MUEN: Please, explain the meaning behind your name...

There are a couple of reasons we went for the name No Machine once it came up. The obvious reason is that we�re a real live band with a real live sound� There�s a lot of great electronic/computer aided music out there, but when it comes down to it, only a band consisting of real human beings (as opposed to machines) can bring real life to a song! Computers can�t interpret songs the way people can� Even the really great records that come out today seem to lack a lot of the emotion, musicality, sense of urgency, (magic?), that you hear on a lot of older records which focused on great performances by great musicians. The name seemed relevant in a world where machines and systems are taking over and humans and the human side are too often sidelined! It also feels like more and more, people are expected to act like machines themselves, cold and without emotion. We�re saying no�

MUEN: How was your band formed?

We were out one night and walked into a jazz club where they were hosting a jam session. We ended up on stage after a few drinks and found ourselves jamming with the guys for what seemed like hours...We had our first rehearsal soon after that.

MUEN: Your musical influences seem to be very varied, what bands or artists inspired you to form No Machine?

Would say that we�ve been inspired to play music & write songs by our all time favorite artists like (in alphabetical order) The Clash, The Cure, Dire Straits, The Doors, Elvis Presley, Genesis, The Go-Betweens, Guns N�Roses, , Johnny Cash, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Marillion, Meat Loaf, Pink Floyd, The Police, Prince, Queen, Rush, Talking Heads, Thin Lizzy, Yes. We are totally addicted to music! There�s a full list of artists we�re into on the influences section on our myspace page. We�re listening to a lot of Hercules and Love Affair, Alabama3, The Killers & Air at the moment for example.

MUEN: Were any of you involved in other bands before this one?

We�ve been in a few bands! Two ska bands before forming No Machine and one punk band before that. The first time we got up on stage was at a School Disco. We were about 11. The drummer didn�t have a drum kit (or know how to play?) but we borrowed some congas and some classical percussion from the Music Dept. and did the show. Emil played on one of those starter Casio keyboards. They must have taken us off stage early cause we don�t remember it being a very long show!

MUEN: In the last year you have released your debut album and have done a UK tour, has your fan base grown?

Our fan base seems to be growing quite steadily. We�re getting good airplay on UK radio and now in Germany! Our music seems to be getting quite big there (like when the Beatles first started?) Myspace is what has really helped us build a fan base in the States. Thanks to all our friends for being so proactive!

MUEN: Will there be another release soon?

We�re actually in the studio right now.! We�re working hard on finishing songs �Toast The Toaster� and �The Ocean� which we should release together before the end of the year hopefully, maybe early next year. The basic tracks are sounding excellent and we�re working with strings for the first time ever at the moment. The album should come out before next summer. Hopefully we�ll be touring the US then. We�re also doing an animation video for �The Ocean� which is in its early stages right now but looking great.

MUEN: Since your album release has there been a change in your sound?

Wouldn�t say there�s been a change but definitely a development! We�re experimenting with brass & strings now and the result has been great so far. We�ve also been recording at the legendary Mayfair Studios (although they are about to relocate and kick us out!...) which has a really great vibe which you can hear/feel on the tracks. Would say that on �A Terrible Thing� we were aiming to make an alternative pop record that combined our songs with a progressive rock sound, which we�re really into. Now, we�re going slightly more psychedelic and adding a lot of sonic detail to our stuff It�s going to be an excellent record!