Please tell us a little bit more about you... My name is Brandon Smith. I was born and raised in Southern California my entire life. I grew up thinking that I would be an artist, doing work designing things, or being an illustrator. I wont two worldwide art contests through Visa, back to back when I was 11, then again two years later and won a trip to the olympics in Norway and Atlanta. My father is also a musician, so there were always musical instruments around the house, the first one I remember messing around with was a drum machine and keyboard when I was about 8 years old. A few years later when I was 12, I picked up one of his guitars and convinced him to teach me how to play "Enter Sandman" and "Come as you are" by Nirvana. After that, I taught myself how to play songs I liked in my room. With a drum machine, I was able to learn rhythm and how to construct songs early on. Through highschool I played in local bands, but still thought I would be doing something artistic when I graduated. I wanted to design cars at the time, but once I graduated high school, something took over and music became everything to me. I would spend 20 hours a day writing, learning, practicing, for the next several years- just obsessed with it.

If I would ask you to paint a portrait of yourself, which colour would you choose first and what would the picture show us at the end? Why?
I would start with a white canvas, and black paint. I would prefer to paint the entire face black, and maybe do the eyes in red. I cant stand the way I look, so I woud like to avoid drawing in details that I hate about myself, especially in an self portrait because that is an extremely vulnerable way for someone to see you, where you could be taken either as a self gratifying person, or someone that is not very into themselves. The red eyes would signify the constant burning within that I live with.

Who was your idol when you were a teenager and who do you look up to now? I actually went through a few growing up. The main one was Brandon Lee- I dressed up as "The Crow" for about 15 years in a row for Halloween. Musically it was Gavin Rossdale, Kurt Cobain, Robert Smith, Billy Corgan- Always Vocalists that played guitar simultaneously. The artists I respect and look up to currently are MUSE and Innerpartysystem.

What role does music play in your life? Is it the most important thing in your life? I would say that the most important thing in my life is family and the small circle of people around me once I started realizing how short and pathetic life is, however without music I honestly do not think I could ever be the same, or function in society properly. Somehow it drives me insane, and keeps me sane at the same time. Usually a song takes about a week from start to finish, and during that week, I live, breath and eat that song. It is all I can think about, all I can dream about, I start hallucinating during the day about different notes I could be using, different vocal melodies, different lyrics, better tones, intros, outros etc. It consumes me worse than any drug or disease could. Most recent, I was in the shower, and got fixated on a chorus that I had been constantly changing around, and just started zoning out in there. Once I got out of the shower I realized I had been in there for about an hour and a half. Once the song is finished, it feels like I lost a part of my body that I need to immediately replace with something else to keep that creative energy going. The creative process I believe is what I absolutely live for.

What interests you most about making music? When did you notice that's absolutely the thing you want to do? The main thing that keeps me interested in music, is that fact that I end up hating just about everything I write. This constant struggle keeps me coming back for more, to try to remedy the poor songs choices I have made by creating something new that "fixes" the problem. Of course the cycle always ends up repeating itself, but that keeps me in the game to a certain extent.

"The Anix" ... When did you form and how did you get together? Did you know each other before? The band formed in 2001, however at this time is was an experimental idea. None of us really knew what the hell we were doing, and it was my first, and horrible attempt at singing. It took several years before I consider the band to officially have begun, when we released a short run of an album called "Double Zero"around 2003-2004. We have gone through several line up changes but this current lineup of myself, my brother Logan on drums, and one of my best friends Chris on guitar has been a close part of the band since its inception.

Last week I read an interview and the musician answered to the question: "The most stupid interview question is always the question about our band name." Ahhhhhh.... but I have to ask you :))) Where did you get your name from? :)
I wanted a name that was short and easy to remember. I also wanted something that when you hear, you automatically know that we are not a country band, or anything like that. I wanted something that sounded kind of high-tech, yet kind of retro- like The Cars, The Cure etc.

