Dallas, Texas-based Airline are the kind of band I love to profile. With interesting, even eclectic sounds, softly moving, pensive lyrics sung in a moody, atmospheric way; Airline make songs that can lift you up and make you think. This is because Airline’s driving force, frontman Robert Holley, is a man who likes to think. He likes to think from other peoples perspectives, to walk a mile in another man’s shoes. This curiosity, empathy for the way other’s think, feel and experience life is reflected in Airline’s lyrics which are filled with an affinity for man, and with compassion and humanity.

By weaving stories of life and all its diverse complexity using absolute, honest lyrics, beautiful vocal harmonies and innovative instrumental arrangements Airline make their unique sound. But these four boys — Robert H. Holley (lead vocal and bass), Christopher Carmichael (drums), Will Woolsey (lead guitar) and Ryan L. Smith (keys) – are not prog rockers, they are roots/indie/alt rock. Make no mistake, they are guitar rock.

And things are moving along nicely for Airline, with one EP in the bag, Soft Radio, currently recording their first full length album – as yet untitled – and shows to play at the SXSW in Austin, Airline are a busy bunch. Frontman Robert Holley was nice enough to take time out of his busy schedule recently to have a chat with me. Intelligent, interesting and with a soft sense of humour and wit he was a fun to talk to.

Tell me how Airline came to be.

I was writing and recording and playing by myself around town and really felt there was something missing, and that was playing with people. So I wanted to find a group of guys that I trusted and would be fun to play with. I started writing and recording with my cousin, he’s the lead guitarist, Will, and we started playing together and looking for other people. We had two members, who aren’t with us anymore, and we got two more members who are the final pieces of the band. That took about a year and then Airline was playing shows – the same four guys who are in it now.

Who are Airline and how long have you been together then?

Ryan Smith was the third current member to join the band, as a piano player. He joined in October 2005. Will and I started doing this in June/May 2005. Then we got two guys who aren’t playing with us anymore, a bass player and a drummer and Will and I were playing guitar. Then we got Ryan he started playing keyboards. And then about February of 2006, last year, Chris the drummer joined as the bass player. And so we had lost the other bass player.