the name come from?

Japeth - the band really started with matt and myself. Matt and I met at a hardware store on queen and matt was looking for washers for his drum kit and I thought he was cheap cuz he would rather buy washers for thirty cents at a hardware store than three dollars at a music store. So I was like, you’re cheap, I'm cheap lets start a band. (Laughs). So he plays drums I play guitar so we just jammed out and what ended up happening was Justin started coming and doing some open mics. It was awful! (Laughs) really awkward. One time matt got plastered and whacked his eye with his stick and he was bleeding from his eye and was trying to play! Justin was so embarrassed he wanted to get off the stage.

Justin - I just laughed

But that was being a trooper!

Japeth - Yeah it was very trooper.

Matt - There was just this black hole everywhere I looked. (Laughs) I could not see...

Justin - Oh Charles is here now...

Charles - Hi! I am Charles, I play the space bass.

You have worked with some very talented mixers and producers, what was the experience like and what did you take away from it?

Japeth - I think when you do work with people who are more experienced and very talented, one thing you have to keep in mind is, don’t be a f**king egotistical b*tch. That’s what I would have to say for a lot of bands at our levels, which is pretty much just on your way up. Whether we get to the top or not, we don’t know. So I think a band at our level or just starting out has to respect the fact that somebody out there knows more and you are not the superstar that’s gunna get this Wayne’s World record contract. It's not like that. You really have to respect people. When we came into the studio we were a bunch of kids who really didn’t know anything and our producer Mike said 'Show me your tone' and I said, I don't have a tone or really know what my tone is' and at that point I realized that all I had done since I was a teenager was yah know, just basically play and not really know what I'm doing. It was really nice to have someone say, 'dude that sucks!' it was really nice at the end of the day for someone to be honest with you. "Did you like me show?" and be like, "No. That show sucked!" but you get better that was. You always gotta have your cup empty.

You have had a lot of positive feedback and radio play, what does all the recognition mean to you?

Japeth- At first it was like baby steps because you’re on like one radio station and you feel so happy. The first time we were ever on radio was 102.1 The Edge. We went to the Strombo show. Matt gave our cd, just pressed, to George’s people...

Matt - Mike Sullivan.

Japeth - So yeah, we were listening to the radio at a pub and they played the first single off our cd 'Hollywood' and we were just like, "AH! Oh my god!" but since then we’ve realized that was just like, an initiation and like, you cant expect major BDS station like The Edge to be like, 'wow this is so awesome. We’re going to play you all the time' it doesn’t work that way, so we started going college radio and we're on satellite radio and every station that plays us we are so thankful because really, we still remember when it was that one station that played us that one time. It’s really nice. Hopefully it gets better from here.

What exactly inspires your lyrics and is there one that means the most to you?

Japeth - as for the stuff on out current album, basically it was a reflection on my perspective of things and it was very...a little bit anti-social, it’s a little bit critical. It’s a lot of social criticism and you know it criticizes our world, like the superficial nature of our society. I think basically the things that happen to me, that I experience is what inspires me. As for the song that means the most, it's definitely the first track 'Hollywood' basically I was struggling with what’s more important to people, self-worth and status as appose to kindness and truth and that’s what I was resting with.

If you were in charge of the music industry what would be the first change you'd make?

Japeth - Justin, you wanna take this one?

Justin- Yeah. I would like more freedom for the artists. People still think that having a record contract or having a group of people take care of them is the answer to all their questions as an up and coming band and it really isn’t the case. The music industry now shows that you need to know what you're doing and you need to have your foundation before anybody even cares about you. And it gets down to it, artists should be able to educate themselves and know what the industry is. I think just more freedom from artists.

So we like to try and end our interviews with some random questions if you're up to it?

All – Yeah!

If you were a scented candle, what would you smell like?

Charles - Cilantro. I would make my own candle and make it cilantro. I would also make my own deodorant.

Matt - If I were a scented candle I would be strawberry banana.

Justin - Lavender. I love the smell of Lavender.

Japeth - Vanilla. I know it's kind of lame, but vanilla!

What’s your least favorite dance craze?

Japeth - My least favorite is The Macarena!

Justin - mine would be...what’s that thing with the snap? Or people just started snapping? It’s in all the lil John videos. Don’t do it. It looks really bad!

Mike - That disco one...

(He starts to dance)

The Hustle?

Mike - Yeah!! The Hustle.

The guys pointed out that while he did the dance, he looked like John Travolta. He did!

If offered cookies, would you go to the dark side?

Everyone except Japeth - Yes!!

(Laughs)

Japeth - Depends on the cookies. Double chocolate macadamia?

Would that do it?

Japeth - F**k yeah!! We love cookies!

At this point they were officially late for their set so we had to end the interview!

We would like to thank the guys in Isle Of Thieves for taking the time to chat with us. Check them out at their myspace: myspace.com/isleofthieves