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MySpace has been an interesting place for us here at the Sound Faction. We’ve been able to explore outside of our comfort zone of music and find bands that maybe otherwise we would not have known about. I have to say however, that I am impressed with the Toronto music scene and all that it has to offer. When I came across this band called The Midway State I was more than impressed with the vocal styling’s and the amazing sound that hit my ears. I recently got a chance to talk to Nathan and find out just where his inspiration comes from and the reaction that they have received from the release of their album Holes (which is available on iTunes just so you know).

"You just have to make the best music that speaks to you every day"
- Nathan Ferraro: The Midway State

First off, for our readers who don't know, can you tell us who you are and what you do for the band?

Hey guys, I'm Nathan Ferraro and I play the piano and sing in the band... Nice to meet y'all.

How did The Midway State come about? And what was the inspiration behind the name?

We started the band in high school about 5 years ago when we were like 16, the name came from an idea our old bass player had and it has to do with us being naive and in a place in our lives where we don't claim to know everything.

In terms of the lyrics of your songs, where do you get your inspiration for what you write? Is it something personal to yourself or from what happens around you in everyday life?

Inspiration really does come from my everyday life, I'm always trying to write because I get scared like I'm losing it if I'm not. I love writing when I'm in a melancholy mood, which is often late at night and I’ll take from whatever I'm feeling at the time. Personal, or from something I've or experienced in another way. Other music especially inspires me.

I noticed in a MySpace post for your show on December 19 that you asked your fans to bring out any sort of camera and record footage for you guys so that you can put together a video, how did you decide to come up with that concept?

That was an idea that Daenen (drums) had. He's always thinking of new ways to do things. Actually, Mike and Mike are really into things.

You keep your fans updated with video blogs, is that something to help you keep in touch with your fans on a more personal level?

Yes, definitely. We want our fans to know that we don't disappear just because we come off tour. Were always working in the studio or writing or other and we just wanted to be able to stay in touch. We love getting our fans video blogs and stuff, it’s cool for us, so we’re just trying to keep up! Ha-ha.

Now, for anyone who hasn't had the chance to see your live show, can you describe for us what it's like? And is there one song that gets the most reaction from the crowd?

We are definitely a rock band live. And we try to really mix it up and keep it exciting. I play piano but also get to run around during the set. We really want our show to be "epic" and "larger than life". It’s a lot of fun. Right people love hearing Never Again live, and we definitely try to make it special.

Are there any bands out there that influence you musically or personally in any way?

Lately I've been listening to Sigur Ros a lot, though they are very very different from us there is honesty in their records that I want to portray.

You recently released a music video for Change for you (which is a personal favourite song of mine); can you tell us how it feels to be on a video set? And the process you go by in picking a treatment for a video? Secondly, are there any funny stories that you can share with us from the set?

We have a full "behind the scenes" edit from the making of the video that's going to come out soon, so keep checking the websites and mailing list for that- In terms of picking a treatment we usually discuss ideas that come from a director and eventually come to a consensus of what we want the video to say and look like. While they are fun to watch, videos are actually real tiring to make, you're usually on set for 15+ hours and both change for you and never again were both shot during the nights, so we were all a mess by the end.

Your full length dropped on July 22, what has been the reaction that you have received from the album?

It’s been really exciting for us. Never Again just went GOLD as a single and that's definitely not something we’d ever have expected... We try not to pay too much attention to "success" because with art, it’s a really stupid thing to try to measure I think. You just have to make the best music that speaks to you every day. Of course, we do cross our fingers once it’s finished.

With a New Year upon us, what can we look forward to seeing from you guys in the New Year?

We'll be doing a Canadian headlining tour at the beginning of March, and then heading to Europe to start promoting the record there. We have a really exciting duet to announce that we just finished with a female label mate of ours. You'll be able to get it off iTunes.

Us here at the Sound Faction, are probably five of the most random people that you are ever going to meet and with every interview we do we like to end it with five of the most random questions ever asked in an interview, mostly to make you laugh. So, here we go.

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

Grape

Would you rather be a pirate or a ninja? And why?

Pirate. Jack Sparrow.

If you could be the champion of anything what would it be?

NASCAR racer.

What female fashion trend do you just not understand?

I love them all...

What is your reality TV show guilty pleasure?

If I'm around I will definitely watch American Idol the odd night. I do think they SOMETIMES find really amazing talent. My family loves it too.

I want to thank Nathan again for taking the time to talk to us here, and if you want to know more about The Midway State or find out when the Behind The Scenes DVD is coming out, go check out their Myspace.