Punktuation-What is the name of your project?
Q And Not U.
P-What would you say would be your classification and how do you guys sound?
QANU-Homosapiens and loud.
P-How long have you all been playing together?
QANU-Our band started in the autumn of 1998, and played our first shows during the early winter of that year.
P-Where is the 'q' from?
QANU-Our band resides in Washington D.C. and vicinity. If you're asking about the origin of the letter Q itself, I'm not quite sure.
P-Were any of you in any bands prior to 'Q And Not U'?
QANU-John's band was most notable. They were called Corm. When Corm broke up in 1997, the remaining members went on to form a band called the Elusive, which I also joined. At that time, Harris was playing in a band called the Glenmont Sound System. And don't forget his high school band Daddy Warbucks and the ESP. Hott with two Ts..
P-Why is it that you guys play the music that you do and not, say, calypso, or baroque?
QANU-Because we're free to exploit elements of calypso or baroque or whatever we like. This scene is rare and beautiful in that it often rewards expanding parameters.
P-What is the history of the band? How did it all come together and where has it taken you?
QANU-When John's and my old band broke up in the summer of 1998, we teamed up with my high school friend Matt and started playing as a trio. Soon Harris' band broke up, so we asked him to join us on guitar. Things worked out splendidly. We've been lucky to go on a number of tours across the country and befriend a lot of magnificent people. Most recently we divorced our former bassist Matt, and we're continuing on as a trio.
P-What do you all do apart from the band?
QANU-How do we pay the rent? Harris works at a restaurant, John works at a video store, and I work at a newspaper. As for other interests, hmmmmm. John and Harris both love movies quite a bit. I'm going ice skating for the first time in 10 years this weekend. I'm excited and a little scared.
P-How does the band affect your personal lives and vice versa?
QANU-Immeasurably.
P-What do you guys deal with in your songs, and generally how do the songs come together?
QANU-Our band has always been a complete democracy, so writing takes time. One of us usually introduces a part or idea, and then we just expound on it from there.
P-How did you land being on Dischord Records?
QANU-We asked Ian MacKaye to come to a show one day and he was into it. Our relationship just started to bloom from there. He recorded our first 7", and then went on to record our album. When we were all finished, we asked him to put it out and he said yes. I've really simplified this story, but the details are totally boring. Zzzzzzzzz.
P-What albums/eps/singles/demos have you guys recorded? Of those, which is your favourite, and which song do you like the most?
QANU-Our first single was called "Hot and Informed" and our first album was called "No Kill No Beep Beep." You know what they say about choosing favorites. But whenever I pick up a guitar at the music shop, 9 times out of 10 I play "End the Washington Monument Blinks Goodnight."
P-Who are some of your guys' influences and current favourite bands? Any bands we should keep an eye out for?
QANU-I've been listening to...
The Smithsonian Anthology of American Folk Music, Danzig "I" and "IV," Dungeon Family "s/t," The Microphones "The Glow Pt. 2," Marley Marl's Greatest Hits, Tears for Fears "Songs from the Big Chair," Morrisey's Greatest Hits, Beatles "Revolver," Morton Feldman "Only," and the Wailers "Burnin." I expect big things from Black Eyes, Aloha, Erase Errata, and El Guapo in 2002.
P-If you could play with any four bands past or present, who would they be?
QANU-These next three questions are really tough, so rather than sound too self-important, I'm just going to say the first thing that comes to my mind...
Led Zep, Woodie Guthrie, Sade, Queen. And if you consider Woodie and Sade solo artists, then I would say the Las and the Shangri Las.
P-If you could meet one person in this world past or present, who would that be?
QANU-Rembrandt.
P-If you could DO one thing to change this world, what would that be?
QANU-Everyone would be loved.
P-If you have any final words of wisdom or general comments, what might they be?
QANU-Sorry if the last three responses sounded cheezy. That's what happens when it's flying off the cuff! My general words of advice for the music consuming public would be: Demand the best, love the good, hype is sin.