State your names and your role in the band for me please! 
Zeeshan Zaidi – Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Keyboards (I’m answering) 
Uri Djemal – Guitar, Keyboards
Ben Zwerin – Bass
Paul Amorese – Drums

Before I Was Born is your first release since 2012; what have you guys been up to since then?
Living a lot of life. A lot happened on a personal front in the time off. The upside was there was a lot more to write about! And it gave rise to the songs on this album. 

Six months ago you released a music video for "You'll Stay Right Here," what was the inspiration behind that video? And who's dogs are those?!
The song is It’s a message of support to someone going through a very tough time. I wrote it when I learned that someone very close to me was diagnosed with cancer. It was my way of saying ‘I’m with you, and you’re going to beat this. You’re not going anywhere.’ That’s the main message.

But in a secondary way I guess it’s also about the bumpy emotional ride experienced not just by the person suffering but by those who are standing by him or her. There’s a painful helplessness to that situation.

I wanted the video to raise awareness for the cause but also wanted to capture the human experience of going through that. The thing is, if I made a video with 2 humans in it I was convinced it would come across as extremely melodramatic. So I figured — why not dogs! People love them and they’re cute. 

The director I made the video with had a friend who owned one of those dogs, and her sister owned the other. So I guess they are cousins in a way… worked out well!

All the proceeds from "You'll Stay Right Here" on iTunes went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, what made you decide to partner up with that organization?
So the loved one that the song is about was diagnosed with Lymphoma. So it was a natural organization to partner with and they’ve been very supportive. 
 

What are some of the topics you face in Before I Was Born? What were the inspirations behind this new EP?
They're all based on very personal themes for me -- the birth of a child and the relationship between the child and its parent, the inner fighting spirit in the face of oppression, the immigrant experience, a loved one battling serious illness. All based on things I experienced or themes I care a lot about.

Are there any tour dates planned for the future?
For sure! We're playing a release show on September 14 at the Cake Shop club in New York -- as part of the Mondo Music Festival. 
Then we're thinking about playing some additional East Coast shows, so stay tuned!

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for featuring us again -- really appreciate the chance to connect with the Kill The Music audience!

You can check out their lyric video for "Before I Was Born" below!