Haldern 2002
* Name: Seton Daunt
* Instrument: Guitar
* Born:
* Sign:
* Education: Art student
* Home: Hastings, Sussex, England
* Influences: grunge, Nirvana
* Previous bands: Santa's Boyfriend
* Likes: Italian food, Beer, Cooking
* What he'd be doing if he wasn't in a band : driving instructor
Getting ‘Wise’ with Fiction Plane
By Christina Baumgardner
The Villanovan
With all of the generic bands making its way onto the scene, Fiction Plane is a breath of fresh air. I recently sat down with Seton Daunt to ask him about touring, food and living the dream.
Christina Baumgardner: What’s it like touring with Something Corporate? Which one of the guys is your favorite?
Seton Daunt: Actually, we’ve all been getting along really well. They’re a really great group of guys. So no, I don’t really have a favorite member. I’m actually kind of sad that it [the tour] will be ending in a week or so. I think they’re great live. They’ve been doing it in a really great way.
CB: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen during a show?
SD: Last night was pretty crazy, actually. I think I saw eight people stage dive at the same time. It was pretty crazy to see synchronized stage diving. The other night Andrew from Something Corporate lit his piano on fire. Yeah, I’d say it’s been a pretty interesting tour, with flaming pianos and massive stage dives.
CB: Would you ever do “MTV Cribs,” and if so, what would they find in your refrigerator?
SD: The show looks to me like it’s forced, like it’s half-invented or something, but I like cooking. Mostly I like Italian food and beer, so I’d probably have pasta-type stuff and beer in my refrigerator.
CB: What’s your favorite song to perform live?
SD: I really enjoy all of them actually. I like all of our songs a lot, but the crowd seems to really enjoy, “Hate.” They’ve responded to it amazingly. Something Corporate has this really strong fan base that comes to the show, and we’ll get there and people really ready to listen to music. The crowd seems to enjoy “Cigarette” as well, and we’ve been messing with different versions of “Wise” during the live shows.
CB: Tag team match between Tony Blair and George W. Bush versus Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. Who wins?
SD: That’s an interesting way of describing world politics. No one wins with war. I mean, killing anyone is a bad thing. I don’t want my country to be invaded, but I also don’t want to invade another country. Basically, no one wins, it’s a void match. I’m definitely anti-war.
CB: Top three favorite bands?
SD: Right now I’m listening to a lot of Sigor Ros, an Icelandic ambient band which is great to just zone out with when you’re driving six hours. I also really like the Doves, and I enjoy the new Coldplay and System of a Down records.
CB: You and the other two members of Fiction Plane are long-time, good friends. What’s it like to play music with two of your best friends?
SD: It’s the best job in the world and it’s easier because we know each other well. If someone’s having a bad day, we know to give him space and how to deal with him. It really is nice to do this with my best friends. I wouldn’t want to be doing it with anyone else.
CB: If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
SD: I’d probably be really nervous about what to do with my life right now. I always wanted to play music, and I never had a backup plan because then I wouldn’t try as hard at music and I couldn’t be happier.
The former art student-turned-musician headed straight for London upon turning 18. A chance encounter led him to a meeting with Dan Brown, who was mightily impressed with the young guitarist.
"Dan and I got on musically," recalls Daunt, "and I was friends with them. I loved their shows; the music was so different from anything else going on, so much more experimental. Joe was a great songwriter and a strong front-man." Daunt joined the band and according to Sumner, "He changed everything, he added so much texture."
MCA records - 1/14/03
