BWF: How was the whole recording process with your first album? What was it like going from practicing into recording? Was it as easy or as hard as you thought it would be? Justin: It was really natural. A lot of the songs came in mostly done, but a lot of it was just what sort of tempo we wanted to take the tunes and like different things we wanted to throw over it like "Warchild" we were walking around the studio with- as we were rehearsing it. We were in the studio and like this would be really cool, we should do that there, like Adres would like have this nice keyboard that he was messing around with most of the time we were at the studio to throw stuff over it, or the harmonies and all that kind of stuff so, it came really natural. We were kids in a candy store once the framework was done, and we're just throwing stuff over it, you know. Esfand: It's funny with this album, we played these songs so many times that, should we tell them how long we were in the studio? ...We were there for three days. We recorded the whole album in three days live, basically. Everything was done in three days and the engineer was just beside himself because, you know, they've never seen something like that. We were so prepared because of, you know, the whole process of getting a band together, god knows how many times we've played these songs... and we were angry young men, yea! (laughter) It came, it was very natural, and there was a point where we just wanted to get it out. Really, we wanted to share it with, you know, people who wanted to listen to it. And we're writing the second album right now and it's flowing out again. It's (the) same process really. BWF: Did you guys work with a producer? Esfand: Yea, we worked with Matt Verta-Ray from, he's actually the guitar player for Speedball Baby. His underground band has been around for a very long time. We went in the studio and he really understood the live sound that we wanted to get and we recorded on tape, not digital, so we kind of captured that raw sound and he knew exactly what we wanted to get out. And in a way he really did give us a lot of help in that regard. Adres: It was a lot of fun but as Justin and Esfand said, we pretty much had everything already written before we went into the studio and it pretty much, everything flowed and I think the only song that we really needed to finish off was "End of March" which we were working on the lyrics for that. Everything did flow nicely and we're very, very happy with it. BWF: You mentioned Warchild earlier and you guys just recently did a Warchild benefit concert. Could you talk about how that was set up? Esfand: It was, I would say about 2 years ago I was, I just wanted to get involved in something. It was one of those things that I wanted to, you know, the war was happening, and seeing what was going on, I did a whole internet search on different organizations that I might want to be part of, and Warchild came as the one that I really wanted to work with. And I got in contact with them, I do a lot of work with them, not regarding the band. And you know, I'm part of the organization on the side, giving them a helping hand. And when the band happened, we kind of started picking up, we decided to throw a benefit concert for them which, I think is, it's part of our duty as citizens of this community to kind of give back. That was kind of our way in a very small way, we didn't raise money that would save Africa or anything, but in a way, you know, it's the intention really that counts. We really, as a band, are trying to give back and there'll be many more opportunities to give back, so hopefully it's not a one time deal thing. But that's how we got involved with it. BWF: I'm sure your fans want to know what you guys do for your day jobs, right? (everybody laughs) Esfand: I'll go first since mine is pretty much quick. I actually quit my job about 8 months ago to spend most of my time on Landlord. So I just do freelance work on the side since computer science is what I do. So I do a little freelance work, but mainly I work for the band, and promote the band, and all that goes with it. So, okay, we'll leave Justin till the end since his is the most interesting. Adres: Right now I'm into creatives as well, I do like, kind of working part time right now for like a real estate company. I do like their web design and things like that. But I recently got my USPTA tennis certification and may be teaching tennis sometime in the near future. But as of right now, it's pretty much what I do. I also do freelance from my apartment for, you know, random jobs. Over to you Justin... Justin: I give jazz tap lessons now (joking). I'm the biggest sell out of the three of us. I manage a few investor relations magazines here in the city. So the corporate anger comes through in the music, comes through the drums. I have a suggestion, "how was your day at work today?" and beat the shit out of them. (everybody laughs) BWF: I think we're just about done here, but what's something you want to tell us about Landlord that we don't already know? Esfand: Well the second album is shaping out to be amazing, that you don't know about yet. We throw a lot of those songs out at new sets that we play out in New York City. So for people who haven't seen Landlord that are reading this interview, they should definitely come out and see it. That's pretty good. Nothing really, I mean, everything...we're pretty transparent through our music so there's nothing to hide. What you hear is pretty much, you know, the three of us just opening ourselves 100%. That's who we are really. Adres: I couldn't have said it better myself. Justin: If it makes any sense, I think we're, through our music, we're very optimistic and cynical young men at the same time, which is weird because just personally between the three of us and we're just kicking around whatever, we're just very, I'm probably the worst of the three of us, just very cynical about most things. But what comes out in our music is a lot more optimistic. I like think so anyways; kind of strange how it works out that way. Adres: I guess when we're out on stage, whatever, we're pretty close anyway. When I met Esfand, we got along really well right away. And I've known Justin here for a while, so I mean things seems to really click and we're gellin'... Esfand: ...We're what? Adres: Gellin'. And like Esfand said, the second album is definitely shaping up, so we're definitely looking forward to putting that together and we really like where the sound's going. BWF: Thanks, Landlord for being here. Is there anything else you want to say? Last words at all, anybody? Adres: I just want to thank you guys for this interview. I thought it was really cool, and we appreciate it, and hope to have more of them. Justin: Said like a real politician. Esfand: Definitely, just wanted to thank you guys too. BigWeirdFeelings.com, I guess that's where it happens. Thanks. BWF: Thank you, Landlord, appreciate it. Visit Landlord's site.