BAND: Daphne Loves Derby
INTERVIEWER: Michelle Cruz (Michelle@bandvibe.com)
INTERVIEWEE: Kenny Choi of Daphne Loves Derby
DATE OF INTERVIEW: 05.6.07

BAND MEMBERS:
Stu Clay - drums
Kenny Choi - main vocals/guitar
Spencer Abbott - lead guitar
Jude Zasadzki - keys/tambo
David Sparks - bass/vocals

BV: How are you?
Kenny: I’m good.

BV: Have you guys ever played Bamboozle before?
Kenny: We played it at the left one – the one in California.

BV: Last year?
Kenny: It was this year. Wait…

David: Was it a year ago?
Kenny: It was last year. I’m sorry, haha.

BV: October, right?
Kenny: Yeah, yeah, Bamboozle Left.

BV: Were you excited about seeing anyone else playing here today?
Kenny: Oh, absolutely. I watched Brand New. I think that was the best part of the day so far. Most of the bands I wanted to see played yesterday, but we couldn’t go.

BV: What is your absolute favorite song to perform live and why?
Kenny: Um… I guess Cue the Sun, just because it’s a different kind of set, and it’s just really chill… it’s easy to play, but it still feels nice.

BV: I really loved your Acoustic EP.
Kenny: Right on.

BV: What made you guys decide to record one anyway?
Kenny: We were just home and we had nothing to do, so we just wanted to put out, like, some kind of EP – like a self-release. We had a bunch of old songs that we recorded, so we just put them all together.

BV: Why’d you guys decide to have a giant picture of you on the cover of Good Night, Witness Light?
Kenny: Oh, haha, we didn’t decide that. It was Asterik Studio; whoever made the artwork.

BV: It was interesting.
Kenny: Yes, it’s weird

BV: Has anyone else been, like, jealous of you just being on it?
Kenny: Oh, no. You can’t really tell it’s me since it’s just my body.

BV: A lot of the track titles in your latest album are quotes from The Truman Show. Was that just some random idea you had?
Kenny: Yeah, I wasn’t planning it from the beginning, but we watched it a couple of times in the studio when we were bored. I wasn’t feeling that creative on names I guess, so I was like, yeah, it kind of fit.

BV: If I were to visit Washington tonight, where would you recommend I go?
Kenny: Ooo, I say just Seattle, just because… it’s a big city, but it’s still really chill and it’s right by the water. There’s a lot to do.

BV: So, have you ever played football with Trevor Pryce?
Kenny: I wish. We’d probably die.

BV: Do you have your own music in your ipod or whatever music player you have?
Kenny: Yeah, yeah, I have our songs in my ipod.

BV: Do you sing along?
Kenny: Oh, no. I don’t sing along to any CD unless I’m driving and bored. That ruins the song… well, I’m not talking about our music. But yeah, I have our songs…especially, like, when we got the masters, so we can hear the final product.

BV: Do you guys manage the Daphne Loves Derby myspace page?
Kenny: Yeah, lately we’ve been doing it on tour a lot. We have nothing to do, so at night we just go on it… and complain about spam… or I don’t know. We’re losers, haha.

BV: You just ended a tour with Anberlin. Are you planning on touring again soon?
Kenny: Yeah, actually, we’ll be home for quite a while. Like, probably two months, then we’re going out with a band called The Rocket Summer. Then we’re doing some of Warped Tour and then probably another tour after that.

BV: So you’re psyched for Warped Tour?
Kenny: Yeah, it should be a lot of fun. Especially hanging out with all the other bands.

BV: Are you going to play all the dates?
Kenny: No, no, most likely just the west coast.

BV: Aww…
Kenny: But if we’re lucky, we’ll start in the east.

BV: If you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing right now?
Kenny: Probably graduating from college. I don’t know, haha. Something respectable, instead of this.

BV: What’s your favorite composition by Debussy?
Kenny: Clair de lune.

BV: Why did you guys decide to spell Debussie with an “ie”?
Kenny: Oh, I don’t know, I just wanted to do something kind of different instead of a y, so…

BV: I really love your new album.
Kenny: Thank you so much.

BV: No problem. What was it like working with Matt Squire?
Kenny: It was a lot of fun. He pushed us a lot when we needed it, but he was never trying to take control of the project or be like a big boss for no reason. Like, he knows how to work with amateurs like us really well, you know?

BV: Cue The Sun is my favorite. It’s literally been on constant repeat on my itunes.
Kenny: Oh no! Haha, you’re going to get sick of it real soon.

BV: I hope not! Do you actually take time to sit down and write these lyrics or does inspiration just hit you randomly?
Kenny: I start out writing little lines, I guess, like, when I’m driving… when I’m just in a really thinking mood, but I do sit down and finish the rest of the song to make sure it kind of goes together and flows.

BV: Okay, and finally… Do you have any last words for the readers of Bandvibe?
Kenny: Um… listen to your parents, haha.

For more information on Daphne Loves Derby, log onto:
+http://www.daphnelovesderby.com
+http://www.myspace.com/daphnelovesderby