For this first record with Island, how much of the songs were written in between not being on a label versus how much was written once you were signed to Island?
Vasquez: We probably recorded like 30 songs, and about half of those were written before being signed to Island, and about half after. Before we were signed to Island, we had to do everything on our own, mainly because if we did it with RCA money they would have owned it, so we kind of knew from the day the first record came out that we just had to stick around long enough to make a second record. But we kind of knew we were screwed with RCA at that point, so we did write about half before signing with Island, and the others once we got some money from Island.

Noelle: Yea, we had about an albums worth, but Island was like, "Yea, keep it going and keep writing and we will give you a budget." Island really wanted a good album from us and wanted us to have the resources to do the best we can.

Did you notice a difference in the music once you were signed, whether it was with attitude or even sound?
Vasquez: The initial song we wrote was Tonight, and that has a sound that is reminiscent of the sound of our first record. That was sort of the bridge to the first record, but after that our music started going in all different directions and sounding completely different and you get songs like When You Live and Outta My Way.

Noelle: But it still has that genuine sound that I think we have.

Vasquez: It is the sound of your bedroom, literally. That is basically what you are hearing, is songs written and recorded in Noelle's bedroom.

You had the experience of the large venue with Rolling Rock Town Fair, but most of your time was in a van playing small clubs. Was there ever a time when you left RCA that you thought the band would had to take 9-5 jobs and call it quits?
Vasquez: I never really thought that we were completely screwed, I just felt like it was going to be another challenge for the band. I mean change is never an easy thing.

Noelle: We never really thought to give up because of one setback. We have been doing this music thing for a good amount of time.

Vasquez: But we did get some jobs, too.

Noelle: Yea, we did have some pretty crappy jobs, although my job wasn't really that bad.

Vazquez: I had like a 6pm-2am job, but we had to do what we had to for the band.

When you signed with Island, how much time was spent celebrating versus how much was it just a reason to get down to business and start focusing on a new record.
Vasquez: I don't think we ever spend a lot of time patting ourselves on the back. I think for any band, not just us, getting signed to a label is not the finish line. That is just where the work really starts to begin.

Noelle: But there was some fun and good morale after the showcase we did. Island pretty much decided on the spot to sign us, and we all went out afterwards. And it was very emotional for us. We started crying and it just felt good. We were pumped for the chance to be with Island.

What is great about Damone is the stripped-down rock sound the band has, and Vasquez mentioned earlier about not taking RCA money to record. How much is that stripped-down sound chosen by the band and how much was by necessity?
Vasquez: Well, with the way technology is nowadays, a band can do almost anything from home. We can do basically what any other band, even huge bands, are doing. So to do it on our own and not pay some studio some outrageous fees does not mean we have to suffer in quality, but it gave us money to get a bad-ass mixer to really work the songs and make them sound great. That is what we did and that is what we did with the first record. I mean the mix is an art form in itself.

The band gets a lot of comparisons to 70s and early 80s rock, is that really the influence of the band or just a sound that is produced when you get together and play?
Vasquez: I think the four of us listen to all different styles of music...

Noelle: But it is fun to play this style of music and just glam it up and have a good time.

Vasquez: Basically, there is a common denominator in what we all like and that is melody, and that is the one constant in our music.

Noelle: But it really is also about having fun and celebrating being in a band.

Vasquez: I think people need it. We have been out here and on the road for a while and I think people want to be positive and have fun. We go out and talk to people afterwards and one guy was saying he was leaving for Iraq in the next week. I was like, "Fuck," you know? So that helps give us a perspective that what we did in our room makes it to other people's rooms and making life on the road not so hard to deal with.

So many people see simplicity, as a negative when it comes to music, but I think one of the great attributes of Damone is the simplicity of the music.
Vasquez: That is why they have unplugged records; it is that easy.

Noelle: Exactly. It is all about the song and how well it can be played by itself without any technology behind it.

You mentioned these are "songs from Noelle's bedroom." During that recording time, how much emphasis was on technically-perfect takes versus takes that just sound right?
Vasquez: The thing about doing it on your own is there are no studio fees, so you can keep working so there are no screwed up chords or mishaps, because we have all day to do it. So everything was experimenting, and trying things in different ways whereas being in the studio you have to pay for all that time. When you are in Noelle's house, we can do whatever we want.

So, did you ever think your house would be the studio for your band?
Noelle: Oh yea, it was so cool. But I have always liked studios because there are a lot more instruments at your fingertips, but being in the comfort of my own house definitely helped a lot. And having a limited number of instruments meant we really had to work with what we had, but definitely a good trade-off.

