Manilla Crescent, first up, big thanks for being part of the comp, we're really glad to have you on board.

Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself? A brief history for anyone new to your music.

Well, I started writing songs on acoustic guitar as soon as Martin [now playing guitar for Manilla Crescent] showed me a few chords - while he was going out with my older sister - back when I was 16. I dropped out of six form and went to college to do music technology and started getting into creating a more electronic sound to the music. Martin joined the band while we were at uni together at Derby late 2006 and we went from there to create our current album. It's all about the lyrics and the song structure for me whereas Martin is often the one who adds the more delicate guitar melodies.

We hear your working on the 2nd album, how's that coming along?

Yeah, we're not really working on it as such, we're just going to make music until we get enough tracks together for a new album. We've got quite a few songs for it already so it probably won't be much longer till it gets finished. They're some of the strongest songs we've written, it's going to be a step up from the last album, we're really exited about it. We'll be playing a lot of the new material at our gig on the 4th of January at the Louisiana so hopefully it will go down well.

So, another year in the bag. What have been your highlights of 2007?

Well, getting a proper set sorted out playing our first gig last summer - particularly a song we did together when I was 17, Stop Dreaming. It wasn't our best performance but it was good to get it all started. The recent gig at the Louisiana was properly the most fun after we had to cancel because Martin got rushed to hospital and then managed to get it back on last minute; it was a really good night though. Making the album was good fun and working with Andy to create the album art. We've enjoyed most of the stuff we've been doing so far really.

and master plans for 2008?

We want to try and step up a level with the gigs, try and play some bigger venues, get an application for Glastonbury done and try and get some new, original angles for promotion. Some meaningful radio airplay, I dunno, There's no master plan really.

Tis the season to be jolly. Are you up to anything exciting over christmas/new years?

No, not really. Seeing family and making forced conversations with relatives I never see. New years will hopefully be a bit better, I'm planning to go up on a hill that overlooks a lot of houses and watch everyones fireworks (with some people)."

Any new years resolutions?

Not to do anymore interviews like this. It's really hard to think of anything interesting to say.

Next we've got a question from 'andthentherewererobots':

"Each of your tracks on Myspace has a hand drawn picture with it. Who drew them?"

My friend Andy drew them. He's a really good artist; he's got a distinctive style.

Thats the lot for now.

Thanks a lot for your time, have a great Christmas and new years.

We'll be seeing you in 2008.

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