Firstly, congratulations on your new album, Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray -- you guys seem really excited about it!

Thank-you -- yes we are.

Do you feel pressure to top your previous albums?

Yes, definitely – you do feel you’re under pressure. You always want to improve, you want to grow but at the same time we try not let that get in the way of having fun and forget the reasons for why we do what we do. We love to make music and it’s important to retain the fun element. Obviously we take it seriously too so you’ve got to find that balance between enjoying what you do and pushing new boundaries.

Which are your favourite new songs on the album and why?

For me I’d have to say Country Song – it’s the most fun to play live as people know it now and the response is great. It’s tough when a new album comes out because people still don’t know your new material, so you play some of your older stuff and your new stuff but when people become familiar with it, it just gets better. I think people are now identifying with the song and you can see their faces light up when we perform which is great. 

Have your musical influences changed? Any new or old bands, or artists that wouldn’t have inspired you before, but do now?

Ja, it changes all the time; we’re listening to different stuff all the time so it’s constantly changing. We like to discover new stuff – that’s the beauty about music there’s just so much out there, so that discovering new stuff plays a role. Our influences are also not necessarily always rock, I mean especially when we’re making an album or touring we don’t want to listen to too much of the other bands out there as you don’t want to start sounding like anyone else, or getting influenced too much by a certain sound. We listen to different genres, a variety of artists. Me personally I listen to Fever Ray – she’s weird but the instrumentation is great. I just recently went out and bought the Chronic album (again) by Dr Dre. I like to listen to different stuff you know, in my bunk on th bus after a live show – you can find me even listening to Bjork. 

What’s it like when you guys are recording? Do you guys have a set schedule; do you have a certain way of doing things or do you just go with it? Do your friends and family ever come hang in the recording studio?  

It’s different every time and often dictated to by the producer. This time we recorded in Nashville, which is away from home for all of us (I live in LA) – so it was just us, we kind of sequestered ourselves away in the studio. It’s cool though, to focus on the music and just immerse ourselves in the creative process, get the creative juices flowing. It’s always nice to have friends and family around but our studio is a place of work – we’re there to work and we’re usually in the zone and focusing on being creative and there in the moment. After we’ve spent time on the music then it’s friends and family time. 

Despite evolving and adapting your sound – what is the style, the signature that is Seether that not only keeps old fans coming back for more but attracts new fans? 

As a band we’re pretty dynamic and I think that’s what people like. You could put on a record and hear something that’s up tempo or heavy and then a couple of songs later there’s some acoustic. That’s us – it’s never been a conscious thing though, we’re kind of all over the place and fans of all  kinds of music and I guess the albums just end up that way. People like that I think, the kind of “what next?” element to our music; it could be angry or sad, you never know. 

What’s the response been like in the US to Country Song?

It’s been great hey, it’s done really well on radio which I was pleasantly surprised about. I mean the song was a bit of a gamble, it’s different from a lot of stuff on rock radio but yeah, it’s reached no.1 on some of the charts and it’s been one of our best responses yet to a new single. 

We have to say, we love the remake of George Michael’s Careless Whisper, but it seems like an unlikely choice for Seether. What made you guys decide to record and release that track; what was the inspiration behind it?

Well, we were approached by our management to feature on this Valentine’s Day compilation and we’re not exactly a sappy band, so we were told we could do a serious song a love song or just not take it too seriously. So Shaun and I started out taking the piss, the song is a running joke between the two of us, it has some connotations, an adolescent joke between us – I mean the song is pretty camp. So we thought we’d make it Seether, make it heavy. We thought it was going to be hilarious but it actually has a good melody and worked well. We recorded it at Electric Lady Studios in New York, we jammed it out in one day and the record label loved it. It took us by surprise, what started as a joke turned out cool. 

How does your new generation of fans differ from your older fans?

We’ve been around for a while now so we have a lot of old and new fans. You can tell the newer fans just by watching them at a show in the crowd. The new fans look a bit confused when we play older songs like Fine Again or some of our heavier stuff. Then we play Broken, which obviously did really well and they get into it and then Country Song comes on and they light up. I guess we have our pop fans – if you could call them that – the guys that hear I stuff on the radio, listen to the new trends and come watch a show. Our real fans, the old school fans, you can tell, though, the ones that own all the CDs, have a shirt etc – they sing along to every word of the songs that weren’t even on radio, like on b-sides. 

Is the US more home than SA?

For me it is – in a sad way. I have property here, a girlfriend here, my record label is here, my management is here so for the next couple of years I guess, this is home. I do miss South Africa a lot though, it’s an awesome country. I do try come back once a year to see friends and family. 

Are there any bands you love touring with?

We’ve definitely made a lot of good friends along the way. 3 Doors Down – the guys are a lot of fun and they’re our friends. Finger Eleven, Nickelback, 3 Days Grace – all very cool guys. For us it’s about getting to hang out and play [music] with our friends – we love that.   

How do you guys react when you first hear a single on the radio? Do you still get as amped and as excited as you did 10 years ago?

Yeah, it never really goes away. It’s always exciting – it kind of transports you back to when you were a kid dreaming about this when you hear a song on the radio or see your video on TV. You just can’t believe you’ve taken it this far and it’s been such a crazy ride – so you get a little retrospective. Yeah, it’s a thrill and a bit surreal. 

Are you guys going to do an album tour of South Africa this year?

We’re hoping to in December. Nothing is set in stone yet though, but we’re working on it and it’s looking pretty good – it’s definitely a high priority for us. 

Are there things about the music industry and rock and roll that you know now that you wish you’d known when you started?

Yeah – basically everything. When you start out you have high expectations and you jump in with both feet – you’re hungry and will do whatever it takes to play for people and have a CD out there. The reality is far less glamorous and far different from what you saw on TV growing up or MTV or heard about. But as much as the industry may suck at times and exploit people we can’t complain – we’ve been very fortunate and blessed. 

Are there any other interesting hobbies or interest you guys pursue when you’re not Seether that your fans might be surprised to hear about?

I’m into motorcycles (on road), I tour and ride a lot – I’m into sport riding like in the canyons but I also like cruising on a Harley. People might be surprised to hear that I love to cook at home. I braai a lot – I have to teach these Americans how to make a proper braai! But yeah – it’s quite a contrast I guess, this rock guy barefoot in the kitchen – I think that’d surprise people.   

What’s the funniest and weirdest question you’ve ever had to answer about South Africa or being South African?

Ha-ha – all kinds of things! Americans love accents, so this guy once asked me after commenting on my accent where I was from. I told him South Africa and then he said, “Oh is that off the coast of New Zealand?””. I wish I could’ve seen my face. I don’t think I responded, I just stared at him blankly.

Follow Seether on Twitter, like the guys on Facebook and visit their official website for tour updates, music and more.