Homesick for our Future Destinations is the third release of It’s Karma It’s Cool and sounds slightly different from the two predecessors. James Styring explains, ‘it was time to show our faces,’ and that’s what they do, not just on the cover. Nice!

It seems that, on the new record, you are so much more comfortable with the chosen It’s Karma It’s Cool sound. It sounds so natural, played so confidently. Is that so, or am I hearing something that isn’t there? 

No, you’re right, Patrick. I guess writing and playing together over a period of time brings you closer as a band and more focused with where you want to go. That’s not to say we won’t write any 3-minute pop songs again, but this album just seemed to have a little more purpose and drive behind it. 

And then suddenly, you are depicted as a band on the cover instead of a drawn image. That also says something, or do I see things that aren’t there? 

We thought it was time to show our faces; we’d hidden behind the artwork long enough. Our friend, Mick Dillingham, did a great job with the artwork for our first two records (Hipsters and Aeroplanes and Woke Up In Hollywood), but we just wanted to shake it up and surprise people. We were fortunate to get the great Steve Stanley on board for this one.

How did Homesick for Our Future Destinations come about? 

It was just the natural follow-up to our previous album, ‘Woke Up In Hollywood’. The writing process never stops, so it was kind of ongoing, really. We didn’t change the way we do things; we write the songs, demo them, then record the final versions. However, early on, we knew that these new songs were perhaps a little darker or deeper than previous material. It’s not a concept album, but there are definite themes running through the album. We went with it and allowed the ideas and sounds to develop.

 When in your career did you realize that you can really sing and that your voice is very distinctive? 

I just do what I do and hope that people enjoy it. I always think of myself as one-quarter of the band, not the frontman, or most important, we’re a team, and each has a role and a job to do. Having said that, I’m always very grateful if someone says they like my voice; I don’t try to sound like anyone else or copy any particular style; I just sing and lose myself to the music.