Hailing from Maine, acoustic rocker Howie Day is on the verge of being huge. Not only has he hailed rave reviews from the New York Times, he also recently signed with Epic Records. The Hornet caught up with him, to get his thoughts on his past and pending success.

Adam Varona: You’ve been compared to everyone from David Gray to Ani DiFranco. When in the situation, how do you describe yourself?

Howie Day: I kinda do that with myself, all though I don’t compare myself to other artists. I put my different influences in and paste them together. Ani, I’m not a huge fan of…I haven’t really been exposed to her so maybe that’s the next thing. Other than David Gray, there’s U2, Richard Ashcroft, The Beatles…

AV: You’ve been playing bars and clubs since you were 15. Those can be frustrating. What kept you going so strong for so long?

HD: Well, it’s kinda been on a steady pace. It hasn’t been on one pace for too long. There’s always something new. Sometimes I would play a sports bar for 3 hours with a tip jar, and that was really cool. Then I got an actual show at a coffee shop, and that was really exciting. I’ve been doing it 5 years, which is scary. It’s such a high number, but it doesn’t seem nearly that long.

AV: How’s writing for your upcoming album going?

HD: It’s great man. I’m really enjoying it. The songs are pouring out of me. It’s been built up ’cause I’ve been on tour for three years. It’s kinda nice to be doing new stuff, it’s a nice change.

AV: How many songs do you have written for the next album?

HD: Oh god, I think like seven. Yea, wow, it’s up to seven right now. That’s higher than I thought it was. I’m like half way there.

AV: So you’re going for a 14-song album?

HD: That’s kinda my goal, to do 14. I’ll put 12 on the record and put two somewhere else. Of course, that’s just a goal. I might wind up with only 10 on there, who knows.

AV: You do lots of loops and sampling. Do you write a song with just an acoustic guitar HD: and add the accoutrements in, or do you write with everything in mind at once?

HD: Well, it’s been a little bit different. Some of them start with just acoustic guitar. Some of them start with the piano. Some of them start with a cool drum beat that I can play along too, like a cool tempo. Just a variety, so I don’t write the same kinda song over and over again. That’s my big thing for this record, to play songs that are predominantly piano instead of guitar.

AV: Are you a future teen heartthrob?

HD: No. (laughs). I don’t think I’m that good looking. Even if I was, I would do as much as possible to avoid that.

AV: What’s your biggest accomplishment(s), besides getting signed to Epic Records, so far?

HD: Hmm. I mean, I don’t know…the whole thing, kind of. It’s all one big push, ya know. The thing I’m most excited about is how many people have latched onto the music. I’ve been able to spread the word, and other people spread the word, too. And another big accomplishment is writing that big song, that one that you really like. It all kinda adds up to the big picture.

AV: What advice can you give to young, aspiring musicians?

HD: God. I don’t know. If you really believe that’s what you’re gonna do. That was my theory. If you really wanna do it, and you think you can, just go and do it. I mean, somebody’s gotta do it. It’s hard doing going out on the road for the first time. Finding places to play is the hardest part. Colleges are usually pretty cool about letting new artists play on campus.

AV: When are you going to play Sacramento?

HD: Ummm, I don’t know. I’m not sure. I hope I play there. I think at least we’re coming pretty close to there. I play San Francisco a lot, which is pretty close.

AV: What’s on the horizon for you?

HD: Right now I’m off the road. Most of the stuff I’m doing is promotional. Like record stores and radio stations and that kinda stuff. Right now, I’m really focused on writing music. Then in November I’m going on the road to open for Tori Amos. That’ll be great. We’re gonna be hitting some great venues.