Billy Talent Interview

Dec 27, 2006

By: Sindy

The coolest thing happened to me! I got to sit down - face to face - with the awesome Canadian-based punk rock band Billy Talent. I have been addicted to their hit single, Try Honesty, and so interviewing the lead singer, Benjamin Kowalewicz, was a dream! Check it out!

Sindy: Hey Ben! How ya doing?

Billy Talent: You don't know how long it's been since I showered! (laughs) Yesterday we drove 14 hours and I had to get up early this morning and do my laundry, and go do some banking and now I'm doing interviews - It's just those perpetual things where you go 'Oh! Just give me an hour to shower and wash my hair!'

Sindy: Is the lack of personal time and the traveling the biggest change since being signed?

Billy Talent: Yeah, touring... and doing interviews and having people actually caring about what you're doing for a change. It's a very nice thing. I mean, it can be hard traveling so much and not seeing your loved ones. But, anyone who is in this profession can't complain cuz it's the most fantastic thing in the world to be able to do this.

Sindy: I know you guys formed the band in high school and you've been together the whole time. Was there ever a time when you got really low and you guys reconsidered what you were doing?

Billy Talent: Yeah, there were a couple of points. It's just like any kind of relationship in a lot of ways. Growing up in a band, we've all had life choices - we've had to sacrifice and overcome in order to perservere with the band. We've all got such a weird devotion to each other and the music, we would never really turn our backs and do something else. It just all came to fruition over the last 18 months and it's pretty cool.

Sindy: Do you have a favorite song on this album?

Billy Talent: That's a good question... I don't know. It's one of those things where some weeks I like one song a lot and other weeks, I listen to the same track and think 'nah.' It changes. This week I am kinda in a Nothing to Lose kinda mood.

Sindy: Is there one song you always dig playing live?

Billy Talent: It's really fun playing Try Honesty now. It's fun for us because being an opening band for, like, 100 million years and being an opening band for a 150 million different kinds of bands, to actually have people who are singing along at live performances, thanks to the album, is great. That has been one of my dreams. You know, to have someone sing words you wrote down, in your underwear at four in the morning when you can't sleep, and then all of a sudden having ten thousand kids sing that back to you - it's very humbling and moving.

Click here to find out why Billy Talent's weirdest fan moment involves a glass eye. Also, Ben Kowalewicz gives you advice on following your punk rock dreams.