(June 27, 2007) PCM's Katelyn had the opportunity to speak with Jeremy Smith the pianist for Days Difference. Through this interview I learned the ironic way the band met up and how a group of siblings isn't a recipe for disaster - in fact, it's quite the opposite. So read on to learn more about this up and coming band of brothers!

Jeremy: Hi this is Jeremy from Days Difference.

Katelyn: Hey whats going on Jeremy this is Katelyn from PopCultureMadness! How are you doing today?

J: I'm doing well, how are you?

K: I'm doing pretty good. So is it just you there or are you guys all around or what's up?

J: It's just I.

K: Ok not a problem. So just a few questions for you thanks so much for speaking with us today. So you guys formed in 2004 right?

J: Yes we did.

K: And how did both sets of brothers meet up?

J: Originally my brother and I were in a band we left it and we were well our friend invited us to a school concert and we decided to go we really didn't want to but we were like whatever lets just go and went. We actually met the other two brothers for the first time on stage basically. Their keyboadist and drummer for that show actually totally missed it they didn't call or anything they just weren't there. So our friend told them there are two guys one plays piano and one plays drums they can fill in. So that's when we first met. And we really clicked had great chemistry and after that we formed the band.

K: Wow that's awesome. So are you a Smith brother than?

Jeremy: Yes I'm Jeremy Smith and I play piano. My brother is Jonathan and he plays
drums.

K: Ok awesome so do you think the fact that you guys are siblings has aided or kind of hurt the band in ways?

J: It's definitely helped it we Its kind of cool cause we kind of have this connection with each other that I think some guys would have difficulty ever having or developing. My brother and I are really close; the other two guys are really close to each other and so once we made the band it really took care of issues you would have I guess with egos. It's been a great help. I think we can probably annoy each other more than other guys could because we are brothers and we know how to get on each others nerves, but ultimately it helps just because we have that connection with each other.

K: Yea definitely. What's the big age difference with you guys is there much of any?

Jeremy: I'm nineteen, our bassist, Micah is twenty, the guitarist Jeremiah is twenty one, and john is twenty. So we are close.

K: Well that's awesome then. So before this band did you guys have your own projects?

Jeremy: Not really we played with different bands kind of off and on at our church and they played at their church. We were just getting out of the church music scene and we were kind of tired of it and just wanted to start a normal rock band. It was perfect timing how it all just came together and we just did that.

K: Sounds like it. Also seeing with the timing I read that two of you left college, one forwent a scholarship and the fourth left a job. If you guys didn't go ahead with this band what do you think you'd be doing right now?

J: If I weren't in the band right now I'd probably be going to music school and being in another band. I mean music is my biggest passion so you know.

K: Do you think regret not going to college right now or do you definitely think this is the right path to be going?

J: I think it's the right path. The music scene is kind of fickle and it changes a lot and sometimes you only have one shot to do things and I think sometimes guys love music but they decide ok I'm going to college or I'll get a job and then when I have enough time I'll do music, but by the time they are finally there they are thirty years old and its just passed their time. College is always going to be there and it's something I can always turn to you know. And the connection with the guys that we all share I just think it's something completely unique so I think I'd be foolish to pass it up. I would never want to look back and say what if I had had pursued it what would of happened you know?

K: Right especially because it seems like you guys are doing so well just starting off and everything. Jumping back to high school were you big concert goers because it sounds like music is your life so obviously you probably went to a bunch of shows?

J: It's kind of funny because the first rock concert I ever went to ironically was actually in El Salvador.

K: Oh! Really?

J: I didn't go to a lot of shows initially when I was a teenager just because I wasn't too interested in the whole band scene. I guess the closest concert I've ever been to was playing with the band in that sense, but once the band started out and I really started getting into other bands music than yea we love going to concerts. And it's kind unfortunate because there are so many good bands that come to our area, but we usually have shows as they play.

K: What would you say are some of your top bands that influence your music?

J: We all pretty much enjoy the same bands some influence more than others I guess bands we love are Coldplay, John Mayer, Incubus, Chevelle, Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Used, and bands like that just to name a few.

K: Oh yeah, definitely, it's funny because whenever I was listening to your CD the first thing I thought was Coldplay which is such a great band and you guys sort of have that same tone and it's really good music.

J: Thank you, thank you.

K: I was just curious though it sounds like you guys do a lot of shows what type of atmosphere do you want your fans be around, what can they expect when coming to your shows?

J: Right now as far we'd like to see, we'd love to see an atmosphere that's just a great rock show with an amazing sound and music that will move them people can go to the show and really feel the music and be involved with it even emotionally. Right now it's kind of hard to accomplish that because it's going to happen that you play places you don't really want to before you can play the ones that you want to. That's just how it is you know? So when we play in a hole in the wall bar its kind of difficult to emulate that atmosphere. That's definitely our goal. I mean for us I think the bigger the platform the better our music sound in just a bigger area.

K: Yea, so it seems like next week you'll be touring around with the band is this the first time you guys will be going to a bunch of shows or is this normal for you guys?

J: This is the first time we will be going to out of town shows. We are actually playing the American Music Festival June 30th which is a Saturday and after that we have some dates I think in Illinois and Michigan. So this is actually our first experience with being out of town.

K: That's exciting then.

J: And we just signed with this booking agency called Milestone so beginning in September we're just going to start hitting the road about twenty eight days out of a month. I guess that's when we will really start working full time and these next months will kind of be like a warm up.

K: That's a good way to go. Before you guys go with Milestone will you have the luxury of a big bus or will you be using a soccer mom van? How are you guys going to get around?

J: We actually use the twin cab Chevy. We like it because it's better than a van as far as mileage and everything and less likely to flip over.

K: So now the inevitable interview question are any of you guys in a relationship or do you guys think it's too hard to have a relationship while focusing on the band?

J: Oh no I mean if you are in a relationship you really have to put the band first at this point in our lives. Once we go on and we are actually getting married and stuff like that I mean obviously you'll put marriage first in that sense, but for now are primary focus is on music and on the band, not on girls!

K: Sounds good. Well it seems like you guys are pretty easy going and looking for fun so I'm sure during this whole experience a lot of fun will arise. So I have to ask you I watched your YouTube video and there was definitely a scene where some poor soul was stuffed into the equipment box.

J: Yes yes that was I.

K: Haha I just had to know because I'm such a claustrophobic person and I saw that and I was dying for whomever it was.

J: My dad said the same thing when he saw it he said he was so nervous, but he was happy that it showed me actually getting out of the box. The funny thing was I was actually upside down in the box.

K: Are you serious?

J: Yea it was so hot in there! You'd be surprised how hot it can get in confined space.

K: I can only imagine.

J: It's funny because the owner of the store was actually coming over to the case and was going to flip me over and push me down, but the guy who helped us buy the case was nice enough to defend me.

K: That is very nice, so can we be expecting more YouTube videos with crazy antics on it?

J: Yea we actually just put up another one just doing stuff like you have to watch it, but we have a swimming pool in back yard so we were just doing stuff on our pool.

K: I think I actually saw that one it's of someone doing a back flop and attempting to do some other flips.

J: Yes yes a back flop very painful, but yea we bought a camera for when we are on tour so we just take clips and we are going to put stuff together. Hopefully we will make people laugh!

K: The music video that was on your MySpace did you put that together yourself or did you have some help with that?

J: We worked with this guy locally his name Scott Hansen he is a director so we really worked with him just to gather the vision for what we wanted for the video and went from there.

K: Very cool, well thanks again and I'm sure we will be hearing a lot more from you guys and maybe even a few more YouTubes. Best of luck to you guys!

J: Thank you very much.