KSDT: So you guys recently signed with Seattle based label Sub Pop Records, just in general how did that come about and how's it goin' for you?
Steve: We signed with them in January. I guess technically January. We recorded 3 songs with Chris Walla from Death Cab For Cutie in Seattle on Jan 1st and then we combined that with 2 songs that we originally used for our demo to send to Sub Pop and put out a five song EP and that was our 1st release on Sub Pop.

KSDT: What's the song writing process for you guys?
Paul: There's different processes, it kinda happens differently every time. We might just start with like a riff or a lyric or a melody and then we usually try to keep it pretty barebones. Like, it usually starts at the apartment* and then we finish it up in the jam spot where everyone kinda adds their own flavor.
*NOTE: all four members of Hot Hot Heat currently reside together in an apartment in Victoria, BC

KSDT: What about lyrics?
Steve: Usually in jam I'll just write, like, temp lyrics to fit the rhythm of the vocal melody and just like to fit the number of syllables I wanna have in the rhyme or whatever. I kinda do it just like a hip hop way where it's really on like rhythm and the number of syllables and stuff and then, umm I mean as time goes on I kinda figure out what works and stuff, and then before we record I like fill in the cracks type of thing.

KSDT: You're compared a lot in reviews and interviews to The Strokes and The Faint and even more so to The Cure, as a sort of a "throw-back tribute band to the Cure" or something. What do you think of that? I mean, do you listen to/like those bands, feel that's kinda overgeneralizing?
Steve: uhhhmmm, well I'm fine with being lumped in the same category with bands that are doing well. Cuz I mean its better than if they said we reminded them of like Nsync or New Kids On The Block or Gwar! But musically we're a lot different from a lot of those bands. And I mean, especially The Cure is one that there are a lot of parallels made between us which I don't really see at all but I think it's just mainly that we're kind of a punk band that's making music with melodic vocals, and I mean The Cure was basically a punk band that started off too, so I think maybe that we come from similar schools but I think that if you're looking to hear the same musical style that you might be a bit disappointed. But, um, in terms of coming from the same punk rock school and then moving onto more pop-influenced stuff is how we relate to them. Does any of that make sense? Paul do you have anything to say about that?
Paul: Yeah, there's a fish trap over here! (During Steve's comparison speech, Paul has apparently been distracted by the odd shaped "fish trap" coffee table next to him in the Revoultion Room's backstage lounge) uhhh. Yeah I like all those bands. I don't know if we draw influence directly from any of them. I mean, I don't even listen that much to The Cure. I think we have a greatest hits record somewhere which goes on occasionally. And we listen to The Strokes and The Faint.

KSDT: Magnet Magazine is recently quoted as saying, "the leading argument against the Strokes is this: other bands do it better. Hot Hot Heat is a cross-section of the groups that were doing it better even before the Strokes."
Steve: Yeah that was a really cool compliment because I think the Strokes are really cool.
Paul: Yeah and I think that for the most part that comment is completely true. 100% definitely statistics show that 9 outta 10 dentists agree.
Steve: Yes! We are better!
Paul: I dunno. I like what those bands are doing and I'd hate to think that we're trying to copy their style. I kinda like to think that we have our own style.

website: www.hothotheat.com