Interview with Valencia's George Ciukurescu

I recently interview Valencia bass player, George Ciukurescu for a school paper, this is what we had to say.

Q: When did you first develop an interest in music? And when did you first decide you wanted to pursue music fulltime?
A: The biggest thing i remember was when i was 13 and wanted to be in a band. everyone played guitar but no one had a bass, so i thought hey why not, then everyone would need me, and after that i kind of got this obsession with it and never wanted to stop. i started playing full time when i was 19.

Q: How long have you been actively making music?
A: ever since i started playing guitar, probably for 8 years or so.

Q: How much time do you usually spend touring and away from home?
A: it never feels like it's that much time but when i look back and think about it, it's almost 10 or 11 months out of the year.

Q: How has touring/being away from home affected your realtionships with friends and family?
A: it's actually made them much more solidified because not being around home enough makes you appreciate seeing everyone when you're finally back there for a little bit. and when you're out with your band on the road, you guys know that you're the ones that are really there for each other so it's almost like having a second family away from home.

Q: What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't a musician?
A: i'd still be in school most likely, or working somewhere around here. i try not to think about that too much.

Q: What do you do when you are home and not making music? interests/hobbies
A: i don't really have much time for anything other than band related things but i read a little bit and i watch some tv because i don't get to see much of it while i'm on tour.

Q: How has being a musician affected your personal life? Do you get recognized in public? Have you had any experiences with over zealous fans?
A: it's happened, i love it. i love when people go out of their way to talk to me, i wouldn't be doing what i do if it weren't for that. we're all a family here, music is what helps unite everyone.

Q: What is a typical day like on tour?
A: wake up at 8 am, hit the continental breakfast at the hotel with jd, shower before everyone else is awake, check out by 11, drive a few hours, load in at 2, sound check, play on the internet until the line starts to form, go hang with the kids, play, and then hang with the kids from more. after that, you eat, sleep, and repeat.

Q: What are the best and worst parts of your job?
A: worst is being away from home so much, and the best is being away from home so much.

Q: What is your best memory from being on tour?
A: this entire last tour with boys like girls, all time low, and the audition has been my favorite memory of being on tour because it was with all of our old friends playing for thousands of kids every night and pretty much doing that for a month or so straight. it's like you get to have the best dream ever night after night, only it's real.

Q: What goes into making an album? How long does it usually take for it to be complete and ready for distrubtion?
A: you'd be surprised, some songs we've written for our new record are over a year old and it still hasn't been released. it's usually a four month or so process, you write for a while, record those songs, once that's done you mix and master it, get the artwork ready, and if it's done by a certain date, it can hit streets a couple of months later. it's a long process but once it's all finished, it's totally worth it.