Since their formation in 2003, the four longtime friends that make up Toronto's Debaser have enjoyed a growing following and an expanding musical legacy. Their self-titled EP, released in April of 2004, was followed by their debut full-length release, Blackouts, in October of 2005, which was itself followed by a North American promotional tour. Eric Arthur spoke to Luke Higginson, Bill Turnbull and Jordan Bimm by email.

You just completed a fall tour in honour of Blackouts, your debut full-length, and you're already back on the road. Other than Wavelength, where are you playing these days?

Jordan: We just played a wicked show at the Rivoli with The Postage Stamps '“ who are awesome '“ on January 6, and we will be playing in Toronto again at Canadian Music Week in early March. As a band we love to travel and play in different cities and towns, so we're definitely going to be heading out on the road again soon, probably in the spring. We've played awesome shows in places like Guelph, Peterborough and London, so we want to do that again. Hamilton is high on our list too. We try to play every out-of-town show that comes our way, just to see what happens.

Does it surprise you that the record is charting in cities and towns where you've never played a show?

J: Yeah, it totally does.

Luke: I never had a reason to visit New Brunswick before now. This is a new chapter in my life.

There are a lot of different things happening on Blackouts. Songs like 'œFull Circle'? and 'œMoney Maker'? might get you compared to groups like Echo and the Bunnymen or The Jesus and Mary Chain, while 'œVideo Games'?, for example, has a much more electronic sound. Is that the result of different group members competing to bring their own tastes in, or do you more often find yourselves moving in a given direction together?

J: When we write songs it's a very democratic process. Everyone in our band has written, or majorly influenced, a part of every song we play. So if you hate it, hate us all equally.

L: At the same time though, while there's overlap in our tastes, we also each listen to a lot of stuff that the other guys don't. It makes for four distinct ideas on how to write a song, and I think makes for better music.

Does the fact that you've all been friends for years make it easier to work together? Has the band been more cohesive as a result than previous groups that you might have been in?

J: It really just makes it easier for us to make fun of each other. We have no secrets.

L: Plus, none of us were ever in bands before this one. We were literally just friends who learned to play our instruments so we could start one. Except me '“ I was lazy, and that's why I'm the singer.

These days your drummer, Bill Turnbull, is more likely than ever to be recognized for his work as a commercial actor. Has that presented any challenges to the band?

B: Speaking as Bill Turnbull I'd have to say nope. I don't think we've ever even thought of that as being a problem. I guess if I started doing more prestigious ads, like for condoms and stuff, then maybe cuz I mean, who wants to have 'œthat condom guy'? in their band? It's just something I do so I don't have to do real work. Hardly anyone has said anything when we play a show. Actually, people don't really say anything to me at all after a show. I thought it was just cuz I'm pretty short, but maybe you're onto something here, maybe it's the pizza commercials. All I'm saying is if more people come talk to me it means more moustache rides for the ladies.

J: Yeah, it's challenging to manage all the groupie requests for Bill's cock. Rumour has it that it tastes like pizza.