This Interview was originally written for MyEarsBleed.com, and is used with permission.
How does your solo material evolve with your live band?
I believe the songs structure stays how they are in general, but live we are able to broaden the atmosphere and musical feelings of the songs. We really just get the song done with and then jam with it for another 5 minutes off the top of our head. Allowing everyone to freely express themselves how they like.
Who are some of your influences?
I am highly influenced by travel and the world. New towns and the histories they hold. Street people who have stories to tell inspire me too. My second most destructive influence is love and relationships.
What inspires you to write music?
Sadness Inspires my best songs believe it or not. I don’t want to be sad, but when I am it comes out more then when the sun is out and shining.
I’ve seen you cover Manu Chao live, what other bands do you plan on covering live?
I cover a spoon song called, “I summon you.” That’s pretty much all I have planned on covering right now. I don’t like to botch up songs. Ha-ha.
What kind of guitar do you play live?
I play whatever I can get my hands on. I have a Takamine acoustic guitar that I usually play but it just broke about 5 minutes ago when it fell off my back into the street corner in Portland. 
You are giving away you’re EP for free, why did you choose to do this as opposed to selling CDs?
Cause the songs are all works in progress. I’m still trying to find myself in this world and I think the songs and songs to come have not yet reached there full potential.
What is the story of “Poncho and Hombre” about?
It is the story of myself (Aaron Novak) and Edrei McCabe. It’s a friend of mine that I’ve had for a long time. We’ve been friends since I was 13. One day we split ways and ever since then he’s been in and out of jail for stupid stuff like robbing K-mart for $15,000 dollars and tons of other stuff. That was sort of our names when we were younger to each other: Poncho and Hombre.
Who is Harry (from Harry The Ghost)?
Harry the ghost is about your average greedy rich man who cheats on his wife and lies and steals. And then one day he dies in a car accident on the way home from his mistresses house and becomes a ghost forced to watch his family grow up and his wife get remarried and all of his possessions that meant so much to him get thrown out the window. No one in general but, could be someday.
We love the cover art to your record who did the artwork and where did the idea come from?
I did the artwork on my spare time. I wrote most of my songs during trips through Mexico and always love it for that reason. The cover reminds me of a lonely mariachi traveling through a silent crackling desert.
How is your tour going? Any good stories you’d like to share?
We have tons of stories to tell. Like almost getting stomped on by the famous Bush Man in san Francisco or finding Bigfoot in the Humboldt wilderness, or playing at the Hempstock in Oregon. But we have much left to go. We’ve got good tents and always find a way to eat. Were meeting lots of different kinds of people from playing on street corners and different parts of different cities. Being lost helps sometimes.
Vinyl, Cassette, CDs or MP3s… What’s your vice?
Definitely vinyl when I have the chance to indulge in a collection. Nothing compares to the larger art on the sleeve and case. The smell of the record. The texture designs in different pressings and most definitely the sound.
