Simple Plan, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Our Lady Peace, Celine Dion, and Nickelback. They are among the many acts from Canada that have hit the jackpot south of their border. All have achieved the kind of fame that they couldn't exactly get in Canada and if this pop-punk band has their way, they can join the list of Canadian music elite. Hedley has been around a while, but after achieving success in their home country and abroad, they look to make their mark on the U.S. market. Hedley is on our list of acts to watch out for in 2007.

Here is our exclusive with the band's Jacob Hoggard with our Erica.

Erica: Growing up, was music something you always wanted to pursue?
Jacob: Music something that I always did. I took piano since I was a little kid, and guitar as well, but doing it as a profession, being able to not work and do that was my ‘I wanna be an astronaut dream’.

Erica: What would you be doing right now if you weren’t in a band?
Jacob: I would be doing construction. That’s what I was doing before I started doing music full-time. Banging nails.

Erica: Who are your biggest influences?
Jacob: My biggest influences would have to be-hmm that’s such a good question. They’re always changing! Especially musically for me, I’m always like ‘aw cool, crazy’. I think Radiohead’s been a big one. I’m always like holy crap, I’m in love with this band. Radiohead and U2 have always been big influences.

Erica: If you could pick any band, what band would you want to tour with?
Jacob: Dead or Alive? (yeah) I’d have to say The Police.

Erica: Tell me a little about your band, Hedley. How did the band first form?
Jacob: We were originally from two different bands. I was in one band and there were three guys that were in another band. Vancouver’s always had a really cool music scene and bands would just come up to each other’s shows. We all hit it off as friends right away. Things weren’t working out with my band, the guys were kinda like ‘ok this isn’t going anywhere’. A couple went to school and one went into construction and then the guys, their singer started to be a bit of a donut and then one night we all went out drinking and were like why don’t we give it a go and it worked out really well together.

Erica: Where did the name Hedley come from? Was it something the whole group came up with?
Jacob: Hedley is a small town in BC. Very small small town. It was the stopping point on the way to camping and we would just stop there and spend the night. It was a really small town, like 60 people so we really took advantage of the no law enforcement. We just looked on a map one day and was like HEDLEY!

Erica: How would you describe your sound for someone who has never heard of Hedley before?
Jacob: It’s like putting a bunch of pots and cats into a big sleeping bag and throwing them down the stairs.
Erica: So your debut self-titled CD came out in the US this past September, what is your favorite song on the album and why?
Jacob: My favorite song on the album would have to be ‘Trip’. It’s a really rad song and it means a lot to me. I wrote it at a pretty important time in my life.

Erica: I hear that now you’re currently recording your second album?
Jacob: Yeah we are. Right now we’re right in the middle of pre-production stage so we’re jamming out songs and getting them ready for how we want to hear them on the record.

Erica: What’s up next for the United States?
Jacob: We’re planning on coming back out in the late spring. We’re trying to get the record out as soon as we can. Once it’s done we’re going to get out touring.

Fan Questions:

Janelle: What’s up with all the new tattoo’s and if there are any special meaning to any of them?
Jacob: The one on my back says “Never say Never” in Italian. Over the Christmas break I’ve undergone a bit of a turning point in my life as far as how decisions impact people. I’ve definitely gone through a lot of personal changes. As I’m growing I guess I’ve realized that the older you get the less people you have to blame for your actions. Chris is working on his back. I’m going to finish my arm.

Haley: If you could collaborate with any band or artist to record a single, who would it be and why?
Jacob: I would like to collaborate with Kelley Clarkson! Nah I’m lying. Hmm, you know would I would have loved to work with. I would have loved to have written a song with Stevie Tyler.

Ryna: What was your New Year’s resolution?
Jacob: The New Year’s Resolution was to stop having fucking New Year’s resolutions.

Erica: Have you kept it?
Jacob:I’ve gone almost two months now without a New Year’s Resolution, so I’m doing ok!

Athena: So far in your music career, what has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
Jacob: My own lack of self control. I’m just gonna get to the point where I’m gonna stop trying to overcome it.

Ky: Do you feel that you’ve grown as a song writer?
Jacob: Yeah I totally have. I really can see that I’ve already started to change in the way that I approach songs, the way I write songs. Just my ear has change a bit as to what I look for when it comes to a song and the way the whole production works. Yeah I really have and it’s really exciting. It’s a really good skill and one of those things where the more you practice, like practicing your golf swing, the better you’ll become.

Erica: So do you think the new CD’s going to be a lot different than the last one?
Jacob:I don’t think its gonna be totally different, but it’s definitely going to reflect our growth musically. I’m really excited to see what the finished product is.

Danielle:What is one thing that you want me to know about you? And what is the one question you wouldn’t want me to ask?
Jacob: One thing that I would want her to know about me is that I’m an extremely high jumper. I can free standing jump onto the roof of a car.

Erica: What’s one question you wouldn’t want me to ask?
Jacob: hmmm, fuck, I dunno.

Erica: Alright, well I guess the question you don’t wanna be ask is what question wouldn’t you wanna be asked!
Jacob: Yeah, the question I don’t want you to ask if what question don’t I wanna be asked!

Stefani: Your writing in your blogs and songs are so deep, I was wondering what  your inspirations are?
Jacob: I don’t really know. I guess when I’m writing it just kinda comes to me, whether I’m just making up stories in my head or my own life experiences.

Kelsey: What province would you say has the most crazy, dedicated fans?
Jacob: Ontario

Danielle #2: What’s your favorite band? Where do you get the ideas for your songs?
Jacob: My favorite band would be a combination of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails

Tori: What’s the craziest thing the bands done?
Jacob: We had each other’s names tattooed on each others ass and we got to do it ourselves and use the guns and stuff.

Erica: Yeah that is pretty crazy, I think I saw a clip of that on your little DVD.
Jacob: yeah, the DVDs the craziest thing we’ve ever done!

Erica is the chief head of indie music and one of the many concert-goers on Musiqtone. You can catch her at ericahahn@musiqtone.com.







(C) 2007 Musiqtone. All Rights Reserved. Any part of this interview cannot be used without written express consent from both the representatives of Hedley and Musiqtone.