Exclusive No Outlet Interview

Interview by: Liza Boodhansingh

Q - How did you come up with your band name?

A - John liked it better than Four Testubes and a Rubber Band. –Alex

Q - How would you describe your music to someone who has never listened to it before?

A - One of the bands I like to relate us to most is Jimmy Eat World. But we are mostly a mix of them and early Blink 182. -John

Q - What makes your band different from every other band out there?

A - This doesn't necessarily make us different, but we play what we love. We don't get hung up on "is this cutting edge", we ask "is it fun to play? Is it beautiful?" -Alex

Q - What is the biggest challenge you have encountered this far as a band?

A - College. Being separated has made gigs and composition pretty difficult. -Alex

Q - What is your favorite thing about performing? Least favorite?

A - Favorite thing about performing would be the connection with the audience.  Nothing better than hearing them sing back the lyrics to songs that you wrote.  Least favorite thing would have to be ending the concert haha. -John

Q - Who/What inspired you to follow your dream of music?

A - Like we mentioned before, bands like Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182, Motion City Soundtrack and Weezer are all bands that have inspired us to do what we do. All of the members in these bands have some sort of importance to each of us, and how they influence our songwriting. -John

Q - Who writes the songs?

A - John writes most of them, will the occasional assistance from Lerman.  If Lerman comes in with a song, John occasionally helps him out. Same with bowles. -Alex

Q - Where do you get inspiration for a song?

A - Anything. Mostly just what pops into my head. I figure it’s coming from somewhere in there. -Alex

Q - How do you get pumped up for a show? Any pre-show rituals?

A - Practicing the day of, and only the day of. -Alex

Q - What is your favorite venue to play?

A - Favorite venue to play would have to be the Trocadero Balcony in Philly. Such a cool venue! -John

Q - What venue do you hope to play at some day?

A - Wells Fargo Center! Give us 2 more years and we will sell that place out! –John

Q - Who would you like to go on tour with?

A - Our dream tour would have to be Jimmy Eat World and Motion City Soundtrack. And then Alex and I will go through every single Motion song ever created like we do in practice haha. –John

Q - What's the biggest struggle of being a musician?

A - Paying the bills -Alex

Q - What's one lyric or quote that inspires you most?

A - "There's a stain, there's a stain on my floor, want to soak, want to scrub, want to clean it and more" -John

“I hit the sidewalk, and this is how it starts/ hiding in a rain coat, when things are falling apart" -Alex

Q - Do you have any advice for someone who wants to pursue a career in music?

A - Try computer programming. -Alex

Follow your dreams; don't let anything hold you back. Play music YOU love, and as long as you have fun doing it, that's all that should matter. -John

Q - Where do you hope to be 5 years from now?

A - Touring/continuing to write music! -John

Q - What is your favorite song to play live?

A - At Your Funeral -Alex

Pay Attention - John

Q - What is one thing that your fans don't know about you?

A - I want to live on a sail boat for the majority of my life. -Alex

I'm the biggest weather geek you'll ever meet. -John

Q - What drives you to keep pushing for more?

A - Every time we finish and perfect a song, there's always that feeling that it could have been better in some way. We put those motivational thoughts into new songs! -John

Q - If you could have one super power what would it be?

A - Flying. If not that, then time control. -Alex

Q - When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?

A - An explorer. -Alex

Weatherman - John

Q - What is the best lesson you have ever learned?

A - Don't run half a mile after eating deep-fried pork -Alex

Don't wait for things to come to you; you have to go get them. -John

Q - What are some of your favorite bands?

A - Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182, The Starting Line, A Day To Remember, Escape The Fate, Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday. -John

Young the Giant, Weezer, Guster, Jimmy, Beatles. -Alex