According to a recent press release: "Freshly launched experimental pop-punk band The Plague has released "Not The Only One," the second single from their forthcoming debut EP Hope For the F.U.T.U.R.E. The track is a follow-up to "Danger," a single that racked up over 34K plays on Spotify in two weeks and charted in the iTunes Top 50 Hot Tracks. "Not The Only One" (originally premiering with New Noise Magazine) is a heady song about addiction, recovery, and the need to move on from toxic relationships." We get singer David Adam Monroe from the band to answer our 10 Quick Ones about the upcoming release and more...

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

"Not the Only One" is our second single off of our debut record Hope For The F.U.T.U.R.E.  It’s a song about staying strong when you need to make tough decisions and having faith that good things are ahead if you stay true to what’s right.  I think the hardest part of being true to yourself is when you are not surrounded by other people doing the same thing. When people hear our songs, they often comment on the lyrics.  My favorite lyric in this song is “Let them try and take your dreams, bare your soul and stand alone for your beliefs.”  I wrote the song at a time when I had a lot of forces telling me I wasn’t good enough and I wasn’t strong enough to get free of critical voices.  Now I can see the irony.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My parents had a yard sale when I was 10 and I sold all my possessions at the time.  I took the money I made and went to Tower Records and bought any records that I thought looked cool.  I bought Green Day, spin doctors, boys 2 men, Sheryl Crow… probably 20 records total.  When I got home and started listening I was hooked.  I felt soothed and stimulated at the same time. I think that's what good music does for me to this day, helps me feel challenged and understood.  The moment I realized I wanted to be a musician was when I played a guitar for the first time.  Thanks for my first guitar, Granny!

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Its funny you ask for 5 because I have a favorite 5!  The Smashing Pumpkins for guitars and drums,  Our Lady Peace for how to have a great song and a band play up against it, Rascal Flatts for the song quality on their records, The Eels for how to be interesting and different but NOT pretentious, The Bad Plus for having great performances and songs with no vocals.  All over the map I guess.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

That’s tough because there are too many to count.  If I had to choose, Celldweller.  He does a lot of production like me where he plays all the instruments and writes and records and mixes.  His ability to fuze guitars and synths is uncanny and I love it.  Our paths have crossed a few times but I would love to learn from him in the studio.  Another HUGE one would be Howard Benson, I love his style and approach to music, he has taught me a lot with out knowing it.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Future punk!  It’s punk vocals, tons of synths, country song writing, uplifting lyrics, and fuzzy guitars with a 90’s industrial spin.  Kinda weird when you put it that way.  Oh, and BIG HOOKS!

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The best thing about being a musician is that we love doing it.  If I loved something else I would do what it took to do that instead.  When I have kids some day, I want to tell them to follow their heart and I want them to see that I lived by that.  Following your heart goes way deeper than your job, what you spend your time doing and the meaning behind it is important.  I want to make peoples lives better if I can, and music is a tool I got and I’m going to try my best.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Unfortunately, we are WAY to busy for any of that! (Laughs)  The best cooks of the group are the Hoffman brothers, Orrin Hoffman plays bass and Steve Hoffman works for our label.  Steve makes bomb tacos.  In general we try to eat healthy and quick and get back to work.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

I’d probably work for a non profit,  building homes or getting food for those in need.  When I was a kid I wanted to be an inventor like my grandfather.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

Hindsight is 20/20, so there are many moments that were missteps because life is full of opportunities to learn.  I will say when I was in my teens I didn’t realize I was performing music for attention and I very much regret any people I hurt because of my ego at the time.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins.  That record is super imaginative, from the guitar tones to the performances, and especially the dynamics.  I would have loved to see them looking though guitar pedals and watch them track fuzz guitar tones.  I heard Billy pushed Jimmy really hard to get drum takes, Id love to see him actually playing my favorite moments.  The soundscapes helped me come to terms with a feeling of grief as a kid.  That record transcended a recording of a band and is much more a work of art.

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