>My name is Danny and I sing for the band National Product

Can you give us a brief history of the band and the origin of the name.

>Yeah, the history of the band in quickest form: We originally formed in Hawaii. We all grew up together going to school and all that fun stuff. One summer everyone picked up instruments instead of skateboards and surfboards and we started a band. Of course things evolved and we added new people later on to the mix to be what it is now. The name is a play on words that represents individuality and basically NOT becoming a product of your environment

What would you say has been your high and low in National Product?

>Wow, i think my highs have been amazing. Want only one of each or a few? Ok, well the great moments that come to mind with the highs are being a kid who used to save his money to fly bands out to play in Hawaii and now being a band that gets flown out to play all over the place. Playing our biggest festival in 05 with Yellowcard, Rise Against, Over It, New Found Glory and The Vandals in front of 9000 people. And then recently having our song hit #1 on Clear Channel back home and having my dad call me to say he heard his son on the radio.

The Lows:

>I honestly dont think of lows much but if i were to think of any...maybe the only things bother me are not always being able to continue doing the band with some of the close guys you started with. The guys Kevin who we started NP off as a joke, hes very successful now with his tattoo shop but sometimes its a nice thought to think of him standing next to me on stage. The same with Joey, he chose a different path with music and decided to play for Ashlee Simpson, and to be honest, I wouldnt trade Nathan Elliot (our bassist who replaced joey) for ANYTHING. I love Nathan and hes such a good soul but its always nice to think of all the things the original guys started and to see how it affected and changed other peoples lives who became a part of it. Maybe Joey and Kevin can one day join the band and play the congos and itll be a family band that tours the mountain side with Champ Kind and Brick Tamblin.

What elements do you bring to each show and what goals do you walk on stage with?

>The elements, earth wind and fire. I figure using those to melt faces, put the fire out and then give them a nice cool burst of wind works. What kind of wind? Well you will have to come to a show and find out haha Nah, um, we just get on stage as brothers to have a good time, and interact with people on a personal level. I think we intend more in the future for every member to have a mic even if they arent singing because everyone in the band is a character and our normal interaction is pretty funny (NPTV) so it would be cool to bring that environment to shows more, so its like a rock show with like comedy and good times and everyone talks. I mean, if we could, i would give kids their own mic it would be awesome. Oh, and our only goal on stage is to have fun play well and do everything i said above.

What kind of impression do you want to leave the audience with after playing a show?

>Honestly, I know this may soon tooty fruity and all but our one motivation is to always let kids know they are loved, respected, appreciated and that they have an incredible amount of control and power within themselves to change not only their lives but of others around them. That kind of understanding of ones powers and abilities can ignite so many things. Charity is a big thing for us so we inspire that as well so kids can use whatever capacity they have within themselves to help others. Its one big world, one love, one people you know so its important to take care of one another.

What has been the best and worst show in National Product history?

>Umm, best show is any show we play where kids are having a good time and people are stoked. Bad shows are when we are super sick, im throwing up and my voice is gone from being sick. Those shows are bummers.

What is the best aspect of being on tour? The worst?

>The best aspect haha, is farting on your friends in the van while they sleep haha nah im partially kidding. The best is seeing the world you know. Experiencing different cultures and places and learning new things and meeting new people. The worst is probably once again, getting sick. Its hard to stay healthy since you dont sleep much and your on the road eating crappy food. Staying alive was not just a song that applied to the BeeJees dude. It can be rough on the road sometimes. Snow sucks because you think your gonna frickin die all the time and i hate deer. I bought a PA for the band and when i drive i yell at them the whole time we drive "Bad DEER, NO! stay the shit away from the van" Those things are unpredictable.

In your opinion, what makes National Product stand out compared to other bands?

>Wierd! i just got asked that today by some chick in Chicago...I think we dont look at ourselves like "another" band nor do we market ourselves that way, we are friends who play music together, we are sincere, genuine dudes and of course, being in a band, people will make automatic assumptions but we are surrounded by not only the best in the industry but the most amazing people friends wise. I dont mean best as in what they have done, i mean as in character and soul. Music for us is not about money or fame. Those things are nice, and they come with this line of work for a select few so if it happens....Rad...if it doesnt happen...thats rad too. I love my life, my friends and the people i have been able to meet and the places ive seen. Ill take those things with me when i leave this wonderful place and smile knowing i lived a dream i had.

How would you sum up the new record to someone that has never listened to National Product?

>I would say its a massive record of big chorus', catchy hooks, melody, slamming drums that will make you think Def Leppard. I will qoute James Paul Wisner who did the record "National Product's record is one of the best records i have ever made. This thing is gonna be huge" I dont care how huge or not huge it gets but the story behind having James do the record....that made my year, and maybe a few years back its a really personal thing i guess for me.

In your opinion, what is going to be the biggest surprise to the fans with the new record?

>Honestly, everything man. The vocals are pristine and im not saying that cause I sing, but everything came out so well due to James. He really inspires a thought process into the recording more than just getting on a mic and singing. Everything is about intention. What does this lyrics mean to you, make it honest etc. The songs are very well put together and honest meaning, nothing was changed and had to be "made to work right". We took a very honest approach with writing and songs like Sad Excuse, i wrote the day before we started tracking randomly on a bass of all instruments and i finished it in 10 minutes and it was something i was going thru. I played it while the guys were setting up amps and James' wife started singing it after the first play and then we showed James and the label and the song got wrapped up into tracking the next day. I would say the gut feeling tracks are always the best. Anytime you gotta contemplate it, its never good you know. They will also be surprise by the fart noises we have hidden thru out the cd, thats the coolest part.

How do you think the fans are going to receive the new record?

>I have already let fans in on the sampler, i wasnt supposed to give it out but what kinda dude can help it. Im proud of it, i want people to hear it. The industry and press response has been amazing and the kids i have given it too have just left such amazing responses. I am scared shitless dude about releasing it. Its like letting your kid go to school or go off to college but its out of my hands now. It gets to have a life of its own and whether it does its thing out there or not, its a part of me and my boys that will forever be etched in physical and digital form.

If you had to do a cover album, which bands and songs would you want on it?

>Dont mark my words haha but we have talked to James about doing a cover EP in between the next CD. Some bands i love are skid row, motley, def leppard, bon jovi, journey but it would also be fun to do some songs that made us wanna start bands, old Afi, Strungout, Bad Religion hehe, that would be tight. We are gonna lets fans pic 1-2 for sure.

If someone was only going to read the lyrics and not listen to the music, what would you hope they take away from them?

>I would hope that they find something in the words that they can relate too that move them in a way to put the cd and listen to it with the music =) Also, adding it as your myspace qoute could be cool too....kidding of course.

If you could write the music for a movie, which movie would you choose and why?

>Some of my favorite movies are stand by me, radio flyer, never ending story, one of those. Or 300!

Where do you hope the band is two years from now? What do you hope to accomplish by then?

>I hope that we can continue doing this on a much larger scale so we can see other parts of the world like Japan, Australia, Europe and more. I want to continue producing and helping people out and basically what were doing now, but much bigger scale.

From the songs i've heard on the myspace page, I can easily tell this album is going to be epic, byfar one of the best's of 2007. I can't wait to hear some new tracks. Anything else you would like the readers at Skylinepress to know?