Richard (voice) kindly answered our questions...

>1) Please, tell usabout the origin of the band... who are ROMEO TRADING CO? Who plays each instrument? when was ROMEO TRADING CO born? where are you from?

    Richard Cope - Vocals from Chester, England, Neil Barrie - guitar from Leicester, England, Edward Staunton - Synths & backing vocals from Leicester, England, Tim Weiss  -Bass from Cambridge, Vincenzo Wager - electronic drums from Brooklyn, NYC USA. RTC was formed in 2001, but we added a synth player in 2002 and electronic drums in 2003. The sound has changed - we are now less indie and more electronic / pop, influenced by New Wave bands like Psychedelic Furs, Magazine, Depeche Mode, Bowie and even Duran Duran.
 

>2) Why did you choose that name for the band?

    It was a derelict clothes shop near where we lived in London. At first it was a song, then it became the name for our new band. We liked it because it was romantic, but also an organisation (Like us).
 

>3) Have you played in onther bands previously or do you play now in other parallel bands?

    Neil, Tim and Rich were in Billy Liar until 2000, an indie band influenced by Radiohead and Pixies. Some songs were quite good, but my singing wasn't as "good" as it is now.
 

>4) Describe the way since a song is born until it is recorded and listened to in a CD?

    Neil and I write most of the material and then show the rest of the band at rehearsal. We are also  trying  to jam more - on chord progressions or drumbeats and write the vocal, guitar and synth melodies over it.  We record it on minidisc with an ambient mic at rehearsal, then demo it at home on a computer with cubase software. Then we argue what to do...
 

>5) Do you prefer gigs or the studio?

    The moment you write a great melody or song is the best part for me personally, but we all love playing gigs and sticking it in people's faces, whether they like it or not! Neil is our studio wizard now. He's the man who doe sthe actual recording. In the studio, I just sit around probably smoking too much and trying to write the lyrics.
 

>6) You have played a lot... which bands have you supported?

    Jack, The Frames, Dream City Filmclub. Some other good new bands in London worth checking out are Nemo and Luxembourg.
 

>7) You have played out of England... where? how was the experience?

    We played with a French band Tokyo/Overtones at a beautiful old venue, Divan du Monde, in Paris last year and also went in the studio to do some recording. It was great - the French people were very receptive and generous to us. Being a musician working in Paris was pretty good. We consider ourselves European.

>8) Do you live on music? Which other things you do apart from music? Can you describe an ordinary day in your lives?

    Live 'for it' yes, but we don't make a living 'on it' at the moment. We all have to work to pay for the studio, equipment, concerts etc. (London is expensive). An ordinary day? If we are at work, then we listen to music, and organising some band business when our bosses are not looking, then write songs or record in the evenings. Neil and I have days off, we write and record together, and if we really deserve it, have some drinks aferwards
 

>9) Why do you release your records and demos by yourself? Have you tried with any label or do you prefer that way?

    We have our own label, Blond & Dumb, which gives us control, but we are looking for a label to sign with (in Spain as well, if anyone is interested!).
 

>10) Are you releasing more ep´s in vinyl? do you prefer vinyl or cd?

    It is amazing how many people (fans, DJs, A&R, journalists) don't have vinyl. I like vinyl (it looks better and feels better) but if we want industry to hear us, it must have to be CD
 

>11) Which bands are you listening to lately? Which is the last record you have bought?

    lo-fidelity allstars, the faint, elliott smith, nick cave, hot hot heat

>12) Which are your favourite bands?

    talking heads, soviet, david bowie, depeche mode, rolling stones
 

>13) Are you playing in any festival this summer? when are you coming to Spain to play some dates?

    When are you inviting us? We'd love to come and play - let's hope it happens. We have Spanish friends and fans in London and we have reviews in some Spanish press (IndyRock, artikcd), so hopefully you'll like it when we get there.
 

>14) If you want to add anything, this is the place!!!

    Thanks for talking to us. Visit us at www.romeotrading.co.uk for MP3s, news, or e-mail u sat romeotrading.co.uk