JB- DJ, people have said that one of the judges on the show, Piers Morgan, was just acting and trying to be the mean British guy and make good television when he was criticizing contestants and critiquing.  What did you really think of him?

DJ- Do you mean on the show or backstage?

JB-  Both.  Was he a different person off the air?

DJ-  I think on the show you've gotta make the show to get the ratings.  And that's not the real Piers.  He's really down to earth and really cool backstage.  I remember one time he said that we were annoying, but he put that in a good way because he saw the hunger in our eyes and the desire of wanting to make it.  But overall I thought his personality was like that on TV just for the ratings.  At the same time, he was giving his personal honest opinion.  He might be a little more harsh than (American Idol's) Simon Cowell but I guess that's how America sees him as just the mean British guy but it's pretty much the honest British guy. 

JB-  So you find that helpful?

DJ-  Very helpful.

Hans-  Sometimes maybe he crossed the lines as far as being a little bit harsh in his criticisms but characters like him or Simon Cowell are usually very honest from their professional standpoint.  We respected his opinion and we didn't necessarily disagree with too many of his (opinions).

JB-  And were there any hurt feelings when he said things like "you're annoying"?

DJ-  When he said that he put it in a good way because he said we were annoying because we practiced so much.  We were practicing outside his trailer without knowing it and that's why he brought it up.  No there's no hurt feelings.  All of his criticisms were constructive.  Actually, he was my favourite judge because of that fact.

JB-  How many copies of David Hasselhoff's CD do you all have?

Group- (laughing)  Zero!

JB-  I don't blame you!

JB- Hans, what would you say has been the toughest struggle for the group?  Either prior to "America's Got Talent" or since the show.

Hans- I guess the toughest thing for us is…

JB-  Besides managing the ladies, Hans.  Let's keep it industry related. 

Hans-  (laughing)  That doesn't seem to be a problem too much!  Prior (to) and after, I think it's always a marketing issue.  These days in the music industry is definitely in a transitional period and (record) labels aren't necessarily sure of what… they want a sure deal.  A lot of labels are hesitant to sign on an act… like Asian American, being minorities, it's really hard for us to get that approval.  For us it's going to be a constant uphill battle and it was that (way) prior to the show, during the show, after the show.  You know, we've fortunately been able to build a larger fan base but for the most part I think it's going to be an uphill battle for us.

JB-  Mike, the subject of labels was just touched on, meaning record labels.  But let's touch on another kind of label -- you also said about the Asian American thing.  And I know you've talked to people who've seen the show and saw you on there, but what is it like to be labeled or known as, "Oh, the Asian guys"?  Do you think that's a positive thing to be viewed as?

Mike-  I guess, if you try to put it in a positive light, it does set us apart and gets us noticed.  But on the other hand we'd rather be a singing group that happens to be Asian rather than an Asian group that happens to sing.  When it comes down to it we want to be more about music and expression rather than the colour of our skin and, you know, how small our eyes are or anything like that.  We want to be known by our music not by our appearance. 

Justin-  Everything they (NBC) put us on their website… this kind of bugged me a little bit… but every time we were featured on the website they had to say "Asian singers" or "Asian boys" and you don't see that with the other acts, like "white boys tap dance".

JB- What would you have preferred it said?

Justin- I would have preferred "vocal harmony group".  I just felt that it was kind of funny that they had to say "Asian" every time.  I mean, it's pretty obvious anyway so why slap that onto the name?

JB-  Well now, can any of you tap dance?

Group-  (laughing)

JB-  DJ, what would you change about your appearance or performances on the show, what would you do differently? 

DJ-  I don't know.  I'm a risk taker.  I think a lot of people can connect to a ballad with a (music) track and get really emotional.  I don't know how it would have been successful on that show but like I said I was a risk taker and if we had to change anything I think it would have been to try just a ballad track on there and see.

JB- DJ, is there a crazy goof in the group?

Group-  (laughing)  You asked the right guy!

DJ-  Um, yeah I'm a crazy goof.  Sometimes I do…

JB- Tap dancing?

DJ-  (laughing)  Sometimes I sense that, "Man, these guys are getting annoyed, I'm just too much for them."  I can see the look in their faces.

JB-  Is there that brotherly kind of battling going on?

DJ- All the time.  We live together, we work together.  We have a love and hate relationship.  Luckily all four of us are on the laid back side so nothing holds over too long.  It's just a learning experience and we hope that we can make it to the next level before we tear our heads off!

JB-  Mike, who of the group would you want to stay away from your little sister?

Mike-  (laughing)  Honestly, if I had a little sister… all three of these guys!

Group- (laughing)  [Unknown voice] We're like sharks!

JB- Are there any rituals you as a group have before you go out and do a show?

DJ- Yes.  Me, personally, you'll catch me sniffing this tin of Vicks.  It just clears my nasal passages and I'm addicted to that mint smell.  I don't know, it just gets me ready.

JB- Guys, do you make fun of him for that?

Group-  We think it's glue!

JB- I was going to say, you should see a counselor for that.

Mike-  (laughing)  As far as the group is concerned, we do have a small ritual that we go through.  We have warm-up that we start our rehearsals and our shows with.  Right before we go out on stage we have a quick prayer to be thankful for the opportunities and the road we walk.  But that's pretty much it.  But that's what gets us into the zone and ready to go on stage.

JB-  Hans, who's the mother of the group?  Who's the disciplinarian? 

Hans- Mike.  Keep on talking, Mike!

Mike-  I'm the one that nags.  (laughing)  I prefer the term "anchors" us.

JB- When you write your music, is it based on personal experiences or just experiences that people have?

Hans-  For the songs, I don't think we went into it with a master plan of, "OK, this is what we want to write about as a collective album".  But from my experiences or just creating stories, a lot of the songs are usually about heartache.  They're not necessarily happy love songs but more like sad love songs just because that's what most people relate to.  I think a lot more people can relate to the painful, bad experiences.  Or maybe that's just me!

JB- I feel like crying now.  Geez…

Hans-  A lot of the music is derived from personal experience whether it be to us as individuals or people we know.  One song, called "Keep It Moving" is a song that we wrote as more of an inspirational song as a song about what we're going through and it's very hard being an artist.  We've been doing this for five years and we're still not at the level we want to be.  So it talks about living every day with our aspirations and just keep it moving in the end.