---Portrait of Another is an unusual name for a band. What inspired you to choose this as the band name and why?

JIM: I shall answer your question with another question: what inspired you to choose the name xr volume?   

 

---What has been the response from your fans after releasing your self-titled debut album? Why did you choose that particular photograph for your album cover instead of a more mainstream, emo-esque cover commonly seen in today's music industry?

JONATHAN: We've had a great response so far...we've sold over 1000 so that's pretty exciting for us. Myspace and iTunes have been a huge help because we've been able to get the songs out to new fans in different parts of the country who may not have otherwise been able to hear our music. About our album cover: we tried to avoid going for a trendy "emo-esque" cover because I don't think that's really being true to who we are. I like the cover we picked because it conveys a message of hope with the light shining through the trees and whatnot...the idea of beauty breaking in to a dark space.    

 

--- How did you come together as a band? Who were the founding members and what steps have you gone through to ensure that everyone is on the same page and is focused musically on the success of this band?

ROSS: We were all friends before we started play together as a band. I think that's how it will be long after Portrait of Another steps out of the "limelight". A friend of ours named Alex Mejias actually started the band before embarking on a solo career. We all met at the University of Virginia. We all have the same motivation for writing and performing music so we're never really had a problem when it comes to being on the same page.    

 

---After you guys have been playing together for a while, do you think you are writing in terms of what you hear in your head or the direction the band is going?

ROSS: We write the music we hear in our heads and we write lyrics that speak about important stuff. Bands run into trouble when they start writing to please an audience. So we just do our thing and we feel like it's improving all the time.    

NICK: We just write the kind of songs that we'd like to listen to. If you don't like your own music, how can you expect others to?    

 

---Which song in your set list is the most important to you? What is the message you want to get across to your fans by that song?

NICK: Our favorite song is one that we haven't yet recorded. It's called "Someday" and the message we're trying to get across to our fans in that song is that there is hope. When you look around at the world today a lot of times things look hopeless--- addiction, crime, hatred, depression, etc. "Someday" is about hope and that's why a lot of times we play is as the last song in our set. Hopefully we'll have a live version up on our myspace sometime next week.    

 

---If you could perform on any stage, anywhere, where would it be and why?

NATE: I dunno, the NorVa was pretty high on the list, and we actually had the privilege of headlining there in April. My life is pretty much complete.    

NICK: We'd like to arrange an entire tour where Switchfoot and U2 are our opening acts. Do you have any connections at XR Volume that could arrange such a tour?    

 

---Think back to your first gig. What do you remember most about it?

JONATHAN: It was a disaster! We played a 4 song set at a bar in Charlottesville and none of us could hear a thing and we broke 2 guitar strings. We had also just met our drummer for the first time and we didn't really know the songs we were playing...but it was a blast.    

 

---A lot of artists, in order to stay creative and playing at a high level, enjoy doing things outside of music.What are some of the things you all enjoy doing when you aren't performing or touring? Any sports, activities, hobbies, etc.?

NATE: Basketball, attempting to band-fund meals, etc.    

JONATHAN: Soccer, hanging out with our wives and girlfriends, studying?    

 

---What do you hope the future holds for you guys?

JONATHAN: There's really no way to tell. I think we'll just keep doing our thing, writing songs, improving as a band, and playing as many shows so great to us over the past few years so as long as there are people out there who enjoy our music we'll keep working at at. Hopefully there is a new record or EP in the near future.    

JIM: We'd like to get our music out into new markets. Right now we're taking it one show at a time.    

 

---With no new monster bands this decade like Bon Jovi, Metallica, Kiss, and Led Zeppelin, how does a band get noticed and make a living now?    

NATE: The cool thing I think is that there's no formula today for getting big. Video-tape yourselves dancing on treadmills and post it on YouTube and bam--- Ok Go is going places. The internet has revolutionized the process of getting your music to fans. Be the iTunes Free Single of the Week. Do an online interview with XR Volume......    

---What or who has been the major influence on the musical style you have?    

NICK: Bands such as Copeland, Jimmy Eat World, the Police, DMB, Jars of Clay and singer/songwriters such as John Mayer and Stevie Wonder have all had huge influences on the music we write. There's so many more...Maybe we've ripped off enough people that we now have our own distinct sound. Just kidding.    

---What would you have done if you had not chosen music as your career?    

JONATHAN: A few of us would be in school and some of the others would have fancy-pants business jobs.    

JIM: I'd still be in the Philippines.    

---What is the funniest or strangest experience you've had while performing and/or touring?   

JONATHAN: Well this doesn't really count as strange or funny, but being backstage at the NorVa was the coolest experience we've had so far as a band. There's a basketball court, hot tub, pool tables, showers, etc. It's ridiculous.    

ROSS: It was tempting to just hang out back there all night instead of going out to play music. But in the end we did the right thing and got out of the hot tub.