The up and coming Irish rock quartet, mrnorth, got together in the late 90’s and made a name for themselves in their hometown of Dublin as well as in Vicenza, Italy. Now they hope to do the same here in America and lead singer and guitarist, Colin Smith, knows talking about his music is the way of doing it, yet like many young men now a days he’s get one thing on his mind: Angelina Jolie.

With a debut album, LIFESIZE (released on March 9), out Smith finds the idea of describing his music nerve racking. Though most of the time it’s hard to tell if he’s being serious with me, maybe it’s all that charming British wit. “That question is the bane of my life. We have been together for a decade and I still stutter nervously when prompted to answer, like a teenager who's come in from a night’s drinking getting quizzed by their parents. There is a stateliness to our brand of rock music, but that’s a real pompous thing to say. Do you see my dilemma? My palms are sweating. I have to change my shirt.”

When asked about the band’s influences Smith said, “The Bush Administration is the big one at the moment.” But all joking aside and upon a closer listen to LIFESIZE, there is an obvious influence from bands like Radiohead and fellow Ireland natives U2. Smith has a delicate quality to his voice that smoothes over and intertwines with the pure rock energy of the O’Malley brothers on bass and guitar as well as Adrian Mordaunt on drums.

This can be seen on the band’s first single, “Speak No Evil,” which Smith describes as “a real toe-tapper with some biting comments.” As well as Smith’s current favorite song to play live “Lifesize.” “Its a textured passionate song, with a rhythm and mood that, well, frankly arouse me. I've said too much,” he said.

Those influences have probably even caused some critics to compare Smith’s voice to that of the man himself, Thom Yorke. And on an even more grandiose level that of the legend himself, Freddie Mercury. A lot of pressure for anyone, especially someone so new to most music fans. But Smith isn’t allowing it to get to his head, “It doesn't affect me in any significant way. Although I think the Freddie Mercury comparisons come from our shared love of short pants on stage. They're just so comfortable, and fetching don't you think?”

With the future of mrnorth‘s success still unknown, Smith knows one thing about the band’s future: “In all seriousness, I hope it leads directly to the bosom of Angelina Jolie.”

But, until then Smith knows more and more exposure will come their way with a tour planned for spring. And it is clear that Smith has a certain objective for any prospective mrnorth fans, “I want them to step away with a strong impulse to buy the album and any merchandise we have available. May I interest you in the mrnorth line of luggage?”

But in the end, especially as if I didn‘t already get a feel for it, Smith clarifies one last time what he really hopes will happen with the band as well as his love life, “We will continue to write, we have an idea where we want to go for the next album, and are eager to pursue it. It's hard to know though, we still have to tour this one. I guess I'll have a better idea on that when my wife to be Angelina throws her two cents in.”