How would you describe your music? Our music is very electronic actually. I lose interest in a song if there is nothing out of the ordinary in it. I like to think we have big, wide choruses, and constrained, electronic verses. I guess it is kind of modern progressive electronic rock?

Who would you list as musical influence? MUSE, Innerpartysystem, Depeche Mode, Justice, Smashing Pumpkins

Where does your creativity come from and where do you get your inspiration from for your lyrics? Stephan Groth from Apoptygma Berzerk gave me a bit of very useful advice. He told me to always leave a voice recorder next to your bed. Most creative thoughts come to you when you are in that stage of almost asleep and almost awake. I have been trying to capture all the ideas I get when something comes to me during this time- especially in dreams. Lyrically I have always covered up disturbing personal messages with up beat lyrics with tons of metaphors being used to hide behind. I have always felt extremely embarrassed of people thinking I am crying out for help, so I construct the lyrics in ways that I personally satisfies myself, yet kind of hides the message at the same time. When people come to me, and figure it out, it is amazing to know that some people can read between the lines like that. I personally like the idea of myself dying. I live day to day in a constant feeling of pain, anger, bitterness, frustration, and the feeling that I am helpless to be able to help the people around me that need help- like I need to be the provider to these people and make them have better lives. I have been this way for about the last 12 years. The thought of death actually brings peace to myself, and elevates those constant thoughts I have during that moment that I fantasize about dying. I don't think it is anything to be afraid of, I actually look forward to it, and wish there was a quicker way out for myself actually.

Please tell us something about the recording process of a new album... I am trying to capture the electronic side of our music more than ever with the new album. Our last record "Demolition City" didn't exactly capture what we were going for, but now that we are in control, and have no time constraints, I can sit there for as long as I want tweaking things out until its right. This album has to be right, there is no other option.

Do you have your personal favourite song from the album "Demolition City"? "Don't save your breath" is my favorite from the album. It didn't come out sounding as massive as the demo did, but I like the drum and bass verses, and the way Logan did the drums there. The recording process was also a blast, and an experience I could never forget.

Let's talk about the video for "Half The World Away"? Where did you shoot the video? It looks hot there...? Is making videos important for you? We shot the video in Oregon in the san dunes. We wanted a location that was strange, and that felt like it was in another world. The sand dunes of Oregon are very odd, they have palm trees, and branches growing out of this white sand that you would expect to be surrounded by water on an island. Videos are extremely important, especially with youtube being as popular as it is. Unfortunately we are not a dancing dog, or hamster eating a carrot so we will never get anyone to see our videos on youtube, but still it is a great tool to have.

Are there any plans for another video at the moment? Yes actually. My friend Chris Do and I have been talking about doing a video for "Take my future". Chris is amazing beyond belief. He has done videos for Prince, and is a genius with post production type things. Keeping my fingers crossed that it happens!

Do you get much support from the media in the United States? no. America does not get us at all. Either that or we just suck, which is quite possible!

The Anix has toured throughout the United States and as support of Apoptygma Berzerk in Germany. Is the audience in the US different than in Europe? In America, on our last tour, we sold maybe 1 CD per night if we were lucky. In germany we sold pretty much everything we put on the table.

Can you describe a typical day on tour? How is your energy level? On tour, the goal is to preserve moral and energy for the night. I would try to sleep as long as possible to use all my energy in the set. On our last tour, I was opening with the Anix, and headlining with Apoptygma Berzerk, so I had to be very careful that I did not ruin either bands performance. A typical day would be driving all day, stop to eat, drive some more, stop to piss, drive some more, arrive at the venue, load in, soundcheck, get dressed, set up merch, eat something, perform, sell merch, talk to fans until doors close, clean up, pack up the gear, load the van back up, then drive to the hotel if we are lucky enough to be able to afford one that night, otherwise we would stay with a fan at their place, or sleep in the van. We have even slept in a mall once- that was pretty sweet because I had our own bathrooms!

