PASSENGER
The SIS Interview by Dany Sloan

Passenger's songs have been described as "mini-movies," an apt description that puts them in the same ballpark as Keane, Snow Patrol and Coldplay. The band, who has opened for the likes of Kate Nash, The Hold Steady and Newton Faulkner in their native UK, will see their debut LP Wicked Man's Rest drop in North America this summer.

When we last saw the band, we were knee deep in some thick Scottish whiskey, so we took the discussion to e-mail, where band frontman Mike Rosenberg was kind enough to fill in the blanks for us.

SIS: How did the band get together? What were your initial goals? How
has that changed?

Mike: The band has taken a few different forms. The current line up are all friends or friends of friends. When we were looking for new people we
just asked around and were really lucky. I can't help but feel fate plays a part somewhere, our goals are the same as they've always been. To make music that we love and the more people who love it too the
better.

SIS:  Who do you often find yourselves compared to, and do you like or dislike that comparison?

M:  We get compared with all sorts of people from David Gray and Damien Rice through to the Smiths and and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I think when we are compared to people like that you can't help but take
it as a compliment.

SIS: Who are some of your favorite bands to play with? Do you think any of them will take over the world?

M: We recently played with a young guy in Scotland called Alan McKim. He's outstandingly talented and you couldn't meet a nicer chap. I have a feeling he might be going places...

SIS: What is your favorite and least favorite thing about being on the road?

M: I think its the people that we meet. New people everyday in a different city. It really makes you feel alive. I think the worst thing is coming home. It can be quite a come down.

SIS: If any member of Passenger were on the cover of a tabloid, who would it be and why?

M: "PASSENGER GUITARIST IN NAKED DRUNKEN RAMPAGE"

SIS: When family ask you what your band sounds like, what do you tell
them?

M: I think we're lucky in that respect because our music seems to connect with people of all age groups. That question might be difficult if we were a death metal band, although my gran is really in to Pantera.