T3M: I'm looking forward to seeing you guys perform live next week. How is the tour going so far?

JL: The tour is going pretty well. It's kind of starting up again, this time with more people.

T3M: Listening to Vol. II, I get the sense that there was a different energy flowing between you guys than had existed while recording Vol. 1. How has the experiences of the past couple of years shaped the relationships between the band members?

JL: I think we've gotten used to accentuating our very distinct styles, or just playing with each other. It's more of a natural feel on Vol. II, even though not a lot has changed. We deliberately put together works that sounded good together. That's why those works were selected for Vol. 1 and Vol. II, and with that being said, there is the new work on there, Aftermath and Ten Ton Brick. That's completely new, and a whole different thing. As much as you can tell what HURT sounds like, that's kind of a new version of it.

T3M: Do you feel that music should inspire the listener, the performer, or both?

JL: I don't think that it necessarily has to inspire the performer. I believe that's what the performer practices for, but in our particular case it really does inspire.

T3M: What are some things in your life that keep you going, or that keep you trying to be creative?

JL: Personally it just the fact that, if you think you've done it... and if you think you're there... then why would you do anything? You should probably stop before you mess it up. And if you're not going to do anything, then why are you alive? So I plan on going on living and I plan on going on making music. Hopefully, music that will mean something to people, just as much as it has before.

T3M: How would you describe being in your shoes for one day.

JL: It's a long day. I would describe the day as being very long. It's kind of strange, because I still don't have a very high opinion of myself, and I hear so many kind words said to me that I don't necessarily believe. It's kind of surreal.

T3M: You've been referenced to as being 'iconic', and HURT as 'history in the making'. What's your reaction to statements like that?

JL: Well, I'm proud of that. HURT as a band, that's what I want. This whole thing was not to gain recognition for me. I just wanted to make the music. I try to completely hide from the rest of it... it just wouldn't work.

T3M: Is there a piece of music or writing that you keep returning to for comfort or inspiration?

JL: Yeah, oddly enough, I keep reading the Immortal Beloved letters. Even though, more than likely, it was for a married woman, and I don't appreciate that. Just because of the sentiment in it. It's kind of funny, that long long time ago, things haven't really changed for musicians.

'My darling, we rode all through the night. I haven't heard from you in four days'... that kind of thing.

T3M: Do you ever listen to your own recordings?

JL: Not very often. All I hear are the mistakes that I made. That's all I can hear. All I do is try to improve them and do the best I can. At some certain point, wash my hands and say 'that's the best I can do'... 'That's all I can do'.

T3M: During your interview on Rockline, you compared performing onstage every night as almost like having a nervous breakdown.

JL: Yeah.

T3M: Is that difficult to do, or do you find it therapeutic?

JL: To be honest, I would not say it's probably in the best interest of my mental stability to perform every night. But, then again, neither is sitting completely alone for months at a time, which was my habit. I don't really know it any other way right now, and thank God. I guess it's a good thing. People seem to very much enjoy watching us do what we do. That's good reason enough for me to do it.

T3M: Which do you find more fulfilling, playing live, or recording in a studio?

JL: I like the fundamental recording. I like laying down the ideas. I'm absolutely addicted to this. Probably my greatest joy in life is writing, and doing the basics of recording. That being said, I probably prefer playing live over the polished version of tracking, because that's just a pain in the ass. I'm constantly accused of being a perfectionist. It's a very arduous process to finish a recording for HURT.

T3M: You've mentioned that to me in the past.

JL: I don't believe I am, but everyone else is saying I am, so perhaps they're right.

Continued on Page 2 »

| 10.03.2007 | Interview by Kristen Pierson |