A fresh, new band of musicians from Canada have ‘arrived,’ so to speak, and are currently taking over the likes of YouTube with their viral video featuring their innovative cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know.” In a short time, Walk Off The Earth has garnered more accolades than a group could ever dream of. They have received more than 60 million views and counting on their YouTube channel. Their version of “Somebody That I Used To Know,” showcasing the entire band playing one guitar is the most watched video globally on YouTube for the month of January. The song saw the highest Billboard debut since April 2011, receiving the #14 spot. The band also has gained social media support from some heavy-duty players such as Adele, Gotye, Russell Crowe, Mumford & Sons, Whiz Kalifa, Justin Timberlake, & Ryan Seacrest. With interest from record labels and a recent appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show already in the books, it seems the band’s number one goal and primary objective is to simply perform music that will take fans out of their everyday lives for a short while, and ‘Walk Off The Earth.’

F.R.F.: How and when did Walk Off The Earth start? Where did the name of the band come from?

GIANNI – The band started on misty autumn morning. It was cold and colourful out. I was working since the night before in my studio as I tend to do from time to time, and suddenly POOF!!!!! There was an explosion and Marshall appeared before my eyes. From that day forth we started playing music. The band name we liked because when we make music we want it to take people away from the everyday. We want people to walk off the earth and in to the happiest place in their minds.

F.R.F.: If you could define the band in 3 words, what would they be?

GIANNI – Music. Music. Music.

F.R.F.: What is the band’s songwriting process like? One or two members bringing near-completed songs to the rest of the group? Jam sessions over a few beers until something feels right? Something in between?

SARAH – It’s still new for all of us right now to write together so it’s still really undetermined. From the experience so far tho, it is pretty intense in an incredibly innovative way. I think the new album will be the best work any of us have done so far!

F.R.F.: Whose idea was it to fuse multiple musical genres, while producing creative YouTube videos to supplement the music? How and when did it start to click with the YouTube and Internet audience?

SARAH – Gianni has been keen in youTube for a few years now. He started talking about making videos and releasing singles with those videos a couple years ago and we kicked that whole process off with a few cool videos. We do a lot of research but at the same time we never over think any idea. There’s a happy medium involved. We fuse Genres because every one in the band listens to different stuff.

F.R.F.: I hear a lot of musical “flavors” in your sound, what genre would you place yourselves into, if you had to? What are some of your biggest influences musically, and songwriting-wise? What are some of your favorite artists to just listen to?

GIANNI – I hope we won’t ever be able to place ourselves in to one specific genre. It’s a part of who we are to change our music and invent new things and sounds. Our influences change. One day I might be listening to hip-hop, the next opera, the next rock and roll…there’s a lot of time and music to listen to.

F.R.F.: From what I can tell, you guys seem to have some pretty rabid fans on the Internet. A couple instances that caught my eye was your cover being taken off of iTunes for 3 days, and still claiming the #13 spot on the Billboard Charts, then climbing up to #9 when the song was put back on iTunes; the second being that a couple minutes after you posted your t-shirt for sale, the website selling the shirt “blew up” from too much web traffic. When did it start to really show that your fan base was not only high in volume, but crazy about you guys?

SARAH – We have the most dedicated fans ever! I don’t know how it all works out but we are so grateful to them for being so damn supportive! With out them, we wouldn’t be able to do the things we do.

F.R.F.: Taking pride in being one of the only real “independent” acts, would you accept a major recording deal with open arms, giving up music rights, among other things, in exchange for the “marketing machine” of a big label (hopefully) getting behind you?

SARAH – WE are all very educated in the music industry. We would never accept anything with open arms. We know that no matter what people say or try to convince you of, there is a catch…an altered motive. We also are open-minded to building the best team of people to help us make the best music we can. So no matter what we decide to do, we will always have the upper hand and we will build our empire based on our terms.

F.R.F.: With the success of your Gotye cover on YouTube, as well as your success through social media, has their been major/independent label interest?

GIANNI – Yup. There sure has been.

F.R.F.: Has Wouter De Backer (Gotye) heard your cover? If so, what has he said in response to it?

GIANNI – They have heard it for sure. They Tweeted about it during the first few days of it going viral. They also invited us to come watch their show in March in Toronto. So I think they are stoked on it.

F.R.F.: What are some of the other opportunities that have been offered to you through the success of the “Somebody That I Used To Know?”

SARAH – WE got to fly to LA and be on The Ellen Show. That was neat. I hope we get to do Jimmy Fallon cause I have a crush on him. There’s a lot of cool stuff coming up for sure.

F.R.F.: How did your recent appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show come about?

GIANNI – Ellen is pretty well known for being current when it comes to youTube. They got in touch with our publicist and a few days later we were flying out to LA.

F.R.F.: What was it like to perform live on Ellen’s stage, considering the likes of who has performed there over the years?

SARAH – It was a very cool experience. It was awesome to have that chance. We are absorbing all the cool stuff that has been happening and trying to make sure we don’t miss out on any of it!

F.R.F.: It seems as though Taylor (the player on the far right in the video) gets a lot of social media comments directed at him, referring to him as “Beardie“ or “Beard Guy,” almost talking about him as some kind of prophet! Were you aware of how much a beard could impact a band?

SARAH – We had no idea that would pan out how it did. But it’s pretty fucking awesome!

F.R.F.: What kind of support have you guys received from major recording artists and personalities of the entertainment industry?

SARAH – We are just now staring to get in touch with some people we would love to work with. I want to work with Jack Black so bad! JACK…if you read this…be in one of our videos! I would love to work with Jack White as well. We had some cool people tweet about the video as well. It’s all very exciting!

F.R.F.: What projects is the band currently working on?

GIANNI – Music. Songs…always working on songs.

F.R.F.: Though you have already had a great year in the first month, what does the rest of 2012 (and beyond) hold for the band?

SARAH – A new album. TONS of new videos and music! A lot more live shows! Basically we would love to just take over the world please.

F.R.F.: If you could give other unsigned artists any kind of advice based off of your worldwide, independent success, what would it be?

GIANNI – Don’t sit around and wait for people to help you out. Get off your ass and make your music happen. Learn everything. Practice. Follow your dreams and don’t complain.