This kid is gonna be legendary...I am calling it now.


Hey! What's going on?

All kinds of stuff! I'm in Toronto, working with the band. We're going through photoshoot pictures, listening to mixes for the next record. We just got together at my place after wrapping up the tour with Mika..

I heard!! Man, I am really sorry I missed that tour. What an awesome lineup. How did you like all those snow storms?? [laughs] Heard you were trapped...

Oh yeah, other than that, the tour was great! We played in Chicago, woke up and got on the road to go to Minneapolis. That area got hit with 'the worst snowstorm in 10 years.' It took us 8.5 hours to drive 100 miles. I swear the van was just creeping along and there were 18-wheelers all over the place. We had to cancel the gig and sleep in this random roach motel. The next day we left early to go to Salt Lake City and even Mika got stuck in the snow. So we drove 23 hours to find out the highway we needed to take was closed, and we ended up cancelling that show too. Mika had flown in so he was able to do an acoustic set, at least.

How do you like the States?

We're from Canada and stuff. We have toured the US 4 times now. We were saying to each other last tour that we feel more like Americans now than Canadians because we're there all the time. But really, going from Ontario to NYC, there is hardly any difference. You only know you're in America cause there are flags everywhere.

All artists have influences, and there are some legendary artists who seem to impact basically ALL modern music. However, in your songs, I hear an entirely different crop of legendary artists... what do you listen to?

I grew up in a really small town. I listened to what my parents listened to- Cat Stevens, Carole King, Neil Young, stuff like that. Then I got really into Coldplay, like everyone else did. Right now I am listening to a lot of Bruce Hornsby. We're both piano guys and his stuff is wicked. Something about being a singer/songwriter (and I don't know if others feel this way), I like my own stuff more than other people's stuff. So, usually in my car I have tons of demos and things. I listen to the radio sometimes to see what's going on, but I don't really have a large music collection or anything. I've just been inspired by songs. Song-driven stuff. Songs that can be played and sung on your own when you have nothing else to do. Elton John. As of right now, though...modern stuff...I listen to a little of everything, but I am more focused on creating my own music.

You got the chance to start touring when you were really young...how was that?

It was like summer camp on wheels! My dad bought us a van cause we really wanted to tour. We got on the internet and called promoters and booked tours through Canada and just drove. Our first show on our first tour, I was nervous as hell. We went to Philadelphia and get to this little bar, take our stuff up 3 flights of stairs and played for 9 people. It hits you right in the face. 'Holy shit, we just drove for a day and spent all this money on gas and didn't know what we were gonna do and literally got paid 10 bucks.' That was our first experience touring ever. We loaded back up and looked at the next show that was booked. We had to go to Boston. We try to drive at night cause we never have anywhere to sleep. Lots of playing in little bars for nobody. Out on the coasts in Canada, we were playing in kids living rooms. We played at this girls house for 15 of her friends...her mom came home and just saw this band and all these people in her house. It was funny. People have always helped us out though. Kids would rent halls so we could play for them and invite all their friends from school. There would be like 200 kids and they'd buy a lot of stuff. That would pay for us to get to the next low-paying gig. We were really naive, and that was a good thing.

Do you feel like you missed out on anything by becoming a professional musician in high school instead of going to football games and dances or whatever?

No way. I have a lot less close friends, but I have a band and they're my BEST friends. Like I don't have a huge social network back home. They can't really relate to what I do and I can't relate to what they do. But we feel really lucky to have had the chance to do this.

How long has your current lineup been together?

Since we were 15 or 16...I'm 21 now.

Are there any artists you would love to collaborate with someday?

Tons. I want to meet Bruce Springsteen. The Killers are an awesome band. I like Tegan and Sara. My dream is to write a song with Carole King.

Make your label hook it up.

[laughs] Yeeeah...we'll see.

Have you ever wanted to do something other than play music?

You know, I hated piano lessons when I was a kid. My mom would sing with me and play guitar and stuff. I eventually got back into the piano. I mean, I always loved music but I never really thought about it as a real career option. I started writing songs when I was 14...and then I kept writing more and more. When I got a little older, I had written so many songs I was like 'I am a songwriter...I just am.' We played some shows just because I wanted to. People liked it. I knew when I was done with school I wanted to do music full time. I never felt like I was pushing it or stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's happened quite naturally.

Do you believe there is order to the universe?

There is definitely order...but I don't believe in fate.

Why not?

I think you make your own fate. What you do today reflects what's going to happen to you tomorrow. People all have different potential, but if you stay in bed all day, your 'fate' is ruined.

Do you think you were meant to be a musician?

I feel driven to do it. When I do that, nothing else matters. The same way sports people on a soccer pitch say nothing else matters. I feel the need to create. I'm not meant to do it, but I am able.

What is your ultimate goal in music?

To keep doing it until I'm old. To be known as a great songwriter. I want to keep getting better and better. I want my music to be remembered.

You are a very prolific songwriter...have you ever thought about writing a book someday?

Hmm...I've never tried to write long things. I write songs and poems because they're short. That would be a cool thing to do though. Maybe if my travels give me experience I think people would want to hear...there would have to be a lot of pictures though.

How often do you get back home?

Not as often as you'd think. It's a busy schedule with touring and recording and everything. I'm happy if I'm home and I get to see the people I love a couple months of the year.

You come from a big family...what do your brothers and sisters think of what you do?

I am the oldest of 8 children and my youngest sibling is 6. They are the most important people in the world to me. We got a new mix in yesterday and I was listening to it with my little sister. She was bopping her head along. She loves it. They're all really happy for me and I like to get their opinions and share as much as I can.

Are you having fun?

I'm having a blast. It's amazing. I've already been to more places than I ever thought I'd be and we get to do more than we imagined.

So what's next?

Well, the record comes out at the end of April. Our first full-length. It's really exciting. And, we're waiting for confirmation on the next tour.

You have the next record already written?

[laughs] I am always writing. There is no shortage of material here.

Well good luck to you, my friend, and I hope to speak to you again...

Yeah! Let's do something after the record comes out and stuff.

Sounds good..take care

You too! Thanks AJ!