Words: Susie Ulrey

Photo: Jarred D. Wynne

I did my best James Lipton impression while corresponding with Eric Collins of Lakeland’s The Dark Romantics in an attempt to avoid your typical “tell me your journey as a musician” Q & A.

With words like “dark” and “romantic” in his band’s name, assumptions, it must be admitted, were abundant. I expected veiled, cryptic, cool-rock-boy answers. Couple the name with their sound, which has been described as “sexy” and "swaggering", and I was even prepared for blatantly coy and/or cheeky responses. I was mistaken; turns out the band is made up of two happily married (and talented) couples – think more Abba and less Sonny and Cher.

1. What is your favorite word?

Love

2. What is your least favorite word?

Amazing

3. What turns you on?

A great song

4. What turns you off?

Selfishness

5. What is your favorite curse word?

"Ish." As in, "I'm in some deep ish man"

6. What sound or noise do you love?

My daughter singing to me

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

Chewing

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

NFL player

9. What profession would you not like to do?

Musical "artist"

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

"It took a little convincing, but I managed to get your mansion close to Bono's like you asked."

To sum it up in a word: The Dark Romantics = scrumtrelescent.

The band celebrates the release of their Lonely/Roads 7-inch (New Granada Records) with four Florida shows starting May 22nd in Lakeland. 

thedarkromantics.com