Intreview with Craig Jamieson, Scott Jamieson, Phil Regimbal and Steve Tapley by mindyourmind's Diana

Diana: How long has Illatease been around? Tell us a bit about the band and its history.

Illatease: We've been together for about a year and a half. We've mostly been playing locally up to this point. The four of us have been playing individually for at least ten years. In this time we've managed to build a solid local following and play some venues in London as well as Toronto and Windsor. We've just finished recording our debut cd which we are aiming to release in March.

Diana: When did you decide you wanted music to be your life? Is music your life?

Illatease: Music has always been a part of all of our lives. We all started very young and had many different musical influences. Since this band got together and more so after we began working on this record, it definitely has BECOME our lives. We're making sacrifices and re-arranging our lives to pursue a career in music. We're passionate to the point of un-healthy obsession sometimes, but it's positive because it's something we all really care about.

Diana: What are Illatease’s dreams and aspirations as a band?

Illatease: We definitely want to do this for a living. We all work decent jobs but our true passion is music. If we could make a living at doing what we love, every one of us would be very happy to do so.

Diana: Music touches different people in different ways. How does music touch you? What does it mean to you?

Illatease: Music gives us something to believe in and allows us to vent frustrations and feelings to others in a positive way.

Craig: If I have a bad day or something really upsets me, I'll write a song about it and it turns something negative in to a positive outlet.

Diana: How do you hope your music will affect others?

Illatease: We hope they get as much satisfaction listening to it as we do creating and performing it.

Diana: A common misconception about bands is that all they do is party. But in reality, they often work twice as hard. You have regular jobs and then you’re working on your career as well. Would you agree that being in a band is kinda like being a student?

Illatease: It's kind of like being a student, but often with more homework; There's no question that it is very hard to maintain a job while pursuing your dream. Sometimes there's just not enough hours in a day. A lot of people do have that misconception, that all guys in bands do is party and have a good time but the reality is that you can't party until the work is done...and there always seems to be work to do. However, when it's time to celebrate, we definitely know how to let loose.

Diana: How do you cope/deal with stress?

Illatease: We try to find humour in everything.

Diana: Music Idol?

Craig: Dan Marsala of Story Of The Year. He puts on an incredible live performance and his lyrics are inspiring.

Steve: Dave Grohl. I respect that he's so multi-talented in that he is a great musician, writer and producer.

Phil: I respect and admire many musicians for many reasons but don''t have one specific idol.

Scott: Fat Mike of NOFX. He's successful without compromising who he is in any way, and of course the late Mr. James Jamerson ; the un-disputed king of bass and the reason any kid from the 1970s on wanted to be a bass player.

Diana: What was the best piece of advice anyone’s ever given you?

Steve: Don't play leapfrog with unicorns.

Phil: Nothing in life is free; If you want it, you have to work for it.

Scott: If you wake up every morning and do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.

Craig: Go hard or go home.