JS:  Where do you and your band call home?

QE: We’re all from the Nashville, TN area.

JS: Do you write your own songs?

QE: All my songs are originals.

JS: Where does the inspiration for your songs come from?

QE: My last project that came out this past May (A Million Miles Away)

was a concept album about the long journey, so a lot of it was

inspired by years of being on the road and the things I learned about

myself and others along the way. Other than that, I am inspired by

books I read, movies I watch, students I teach, faith, and just life

in general.

JS: Are you working on anything new at the moment?

QE: I have a few irons in the fire.  I am hoping to put out a few e.p.s

over the course of this year. My producer and I are gearing up to

record a split e.p. project with no set finish date and a Christmas

e.p. due in November.

JS: What is your favorite song from your latest album and why?

QE: That is a really tough question.  It really depends on the day.

Right now I would probably say the title track “A Million Miles Away”

though because it is the oldest (6 years) and has been through the

most in its evolution.  I wrote it while I was still in college; I was

just a student who longed for something more in life.  I’ve played it

with others who impacted its structure along the way, so when I play

it, it brings back a lot of fond memories; it is a song that is

positively affected by a close knit community of friends.  I guess I’m

a little sentimental about it in that aspect.  Beyond that, I think

the message of A Million Miles Away has also stuck with me and even

changed over time.  At one point, I lost a dear friend in a terrible

car accident, and I dedicated it to him at a show; it was almost like

those words were his own words to his friends and family.  It was a

very powerful moment.  When I sing it now, it just represents a

powerful longing and drive to discover what is beyond– it has become

a hymn for me in many ways.

JS: What’s on your playlists these days? (what you’re listening to)

QE: Alligator and High Violet by The National has been in constant

rotation.  I can’t get enough of those guys.  Other than that, I’ve

been listening to Two Suns by Bat For Lashes, Curse Your Branches by

David Bazan, Wolfgang Amadeaus Phoenix by Phoenix, Hello Hurricane by

Switchfoot, and Everything Broken Social Scene (one of my favorite

bands).

JS: How did you come to work with JanSport?

QE: I connected with a website called Sonicbids, and they promoted the

Jansport Battle of the Bands, and I entered and won…So here I am!

JS: What are your hopes for the near future?

QE: Well, I’d like to get on the road more this year, connect with other

bands, connect with and grow my fan base, and continue working on

TV/film placements.  I would also like to do a bit more with a

non-profit  organization that  I’ve partnered with called Global

Support Mission.

JS: Who do you consider your musical influences?

QE: Wow.  Where do I begin?  I think that a lot of what I am listening

to now really reflects my influences at the moment, but if I were to

give bands that I always come back to or bands/artists that have

changed the way I view music completely I would have to say (in no

particular order) Genesis, Peter Gabriel, The Appleseed Cast, The

Frames, The National, Broken Social Scene, Switchfoot, David Bazan,

Pete Yorn, Death Cab for Cutie, Sigur Ros, Kashmir, Kevin Prosch,

Radiohead, Delirious?, Future of Forestry, and Tom Petty to name a

few.

JS: What has been your favorite place to perform?

QE: One of my favorites is Rivertown Coffee Co. in Florence, AL.  If

you haven’t been down to the Shoals area, you’re missing out on a

unique piece of American culture.

JS: Tell us about your most memorable performance to date.

QE: The halfway event for Forecastle was pretty memorable this year.

It was interesting to play solo (just me and an acoustic), and then be

followed by an all night dance/ trance party.  It was pretty wild

needless to say, but it shows that Forecastle is all about diversity;

I can definitely appreciate that.

JS: What are you looking forward to most at Forecastle?

QE: It is going to be such an honor to play alongside so many bands

that I admire and respect along with an entirely new audience. It is

especially cool to be able to share this festival with some bands from

Nashville like Paper Route and Civil Twilight; I hope everyone will

check them out—their shows are not shows to be missed.

JS: Any other comments?

QE: I would just like to give Jansport and everyone who voted for me a

hearty “thank you”– you have created an amazing opportunity for me.

I’d also like to thank everyone for taking the time to listen and

supporting what I do—you guys are awesome.