With that comfort and having no real time table because there are no studio fees, how hard was it to stay focused on the recording?
Noelle: Yea, I mean being in a comfort zone can make you kind of take it easy for a little bit. So maybe we did a little. I mean, it took two years to record this record, so we definitely took our time, but we also had a set schedule of when we would be working on the record, and it was usually just around whatever time we could get together. Justin and I had a lot of time because it was his and my apartment. Our engineer was living with us, too, so he was always up and ready to roll when we were, but it was also very relaxed and that was cool.

The thing I hear over and over again from bands on Island is how they sort of make all their bands an extended family. Have you felt any of that since signing?
Vasquez: I remember when we first signed with them, they were like, "Hey why don't you come to New York and see Motley Crue with us?" And so we get there and all the people from the label were frigging trashed, and I was like, "Wholly crap!"

Noelle: Yea, it was totally like one big party.

Vasquez: I don't know how they get any work done, I really don't know. But I don't question it because look at the success of their bands.

Noelle: But they do, man. They make it happen. They all hang out together and get their shit done.

Vasquez: The people that work at Island are like their own band, basically. That is the best way to put it.

The thing about Island is they are one of the few labels that grow bands rather than see what sticks. Now that you are on tour again, but with a different label, do you see any difference in how the band is acting on the road?
Vasquez: For us, it is like the second time around, and to be honest, this time is a lot more fun for us. This is the easiest thing in the world. We are totally lucky to be able to do what we do and to have the bad happen before the good just makes us appreciate what we are doing even more. We have it made! I mean, all the bands out there with sour pusses on, I am like "What the hell is wrong with you?" I mean, go flip burgers and see how you feel about that. So it really is amazing and we feel really great about where we are at right now.

Talking earlier, Vasquez mentioned the story about the guy going to Iraq the next week, you hear stories about how your music affects people, does it ever shock you how music you created has affected people you never met?
Vasquez: Definitely. We were in Connecticut earlier this week and this girl had part of the lyrics to When You Live tattooed on her back. That is just like, wow. I don't even know what to say to something like that.

Noelle: It definitely makes you feel all warm and mushy inside.

Vasquez: You really don't know what to say about something like that. And it is always cool to get up there and play, but it is even more cool to be able to talk to people because without our fans, there is no us.

Is it strange how fans will come talk to you about things you know they are not talking to their parents about, or maybe even their friends?
Noelle: Yea, it can be.

Vasquez: I think so. I am just a guy in a band, I am not a dad.

Noelle: What is really cool is the whole Myspace think, too. There is this one kid who probably sends us a message like every other day about things he has been up to.

Vasquez: Yea, I know whom you are talking about.

Noelle: Yea, he seems to be really athletic, and he will tell us about the different events he participated in, or if he scored a goal or something.

Damone also is one of the few bands I have seen that has the most personal and random Q&A section to the site. It is not contrived by a PR person somewhere, these are just random questions you get, correct?

Vasquez: Exactly. You don't want to just answer all the typical shit like, "When are you coming back to North Carolina?"

Noelle: I answer all the questions, even the ones that are asked over and over again, and maybe even the ones I don't have answers for. But that is where the randomness comes in. It is just usually me being bored.

Vasquez: Yea, there is nothing too bizarre that is being asked. Most of it has been very reasonable. Nothing like, "Can I have a lock of your hair?"

Noelle: I have been asked to the prom.

Vasquez: I have been asked to the prom as well. I would totally go too, if I weren't on tour. That would be hysterical.

I guess I should ask about Bullets and Octane and this tour, since that is where we are. They also have that stripped down rock sound, though more like Sunset Strip-style rock I think. Now Buckcherry is back, too. How do you feel about just straightforward rock coming back again?
Vasquez: For us, it is very exciting. This first tour for us is Bullets and Octane, us and Valiant Thorr. We all have this long hair and it just feels like a rock show should, hopefully like they felt in the 80s. Obviously, we weren't a part of it then, but I hope we are giving that same kind of vibe to the fans. It has been a great tour; these are all great guys.

Noelle: It has been a great match up; I have loved this tour.

Any plans after this?
Vasquez: Definitely. We are going to do some big radio shows, and then another small tour with a band called The Lashes. So we are just getting everything figured out now. But chances are we will be somewhere around where you live at some point this summer; and hopefully more than once.