How do you guys (meaning all of you) go about writing music? Do you write the lyrics first?

David: Things happen in a variety of ways. I can't say that we would try and subordinate one thing to the other. Sometimes it's a vocal melody that starts you off, sometimes a guitar line, sometimes a phrase. No one thing is going to kick the writing process off all the time, though.

Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics?

Collins: Oh man. Everywhere. [Brian] Eno, the Beatles, the Stones. Actually, I get a whole lot of my inspiration from David, to tell you the truth.

David: Oh come on. You're the one referencing Aristotle. That's one of my favorite moments in lyricdom, by the by. Is it Aristotle or Plato, now that I think about it?

Collins: Plato. I was actually just thinking about how some of our best lyrics we've ever written were on our first album [EP], We Are The People.

David: If I may interject on the subject of lyrics, I'd say that the process is kind of like taking a standardized test. There's not really a way to prepare for it. You just let all of the stuff filter out of your head. That said, it doesn't hurt to be topical or referential a bit. I think we've gotten away from that and it kind of bums me out. I was listening (this is so embarrassing) to Don McLean today and I really got into the reference. I'm not saying anyone needs to be pouring over “Ms. American Pie,” but what a cool, epic idea, to have an ode to rock n' roll that's so laden (and at times encumbered) with little pieces of evidence.

You guys are going on tour in a few weeks is that correct?

Collins: Yes, we will be leaving for tour next week. We're pretty excited; it's only our second time going out west. West coast. We're kicking it off with a show with White Whale in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They're this new band on Merge that a couple of our friends are in. They're awesome. Then we're motoring it over to San Diego. That's two days later. We're playing a free show, outdoors, with Spank Rock, The Roots, and Mudhoney.