Here is an interview with Travis Morrison I did in July of 1998.

1) Introduction...band roll call for those who may not be familiar with you.

Eric Axelson, Joe Easley, Jason Caddell, and Travis Morrison.

2) How and when did you guys start out? What draws you to play the music that you do? Is there a cultural catalyst that drives you?

I knew Eric from high school, and Eric knew Jason from college. After our first drummer (who Eric and I knew in high school) left, we acquired Joe after his band broke up. It's hard to say what makes us play the music we play: probably a fair dose of Attention Deficit Disorder, and certainly a love for a very wide range of music and an urge to do something different.

3) Are there any personal sacrifices you make in the name of the band? If so, what are they?

Well, sure. Touring can be hard on personal relationships, and obviously I didn't pick the right field to make a nice paycheck.

4) Do you like to tour? If so, why? What has touring taught you that a more grounded job wouldn't have?

I do like to tour, I have to say. I like to see the country, I like to see the friends that have moved all over the place, I like to play every night... I think I've certainly learned how to work hard at/for something that I care about, as opposed to punching a clock. Even though it can grind you down and seriously endanger your relationship with your girlfriend, I often feel like I'm a little more alert and enjoying life than some of my peers. That feeling probably comes from a sense of investment.

5) What bands/people do you see as your peers within the community? How do you see yourself fitting in among these peers?

Well, it's tough, because everyone is breaking up. I think the perception is that the small rock and roll combo is a dry well creatively and socially, which is really sad because it's an incredibly potent creative situation. You just have to really challenge yourself. We were very, very tight with Smart Went Crazy; we share some sensibilities with the Most Secret Method and also love to hang with them; I love the Better Automatic too. There are others, across the country--the Wrens from NYC, the Panoply Academy Glee Club from Indiana.

6) If someone walked up to you on the street today and said, "I read about this band, the Dismemberment Plan, and I was wondering what they sound like", how would you describe your sound to this person?

Hard to say. It's just songs, really. I used to say "experimental party music" but now... to, like, people in offices, I say "kinda dancey, kinda loud." There's no way I'll be able to explain it to them anyways.

7) What do you feel "selling out" is? Is it something as simple as signing a contract with a major label, or is it more than that?

No, selling out is doing something you don't want to do.

8) What is some music that you've heard recently that totally blows your mind?

"Headhunters" by Herbie Hancock is an extraordinary record that I just bought. It's vintage 70's jazz-funk--pretty much the leading example thereof.

9) Outside of music, what some things that influence your music? How do they work their way into your artistic output?

Well, some literature influnces the lyrics I write--I really liked the magical realism of some South American writers. Movies can be a big influence too, because really great music does paint a visual picture. I love the movies of Terry Gilliam, Martin Scorsese, and Stanley Kubrick. How it works its way into the music I can't quite say.

10) Lastly, do you have any advice for bands just starting out, or anyone in general?

I would say: play anywhere you can--friend's basements, backyards, etc. etc.--and be sure to make developing your own sound a priority. Really screw around with stuff: competent playing will come later.