I always like to note on my Zune Card that my music is lovingly diverse. That stems from me always willing to try new music -- regardless of genre, style, instrumentation, etc. It's usually through this that I'm able to find those diamonds in the hay patch. I've found another ensemble to add to my jewel collection.

Meet Kaitlin McGaw, Michael Gallant and Ray Ruiz, known in the music world as The Simple Things. They're a bass, keyboard and vocal ensemble that bills themselves as the 'punk rock of easy listening' -- quite the statement I must say.

I was able to download and listen to their debut CD and I absolutely enjoyed it. My favorite track was the very first one "Flying Horses", so for me they came out of the corner swinging. Yet, imagine my delight when I was actually able to interview the band. Now, granted it was through email, but just to be able to ask questions of an awesome up and coming ensemble is quite the thrill.

Kaitlin, the vocalist, doesn't know this but I had re-wrote the questions at least 35 times prior to sending them to her. You know how you don't want to come off sounding retarded? I didn't want to ask questions like: "Um, so, can you spell music?". You know how some interviews go! =) So, I fired off my questions and they were kind enough to fire them back.

So without any more rambling out of me, here's my interview with: The Simple Things. If you want more information, visit their website!

1. @Kaitlin -- So you also do a children's hip hop group (Alphabet Rockers) =) Tell us a little about that. (I've read up on it, but I think the readers would get a joy out of it, haha)

Kaitlin McGaw: Oh yea… in addition to singing and writing these dreamy and moody songs, I also write and perform songs about the days of the week and circles and squares! It's actually a lot of fun. I wanted to create kids music that was inspired from songs I loved growing up in the 80s. So along with my co-writer Dawn Richardson (of 4 Non Blondes), we released the album Alphabet Rockers last fall, for teachers to use in school and families to listen & rock out at home. It's received several awards, which has been great, but the best part is seeing the kids dancing along to songs like the Beastie Boys inspired "New Kid in School."

2. Who are the musical influences for each of the band members? Who do you listen to during downtime?

Michael Gallant: Influences: McCoy Tyner, Pearl Jam, Phish, Oscar Peterson, Debussy. In my downtime I listen to Rage Against the Machine.

Ray Ruiz: Influences: John Paul Jones, James Jamerson, John Prine, Woody Guthrie, Spain. As for what I listen to? That could go on forever, but includes: Sigur Ros, Sly & the Family Stone, Spain, The Coup, Erykah Badu, Cornelius, Aretha Franklin, AC/DC…

Kaitlin: My influences for our music: Carole King, Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu. Listen to: lately it's been Estelle's new album, everyday, and otherwise mostly mellow/R&B (Feist, Sufjan Stevens, Norah Jones).

2b. What hobbies do you guys have outside of music?

Mike: Writing, Hiking and outdoorsy stuff

Kaitlin: Reading and traveling have been the biggest ones lately

Ray: Experimenting with Lo-fi media (audio, video, photography)

3. How does it feel to have that debut CD under your belt? Do you think it'll make approaching the next album easier?

Mike: Totally, we have somewhat of a workflow now. On the other hand, there was something about recording the first album that was so spontaneous, kind of making it up as we went, powering through 2 days in the studio. But now we have a more established sound.

Kaitlin: Also, having Mike in on the writing process now gives us more definition in going forward. Most of the songs on the debut CD Ray and I had written before practicing with Mike. Mike's approach to delivering each song is so unique and imprinted in the recordings that I can't imagine any of the songs performed any other way!

4. Who came up with the group name? I think that with a guitar, keyboard and vocal the name is very fitting =)

Kaitlin: That would be Ray. There was a bunch of names floating around, and this one stuck. We had been playing together for a few months and it was to the point where we had to have a band name, so we just pulled the trigger and chose The Simple Things.

5. I read about the first gig (the rap songs gig). Did it just not workout according to plan cause it's a radical shift to what it is now, no?

Kaitlin: Marques, if you only knew… It was actually pretty funny. I was preparing my "singer/songwriter does hardcore rap" routine for my friend's birthday (it was my annual gift to her). Ray and I had been playing for a long time in a cover band, and I just invited him to come to the birthday party. We ended up jamming on the songs before I went over, and thus became our first gig! Mike got in on it too when we played them upstairs at The Fillmore before a Smashing Pumpkins show. Gotta love hearing the Melodica played over an amazing rap track.

6. Being a musician I like to ask other musicians this question: How do you decide on the titles for your tracks? I know that for me, everything had to sound poetic =)

Ray: That must be because you are a trombone player! (sidenote: Ray's first instrument was trombone) The words in our titles are more of a reminder of the song rather than a title.

Kaitlin: That's a great question. Songwriting teachers will tell you to make the chorus the title… But sometimes it's the first line or the story itself that becomes the title.

7. In this age of the digital download, how do you approach that? Meaning more artists are offering tracks free online, giving away CDs, etc. Do you see that as a step forward for music?

Ray: I think it's better to have that option than to not have it. It gives you more control to do your own creative marketing if you wanted. Maybe give some diehard fans some singles that are not available to the public. I do have to say this though, and I'm dating myself, it used to be really fun trading cassettes with other bands. You actually met the person/band and there was much more camaraderie and sense of community and "scene". If you're not out on the streets promoting, giving away CDs, free online tracks or trading is the way to go.

Mike: We're moving toward the next paradigm of music distribution. It's cool and exciting, even if everyone seems to be somewhat lost. And even if we don't receive all the monetary rewards for every track bought or played, in the long run it will pay back in dividends.

Ray: It's all a step forward even if we don't know what we are doing yet. Form follows function, and we'll eventually figure out how it all works to our advantage.

Kaitlin: Personally I'm still not sure about giving away everything for free, unless you have a really clearly defined business plan for how to make money off other resources. I love providing music for free to podcasters and offering some songs as downloads. As a consumer, if I love an artist, I still love hearing the whole album, in order. What I love about the digital download era is that you can hear about an artist somewhere and buy their songs immediately after hearing it.

8. If you could do a collaboration with any known artist (past or present), who would it be? Name as many as you like.

Mike: Janis Joplin, Sergei Rachmaninoff

Ray: I have a few bass lines in my pocket I'm saving for Boots Riley of The Coup! A bass duet with John Paul Jones with Aretha singing and playing piano would be the dream come true.

Kaitlin: John Legend. I love what he brings to every song and artist he works with.

9. What can we look forward to, as far as future projects, etc, from you guys?

The Simple Things: Lots of shows, and we'll be working on a video this fall. We'll be sure to send it to you!

And who the heck called you "Simple Minds", haha

The Simple Things: The Hard Rock of all places. It was pretty funny though. Definitely made everyone's ears perk up.