Curtains for You A Rising Star Feature by Melissa Minners               Some time ago, I reviewed the music of an up and coming indie band from Seattle, Washington named Curtains for You.  Beginning in 2004, the five-member retro-pop band has produced one EP and two albums thus far.  Their refreshingly clean sound and their ability to harmonize in addition to a dramatic lyrical style makes Curtains for You the perfect candidate for a Rising Star Feature.  I was recently fortunate enough to conduct an interview with the band’s lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, Matthew Gervais.  Here’s what he had to say: How did each member of the band decide that a career in music was what they wanted to do? What was that defining moment that made you want to perform?  I can't speak for everyone, but I suppose I decided it when I realized I simply couldn't possibly see myself enjoying anything else.  Being a kid in Seattle at a time when Seattle was the epicenter for this otherworldly movement of creative energy and excitement certainly didn't help me to see the practicality in getting some high paying office job somewhere.  Plus, from twelve to fourteen I had all these run-ins with people I had just seen on TV.  I'd see The Presidents at the music store, Eddie Vedder at the swimming pool or Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron in my neighbor's yard buying a motorcycle and subsequently wandering into my parents' basement when we played Fell On Black Days as loud as we could.  I suppose it twisted my impressionable mind. Where do you get your inspiration for your song lyrics? How do you decide what kind of music you want to go along with those lyrics...or does the music come first and the lyrics next?  Music and Lyrics for me are entirely contiguous.  In the best case scenario they arrive almost entirely at the same time, conveying as close to the same idea as possible. I feel for every great melody, there is a lyrical soulmate.  I think only a few songs could be listed as examples of it: Bill Withers' Lean on Me, Cindi Lauper's Time After Time, maybe God Only Knows .  I'm always searching for that.  Maybe someday I'll get there.  Most of the time I come up with the melody in 30 seconds and then the lyrics can take anywhere from an hour and a half to two months.  Melody is a lot more intuitive.   Knowing how hard it is to break out in the music industry, what makes you keep coming back for more?  I get bored watching Destroyed in Seconds , and then feel like having another go at it. Of all the songs you have recorded, which one has the most meaning to you and why?  Usually it's the most recent song I've recorded.  Which means that some of the most meaningless songs for me were written a very long time ago. Any regrets?  I've had a few, but then again too few to mention. Any upcoming plans for the band?  I've got this funny little costume I want everyone to wear.  Don't tell them about it though please.  It's a secret you know. What sort of message do you hope to send with your music? I think that message is evolving. I get jealous of the whole All You Need is Love thing though.  How simple and to the point was that?  Right now the message is probably too convoluted to try to paraphrase.  If we're lucky we'll pare it down to a line or two.  How about never mind the bullocks, love is still all you need! Any information you would like your fans to know about yourself or the band that hasn't been revealed previously?  Ummm.  There's a whole lot that hasn't been revealed yet.  It could be revealed that we've gone fishing together before, more than once.  So far we have caught one crab, and two perch.  Oh and Davey looks good in a swimsuit!             Well. there you have it - an interview that proves that Curtains for You is as much fun off stage as on stage.  For more information about Curtains for You, visit their website at http://www.sparkandshine.com/curtains-for-you and their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/curtains4you.  And don’t forget to check out their new album, What a Lovely Surprise to Wake Up Here, available in stores now.   To read more rising star features, visit the Rising Star Feature Archive. For feedback, visit our message board or e-mail the author at talonkarrde@g-pop.net.