Would there be a core that was the same in each?
Mark: I don’t know how it would play out, but if people have been around for a while obviously they would have a part in producing it. Maybe Jessica would audition for choir member
Jessica: (laughing) Someone to play the spot of Jessica.

In another interview, Tim mentioned how he enjoys the fact that there are no competing egos in this band compared to those in smaller bands. Is that true?
Mark: Well, the thing is it's clearly defined that this is Tim’s vision and Tim’s idea. We are aiding in his creative endeavor. But, there’s always egos. Don’t be fooled. I mean, it’s just like anything else. You get a large group of people together and you have factions and cliques and inter-personal dynamics.

How does that work during the recording and writing process?
Jessica: It's actually good because you get people from all kinds of mindsets that come in with their creative pattern that you might never have thought about. But, Tim usually comes in with a skeleton of a song and then Mark will sit around and try something on his bass, or someone will try something with percussion…it seems like most of the time it just morphs into something. It might be too limited if it was just one person’s vision.
Mark: Jessica is right, there is a unique combination of creativity from bringing in other people. It's invaluable and in a way makes Polyphonic Spree what it is.

Mark, when you first heard Tim’s idea for this band back in the day, did you really think it would work?
Mark: Well, I’ve known Tim for a long time and I know when he does something he swings for the upper deck. The guy knows how to get what he wants. When he sees something in his head, or he gets a vision, he knows how to go right for it and make it happen. When he explained it to me I was thinking yeah, it’s pretty cool, but it’s a big undertaking. It actually came together pretty quickly. It didn’t take long for me to say, yeah, I can see how this is going to work.

I think for me the most important thing about being in this band is that this is pushing the envelope of everything. People can be skeptical, whatever, but the great thing about it is when you put it on paper this isn’t supposed to work. People would tell us all the time “you’ll never get outside of Dallas with this." Well, the first time we went outside of Dallas we went to London . It’s like whatever obstacle is put in front of this band we either bulldoze right over it, move around it, or something from the universe comes in. It’s pretty incredible.

To me, that’s what the exciting this is. We are the forefront of pioneering something- not just musically but a way of doing something. The music on the street is in a big state of flux right now; there couldn’t be a better time for Polyphonic Spree in a lot of ways.

What can we expect from the new album?
Mark: Beginning Stages... was recorded in a matter of days. The band had only been together for a little while...it was supposed to be a demo. This record sort of fills in the gap from that point to the present. The song writing is more evolved and the conviction of the band is more solidified. It’s a whole ‘nother animal. When we first started we had 13 members, now we have 23.. There is a bigger pallet of sounds and instrumentation. It’s definitely.. someone coined the phrase “it sounds like the earth giving birth” and “as epic as a grand canyon” or something like that. And if we can even come a fraction to that, I think we’ll be doing what we set about doing.
Jessica: I think for the listener who has the first album, the new album is more like what you experience live. When you put it on headphones it’s so tasty and there’s all these little tidbits. Every time you listen to it you’re like “Aw man, is just so yummy ! It’s so good!” … In my opinion.
Mark: We are biased.
Jessica: It will definitely be something you can take with you and jam in headphones or in your car and feel like you’re there [at the show]. I know it was recently made in a 5.1 fashion if you have surround sound at your home…You can feel it all around you. If you really love music and you love the band I think you’re going to be very pleased.

World peace, Hedwig, thong bikinis...Page 4
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