Q&A

MATT Crothers, 24, plays the drums with Belfast's alterna-rock band CQDA who have been shortlisted for this year's Music Quest Final to be held in the Island Arts Centre on Friday, August 10.

What do you like doing on your day off?
Usually lying in to a criminally late time to compensate for the criminally early time I have to get up to go to work during the week.

If you were to choose your favourite meal what would it be, where and why?
It's got to be the chicken and mushroom fillet from L'etoile on the Ormeau Road in Belfast. I went there a few months ago for a friend's birthday and it was great.

What has been your proudest moment?
Probably CODA getting to support Sleater Kinney in the Spring and Airbrake. It was quite nice to get that slot and play with a band who I really respect and love plus the fact that they were the nicest folks in the world made it an even more memorable experience.

What was the most frightening moment of your life?
When I developed severe tendonitis in my arm a few years back It was pretty frightening as it got to the point where I thought that I was going to have to give up the drums. I couldn't move my arm or wrist whatsoever for about four months. Luckily enough I've managed to sort it out but to be faced with the proposition of not being able to do something you enjoy and love was fairly scary.

How would you describe your taste in clothes? What's the most you ever spent on a single item?
Jeans, black or red t-shirts and converse. Basic and effective. The jeans are probably the most pricey. I think �70 is the most I've ever spent on a pair.

What would you do it you won a million pounds?
Probably buy a nice pair of �70 jeans and then I'd see about getting CODA into a studio to record our debut album. Outside of that I'd try and financially back the commission of a new series of both Danger Mouse and Dogtanian. Kids TV needs these guys back to save it.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
Me and one of my best mates performing an extremely drunken version of Depeche Mode's 'Policy of Truth' complete with high kicks at 3am in a Berlin karaoke club full of rather bemused Germans.

What music do you like?
Anything and everything. It ranges from Depeche Mode, Bauhaus and Mogwai through to Laurent Garnier, Errors, Isis and Will Hawen. At the minute I'm blasting the new Jetplane Landing and Nine Inch Nails albums in my car which are great and I'm also digging this new band called Foals who I've stumbled across on myspace.

Describe your best ever holiday. What would your dream holiday be?
Nerja in the south of Spain a few years ago was definitely up there with the best. A beach holiday which normally isn't my cup of tea but it was one of the most relaxing weeks I've ever had away.
My dream holiday has to be island hopping in Japan for a couple of months and then a road trip up the west coast of the US. I've wanted to go to these places since I was a kid so why not both if it's a dream holiday.

What is your greatest remaining ambition?
Getting to have a jam with some of my musical heroes. I reckon myself, Andy Cairns of Therapy?, Robert Smith of the Cure and Hooky from New Order could make an excellent band. I can but dream.

Ulster Star
27/07/2007

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