Here’s an exclusive Driven Far Off interview with Nate from Sherwood. He talks about the new record and gives some new details about it. Sorry about the questions being a little random in order.

1) First of all whatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s your name, and what do you do in Sherwood?

Nate, I sing and play the bass.

2) Does the new record have a release date and/or a title and track listing yet?

The record is called “A Different Light” and it comes out mid march. The track listing is yet to be determined.

3) What was the hardest and what was the best part of making this new record?

The hardest part was realizing that things are rapidly changing. We are no longer the young band that stares out the window of the van with hopes and dreams. People now have real expectations for us to do well and it’s a tad more business. The best part was and is being able to make music as a job.

4) What is your favorite song off the record, and why?

um…I don’t have one.

5) Whatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s your favorite Sherwood song from any record or EP?

I don’t know, I have sung them so many times that I don’t think about it like that anymore.

6) Who would you love to have do a guest appearance on your next record?

Ben Gibbard

7) what has been the one monumental goal that you’ve (and Sherwood) been working towards since the beginning of the band?

I think we always wanted to release a record and have people sing along to it far from home. Once we achieved these goals we decided it was probably time to make new ones, those have not been decided upon yet. Itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s a weird feeling when you wake up as a band one day and realize you sort of made it and now everything needs a new goal or you just decide to part ways.

8 ) What kind of stuff do you guys do on the side when you get breaks from touring and recording?

You know that’s a good question. We are on tour so much that we try and go home to see our families. Our normal friendships have changed a lot since most of the people we know are getting married and having kids etc. everyone is sort of getting older while Sherwood is just a great place to avoid responsibility. When we are home we try to relax and make up for lost time.

9) Who would you love to tour with, and why?

The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan inspired me as a kid to start a band. I still love that band and it would be great to see them from the inside out.

10) Whatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s your stance on a growing number of kids downloading yours or others bands music for free?

Well I am pretty poor so the selfish side of me thinks I should be paid. The moral side of me is confused because sometimes I think itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s funny that after screwing artists for years the music biz finally gets theirs. So in a way I feel that if you really love the music and listen to it often then support the band somehow. Obviously people don’t work for free and Sherwood is how I eat so I can only do it for so long before I need to make a living.

12) What do you think of product placement in songs? And would you guys ever accept money for putting a product in a song?

You know, that’s a crazy idea that I have never thought about. Goes to show how bad the music business is right now. I have no idea what we would do.

13) Do you guys play any video games? If so which ones?

I like video games that involve three to four people yelling and having fun. I like community video games I guess.

Thanks so much to Nate for doing the interview, and I personally can’t wait for the new record to come out.