MUEN: Hi! Thanks ever so much for allowing us to talk with you, we noticed your spectacular songwriting talent and original sound instantly ofcourse.. how long have you been at this, and how many albums do you have out?

Maddin: The four of us have been Blowing Trees for just under 6 years now. We released an EP in 2006 that our label heard and liked. We rerecorded half of the songs for this album and added songs we had written since that EP, that sort of fit the story and had a similar feel to them.

MUEN: What is it that pushes Blowing Trees to write such deep and soulful music, and what artists do you feel have influenced you the most?

Maddin: Thank you! I think the times and the war have been a huge influence on our music. I think we have all connected the most on artists like Radiohead and The Beatles.
Drew: We write what we think sounds good...
Jered: Which happens to be influenced by a pretty wide array of artists. Pink Floyd, Arcade Fire...
Maddin Bob Dylan has been a huge influence on my writing, I think he is the best. And we all like Wilco alot.

MUEN: There are some super rockin' bands - especially out of Austin... How would you describe the music scene in Austin or San Antonio?

Drew: Most of the bands in SA are cover bands, but there is a group of growing and established bands that are pushing the indie/alternative rock scene into a new level.
Jered: Yeah, it's kind of exciting, all the new music coming out of S.A. right now. We're proud to be playing with what we consider to be some of the most talented bands around, like Morris Orchids, theBlend?, Marcus Rubio, and Big Soy...the list goes on.
Maddin: San Antonio definitely has a great music scene that should get more attention than it does. Austin is the live music capitol of the world, you can see any band of any genre almost every night.

MUEN: What are your present plans for Blowing Trees - what's in store, now that you have released the new album?

Jered: Plan?
Maddin: Our plan is to tour for this record and tell our story to those who will listen.
Drew: Yep. Texas national tour this summer. thats the plan.

MUEN: What is the process for the Blowing Trees, and how do you go about creating and wrting songs together as a band. I know one of you live in Austin, and the rest in San Antonio... I can hear by the sound of your music that the comute hasn't affected anyone in the least....

Drew: Maddin usually writes most of the song and lyrics, but recently we've all pitched in.
Maddin: Yeah, I usually will come to practice with a song I wrote on the piano or guitar and everyone interprets it there own way. We have done alot more writing together as a unit when we started practicing after finishing the record. The comute is not so bad its like an hour ride down the road.
Jered: It's been interesting, the way the song writing process has evolved. I think we learned a lot about structure and the importance of pre production this last studio experience. As far as getting together, we're just one of those bands who make things work and I think the music shows.
Drew: Yeah, we try to practice as much as we can. It is kind of hard when 3 are in SA and 1 lives in Austin, but we make it work.

MUEN: You guys have signed with Glassnote Records out of New York. and recently visted the big apple... how was that experience?

Maddin: It was really amazing. I still cannot grasp how huge New York was compared to where we are from.
Jered: Yeah, I was raised in Fairbanks, AK, so I've always thought San Antonio was huge! It was really nice, seeing the big apple and getting to perform for people in the industry.
Maddin: We played our songs acoustic for MTV and AOL and did a radio special on Ethel XM that was really fun. We went out to dinner with Matt Pinfield who is a hero of mine. It was very cool to go and see the Glassnote family.

MUEN: I was able to catch an aucostic performance you did on New York's radio station K-Rock... the vibe and stamana was incredible. You have so much talent, and seem to just really be on top of the world. So there is a tour in the works, could you share with your friends and fans where this tour will take you, and possibly what other bands you will be doing shows with?

Maddin: We hope to go everywhere real soon. We want to tour with our friends Morris Orchids.
Jered: Like Maddin said, we'd like to go everywhere as soon as possible. right now, I think we just want to concentrate on texas, continue to build up a solid fan base in our home state, and definitely get some attention drawn to some of our friends back home like Morris Orchids and theBlend?.

MUEN: Your cd is being produced by Dave Castell, who produced Blue October and also Burden Brothers' last two cds. How was that experience with him as a producer, and what have you enjoyed the most out of making this alblum?

Drew: It went well and I think we all learned a great deal from the experience.
Maddin: Yeah, it was really cool spending 6 weeks on the record and not rush the process too much.
Jered: And Dave was great. the thing about working with a producer is your adding another creative entity into the equation, which is something we weren't used to. I think we had to grow up a lot as artists real fast. it takes a lot of maturity to deal with someone else getting a say in your music, but in the end, you end up learning about perspectives that you could never quite see things from.

MUEN: On January 17, 2008 you guys posted a blog on myspace and shared with your friends and fans that Blowing Trees were added to Clear Channels new artist for the month of January.. that must have been an astounding accomplishment for you.. How did you feel when Clear Channel reconized your talents and creativity as a new artist to watch out for?

Drew: It was great to be involved and reconized on a big station like Clear Channel.
Jered: Great and weird. Writing songs, we never quite saw ourselves as a band that could cross over like that. I mean, we've always known our songs had a wide range of appeal, but when Clear Channel started paying attention, we all kinda realized that we could really do this big if we work hard.

MUEN: On your Myspace page all bands get a chance to express how they perceive their music. Blowing Trees states "falling snow in tecnicolor, the song beneath the song......" are most of your lyrics from personal experiences?

Maddin: I would like to think the lyrics are a kaleidoscope of my expieriences. I am trying to say something in colors bright and beautiful and dark and scary. There is alot of feelings expressed in a short amount of time, I want to touch on emotions that everyone might recognize and issues that are very common today.

MUEN: Blowing Trees was established in 2003. Like so many up and coming artist, the road is much different today. Bands can promote and connect with fans on a personal level as well as have ample opportunity in creating their music... what would you say was the toughest obstical or battle to get to where you are at right now in 2008?

Maddin: I think its hard for most bands to keep something alive for this long. We have had alot of walls we had to climb.
Drew: Yeah, staying together is tough if you don't want it. most bands don't have the original four members.
Maddin: Everything has kind of played out like a story.

MUEN: In what moment did you realize that this was your calling, that music was where you needed to be?

Drew: I have just always loved music and wanted to be in a band since I was a little kid.
Maddin: Yeah, I would say when I was 16 playing in my first band that was pretty big at the time and we played to a sold out club in San Antonio. I remember feeling like that was it.
Jered: For me, and to quote Scavone, I just know this is where I'm supposed to be now. don't know when I realized it, or if it was ever even a "realization", it just kinda always was. We've been blessed with talents that I think would be a shame to waste, but I'm sure the talent can be just as effective entertaining impoverished children or the homeless guy on the street as it is on stage. remember, you don't need to be in the music business to be in the music.

MUEN: There is so much that the Blowing Trees have to offer..... where do you see yorself in the coming years or so, or should I say... where would you like to see Blowing Trees at?

Jered: I think that depends on the response to the record.
Maddin: We'd like to record a strong and mature sophmore album.
Drew: Yeah, no matter what, we'll be making music.

MUEN: What would you like to say to your fans and friends that love and support your music?

Maddin: Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. This is all for them really.
Jered: Yep....
Drew: Thanks Muen!

MUEN: Thanks for the interview and good luck in all that you do...

Interview by Kelli Shannon