Q1 How did you start out making music?
Unlike most stories you read of people being given a guitar as a child and immediately starting to write music, I began by buying some very basic electronic music equipment - a drum machine and a crap keyboard - though with hindsight they were utterly useless for what I needed, and not much came from having them. I realised very early on that I wasn't really grasping the technological side of making the sort of music I wanted to make, it just didn't interest me enough.

Then I heard about a guy, also from Carlisle, who was into collecting analogue sound equipment and, more importantly, their instruction manuals! He was using the stuff to create a little bit of acid house music. He had a TB303 bassine, which, for the nerds, was a ground-breaking music-changing box of tricks (though to be honest I was more impressed with the fact he actually read and understood those manuals!). That person was Gary.

He was the complete opposite to me. Firstly, and I'm sure he won't mind me saying so, he was a bit of a technology geek, and he still assumes that position in Burn The Negative today. He was interested in the workings of analogue equipment, probably more so than in making music on them. Which meant he could help me programme synthesisers - simply because he could be bothered to read and understand the instructions - while allowing me to concentrate on the more melodic and playing side of the music we were beginning to create.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
There has been so much through the years which has inspired me. It would have to be the new romantic movement, post-punk, new wave and electronic music, they played the largest role in shaping who and where I am musically now. I think it's difficult to name artists as inspiration for a particular project as it can sometimes be misleading to the listener. But 'In The Atmosphere' has undoubtedly been shaped by what I've listened to over many years, music I've been fanatical about. All of that has definitely overflowed into the production and writing on this album.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I'd like to say there was a set way we do this, but there really isn't, the only definite pattern is that the tracks normally start life on a laptop, not with us romantically sitting in a favourite window playing on an acoustic guitar! Though 'Travelogue' did come to shape on my laptop in a car park, which is almost romantic! Most of the writing on the album was done in my home set up, which is far from being a clinical studio environment. Some tracks might kick into gear because of a bassline or vocal I've done. Gaz may send a piece he's started and I'll take it from there, which was a great way to work, via email, excellent, I need never sit in the same room as him ever again! But there isn't a set way we work, which is good, because if there was it might all start to sound formulaic, something this album can't be criticised for.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
If I was to mention specific names it would have to be Japan, David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Gary Numan, The Chameleons, Depeche Mode and Joy Division.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I probably wouldn't say anything, you've got to let them make their own minds up, I ain't going to sell my music to anybody. If they like it, that's great, if not, fuck 'em.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your debut album, and for the future?
To sell some records obviously, but at the same time create a platform for new material to be heard credibly in the future. I'm really proud of this album, I feel we've ticked the boxes we wanted to with the recordings, so much so I feel we've now got a really clear path as to what we need to do for the second album. We love the label and its attitude to our music. It reminds me of the Factory Records stories - this is all about the music, let's sort the paperwork later!