What was the deciding factor for the band to leave Saddle Creek and form
your own label?

As we were completing each past album we always flipped a coin to see if
Saddle Creek should release it or whether we should release it on our own.
This time the coin landed heads up, so we went with it. You can't fuck
with fate.

Has doing it on your own been all you'd hoped it would be?

Yes.

So far, what have been some of the greatest benefits and drawbacks?

It is a lot of work and money to get something new going but I believe it
was the right thing to do and it will be what's best for our future.

Same question as above in regard to building your own studio, and what
were some specifics you insisted on to make it suitable for The FAINT.

I picked all the gear that was going into it and we have one whole side of
the control room dedicated to synths, so that right there makes it pretty
specific to us.

Will you be working with any other bands on your label blank.wav?

A new Broken Spindles album called Kiss/Kick will be released on Feb.17.
Hopefully we will be able to afford to release more records in the future.

If you added an arcade to the blank.wav office, what games would you have?

Robotron 2084 is my favorite arcade game.

There was only a gap of a year or two between the albums Media, Blank-Wave
Arcade, and Dance Macabre, then 3-4 years between those and Wet From Birth
and Fasciinatiion. What are the reason(s) for the longer times between releases?

As we make more music it gets harder to surprise ourselves. We also tour
exponentially more after each consecutive album.

Will having your own studio expedite the next release?

Time will tell...

In 2001 MOVEMENT magazine named The Faint as "the first must-hear band of
the 21st Century" and you continue to make groundbreaking and
genre-defining music that influences many other bands. Do you ever
consider this when recording? And what music influences your sound?

Nope. I really only care about pleasing myself and my bandmates. I guess
I am selfish.

The band has always been very visual arts-oriented, what artists do you
appreciate?

I have been trying to go to art museums when I have a chance on this tour.
I have seen a lot of great visual art in the last couple of months. Harry
Callahan is my favorite photographer. Franz Kline is my favorite painter.

In Orlando, Todd told the audience that they were the biggest crowd you
guys had seen in that city for your shows. Have you had the same
turnout/fan fervor on the other dates of this tour?

Actually, Todd was wrong. We have consistently had really good shows in Orlando.

Is there a real life story behind "Take Me To the Hospital?"

No story, it is a song.

What is next for The FAINT?

Some dinner.

www.thefaint.com