Can you tell me some of your most important experiences and impressions? It's always nice to finally meet the fans that you have been sending out cds and shirts to for the past 6 years. Many of them are actually really cool people, that we have a lot in common with. Another great thing is being able to share shows with other bands, it feels kind of like you are on the same team-both of us are going for the same goal and have the same battles and struggles. I really liked touring with Aerodrone and Dismantled. We get along great with those guys and I loved watching them play every night.

What do you do normally after show? Relaxing or partying? Definitely relax- I think new bands, that have never toured, are in it to party, get drunk, laid, go site-seeing, but after a while when you see the bigger picture, you just want to make it as close to home as possible- you want normal, and you want quietness, and a soft bed with a clean bathroom.

Fans... how important are they to a bands development and how hard is it developing a fan base? Do you think the fact that we have social networking like Myspace, Youtube, Twitter or Facebook makes it easier to communicate with fans?
Fans are what it all revolves around. There is no point in me doing this interview if it weren't for fans. There is no point in me writing music, or making merchandise if there are no fans. We do EVERYTHING for them. The music business has been extraordinarily unrewarding for us, so the only payback we get is when someone likes what we are doing.

... You play also in Apoptygma Berzerk now. Can you tell us a little bit more about this? I met Stephan Groth through our manager Benjamin from Diesel Management. We first spoke on Skype and instantly I felt like I found a long lost friend. I like to think that Stephan is the more refined, smarter, better version of myself. We did a tour with APOP in Germany and got along with the guys insanely well, to the point where we were all swapping members for certain songs during each of our sets! Once the Apop members split, It was kind of a natural, painless step for me to join the band. I had been an APOP fans since the late 90's, so it is an absolute honor to be able to share the stage with such an amazing artist. When I play with APOP, I feel like I am at one with the music, every pluck of the string is filled with energy that I can not fake, it is real.

What are your visions and dreams Brandon? I feel my time here is going to be very limited. I can not see myself growing old, or having a traditional life. I want to go all out, and see the evidence that this is either working or failing, for sure, before I give up. Once I know the outcome of this, I can then decided what to do, or where to go, how to live, or how not to live. I really cant see my future, at this point I don't think I have a future to see or think about.

Have you ever been in a really dangerous situation and somebody/or something saved your life? When I was at the olympics in 2006, we were headed to the exact location of the Olympic park bombing. Due to traffic, we were late, and found that the bomb went off about 5 minutes after we were supposed to arrive. So traffic….traffic saved my life in 2006.

Do you believe in destiny? Yes, that is why I see my life as being so viscously black and white. I currently feel that my life is revolving around putting out this next album. I feel that it is absolutely sucking every drop of life out of me, and for that reason it just has to be my destiny. I could have been a doctor or a lawyer, but I chose music- the worst career in human existence, but it has to be for a reason.

Are you afraid of death? No, I welcome and look forward to it. I actually cant wait.

What is your biggest nightmare and why? Going blind. I am almost legally blind, in fact I am afraid to be tested, in fear that I am declared blind. My vision is horrible and getting worse by the day. Also losing my teeth, is a horrific thought.

... the best place on earth you have ever been? At home, in Southern California, when I was younger, and my family was still together, waking up to my mom cooking french toast, my dad cleaning the house, my dog next to me, brother and sister in their rooms. That was the best.

Are you working on new music at the moment? Of course, I have about 28 new ideas that I lose interest in after a day or so. Tomorrow I will start a new idea again, and hope it sticks!

What do you plan for your future? The immediate future is all I have. My plans are to release this new album, world tour with Apop towards the end of the year, then hopefully pull some strings to get something going with the Anix. The main goal right now, is to write the best album I can possibly every do. My entire life is going into this album, and I wont rest until it is perfect in my point of view.

Will you ever play in Ireland? :) It would be a dream I could only wish for!

The last words belong to you... To the fans - Just know that no matter who you are, how popular you are, how rich, how poor, how cool, or how smart you are, we do it all for you.