writefast! the interviews!: Colfax

Colfax is a heavy rock outfit that spawned from Brockville, ON, interuptting calm and unexpected audiences with their syrup-drenched rock n' roll served by way of full-frontal nerdity.

In 2010, their debut album, "Keys to the Midway", earned the band a distribution deal with Universal Music Canada via Blue Sapphire Records. Hundreds of self-booked shows across their country quickly ensued. Of these shows, many consisted of the band's self-made program designed to support the dwindling music education in Canada; a presentation the band affectionately dubbed "The EducaTOUR". Colfax created Fax-Ops (a novel fan-appreciation program based on their affinity with video game culture) in the process.

"One Big Quicksand", their sophomore release, was recorded and produced by up-and-comer Jayson DeZuzio (Coheed and Cambria, My Chemical Romance, Four Year Strong) in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since it's release, the band has rigorously touring Canada and the United Kingdom.

Brock Tinsley, guitarist for Colfax, was kind enough to answer my questions.

Now,

6 Questions with Colfax

1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

Out of all the words I know, I tend to say "beast" the most frequently. My favorite, though, is "jalopy". My least favorite is "cool-beans".

2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

Cool, sweater weather around Halloween. One of my most memorable nights was walking in fog so thick you can hardly see in front of you with some friends, just kind of being lost on purpose for a while. I've experimented in all kinds of scenarios to keep me creative, only because songwriting isn't a cumulative exercise. Just because you wrote song X doesn't mean you can follow the same process and end up with songs Y and Z.

3. What is the closest you have ever come to giving up performing?

Luckily I haven't got there yet. Strange as it may seem, I've been fortunate enough to endure as much obstacles as I have when it came to making my band work, only because it really does challenge you and make you push harder. Just having the ability to persevere really is as cheesy as all musicians say, but there's a reason they all say it, I guess. Don't stop. Stay frosty with it.

4. You have to erase one moment or act from the past ten years of your life. Which one would you miss the least?

When I had my wisdom teeth pulled out, the medicine they gave to alleviate the pain didn't play so nice with another dose of medication I had been prescribed I didn't know that the previous medication was the culprit at the time, so until I had figured it out I was left with a full-body crippling affliction that had me visiting clinic after clinic, leaving specialists and physicians dumbfounded as to what happened to me. Not exactly a high point.

5. What is the best thing you ever ate?

Curry from Mr. India in High Wycombe, England. That replaced childhood memories in terms of what I'm going to remember in my final moments.

6. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?