[Aug. 25, 2004]
Nine Zine: Of all of your musical projects with one would you say is more fun and why so?
m iafrate: I guess I usually have the most fun when I’m playing with other people. My solo stuff is sometimes me by myself, and sometimes with other people, but lately I have been reflecting on how I feel like music is a social activity. Anytime I’m with others playing music and the chemistry is right, I’m having the most fun. That said, there is nothing like plugging into a full stack and playing big fat riffs.
Nine Zine: No doubt man. At what age did you first start playing a musical instrument? And what was it?
m iafrate: I started playing guitar when I was about 15, 9th grade. That’s not counting music class in grade school where you learn how to play one of those recorder things.
Nine Zine: When your not playing with The Minus Tide or playing acoustic in bars what else do you do for fun, school, or job?
m iafrate: I work at a Catholic church in Morgantown as a lay campus minister for students at West Virginia University. I’m a total theology nerd so I’m frequently reading books and occasionally I try to keep up my writing because I hope to get into a religious studies Ph.D. program in the future. I also enjoy reading political stuff, talking to people about what’s going on in the world, messing around on the internet, etc. I really enjoy doing all I can to convince people to vote against President Bush.
Nine Zine: I notice your lyrics are very well written and looks like you have put a lot of thought into them. Can you describe your writing process?
m iafrate: It kind of varies with each song, but lately I keep a little book with me all the time in which I jot lyric ideas down. Then when I am inspired to sit down to write music for a song, I just kind of feed some lines into the melodies that come into my head. I actually am experiencing some writer’s block right now, and I need to figure out how to deal with it.
Nine Zine: When you and Sean Decker play together…what song is your favorite to play?
m iafrate: Well, I have only played with him once where I was backing him up, but I hope to do it again. My favorite song of his is “Ouch, My Stars Hurt!!!” so I guess that’s my favorite one to play with him.
Nine Zine: Nice choice. Yours and his split cd is amazing…can we expect another cd of you guys together?
m iafrate: I don’t know… I guess I’m up for it down the road. I have a couple other solo records planned; 3 to be exact. I am almost finished with a full length solo record that has a full band playing with me; members of The Minus Tide, Sean, and our friend Clint. Then I am going to work on a record of old Catholic church songs played acoustically and sort of folky, appalachian style. And I’m talking to my friend Neill about doing a split with his music project, called North Noble. So that should keep me busy for a while. But I’m open to doing more records with Sean.
Nine Zine: Rokkin..you guys went really good together.
m iafrate: Thanks.
Nine Zine: Do you have any pets? If so what are they and what are their names?
m iafrate: [Laughs] Well, I have one goldfish left out of six that I inherited from a friend who moved to Florida. When I moved to Morgantown a couple months ago, they kept dying off and there is only one left. I only memorized a couple of their names, and I don’t know the name of the one that is left. I ordinarily probably wouldn’t keep fish because I think keeping them captive in a tank is a little weird, but I couldn’t say no to this friend of mine.
Nine Zine: [Laughs] What are some bands you have been listening to at the moment?
m iafrate: I have been listening to a lot of Lungfish lately, Will Oldham, Xiu Xiu, Loretta Lynn, Ryan Adams, Iron & Wine, Doves, T. Rex, Amanda Rogers, Bjork…
Nine Zine: Whats is your favorite number?
m iafrate: I’m not very supersitious. But I guess biblical numbers are always fun, in which the numbers three and seven are very appealing to me.