The following is an e-mail interview I did with the band’s drummer, Omar Abidi.

STELLA KIM: Who are you? Tell us about you as a band and as an individual.

OMAR ABIDI: Fightstar started around 2003 when myself, Alex Westaway, and Charlie Simpson got drunk and started playing together at a dinner party hosted by Alex's sister, who was living with Charlie's girlfriend at the time. Alex needed somewhere to live in London, so Charlie put him up in his spare room for a few months, where the ideas and writing started to flourish...

SK: What’s going on with you? Perhaps elaborate on the upcoming album being recorded, talk about the single, touring, whatever’s going on at the moment.

OA: At the moment we’re on album number two. It's been a very different process than the first full length, as we approached it in a new way. New single on the way beginning of August, and we've been touring extensively since May in the states with Madina Lake and Funeral For A Friend. So very glad to be back home gearing up for all the promo for the forthcoming single and album.

SK: What happened between you and the old record label, Island? Sounds like a messy situation. Want to clarify anything for your fans? Got anything to say?

OA: The split from Island/Universal probably seemed messy, but in real terms, it was a clean split. They wanted us to be something we weren't, and we stood our ground. They didn't see the relationship carrying on, and neither did we. It's funny because as soon as you've left a label everyone, including the ones who would never write about your music in the papers, is telling the world and his brother that "They got dropped," and "Is this the end?” Makes me laugh!

SK: Tell me about the album that’s going to be released in September. Tell me about the title, the first single, the producer, the new record company, the musical direction, whatever you like.

OA: Album number two, One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours. We started writing and demoing this album while we were still on Island/Universal. We had only four tracks at that point and that is where we parted from them. As I stated earlier, it was a very different process to the last time round. We used to write everything on acoustics and then take it to the band once the bulk of the riffs were there, but this time round we actually just jammed out with riffs and melodic ideas. It felt a little more organic as well. We had such fun with our last producer, Colin Richardson, but wanted to be able to expand on our sound on this album. So we had the offer from Waldo, as I like to call him, who is Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Deftones.) He really was great to work with. A real musician at heart and that is exactly what we wanted this time. Someone who could break the songs apart and help us make them better, which he did in the bucket loads. He really taught us a lot, old Waldo. Hahaha. The great thing about this album for me is that it takes our Grand Unification sound and just expands on it tenfold, which the new Label, Institute Records, really loved. They have been amazing to us and have really gotten involved in every aspect.

SK: As you know, the first Fightstar album has been released in the United States only a couple months ago. For those of us who don’t know you, finish this sentence: “You’d love Fightstar if you...”

OA: Well... "You'd love Fightstar if you Loved Vertical Racoonology, mixed with heavy riffs!"

SK: Let’s talk about musical influences/inspirations. Both personal, as a player, and as a band. Feel free to bring up a particular album, etc.

OA: What I meant to say is that we are heavily influenced by many bands, such as Deftones, Machine Head, Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, Taking Back Sunday, Muse, Silverchair, etc. Too many to start listing.

SK: I unfortunately missed your New York City gig, so I want to hear your impression of it. Was it your first time playing New York City? We’re a New York City based ‘zine, so we’re curious. Also feel free to tell me about impression about the U.S shows in general.

OA: Firstly, the U.S is a very different place to tour. A full U.K tour would take roughly 2 1/2 weeks. That would just be impossible here. More like 3 months, right? New York was an awesome show. The fans were so up for it and they showed a lot of respect, even for us, and we are small fry over there right now. I love NYC. One of my favorite cities on earth!

SK: Do you feel any kind of pressure from Charlie Simpson’s Busted past? Do you feel more comfortable in places such as the U.S, where Busted is relatively anonymous?

OA: The thing is, with Charlie's past, as you said, is that it has no real consequence in the States, where it was just a blip on the horizon. Whereas, back at home, it was a big deal, but we’re at the end of that era now. If you were to ask him yourself, I’m sure you would get the answer: "Well, I just couldn't give a fuck.”

SK: Future plans?

OA: Well, as soon as the album is out we'll be doing a headlining tour of the UK. As soon as that’s out of the way, we'll be back for more touring of the beautiful U.S. We’re hoping to jump on some bigger support slots, but who knows...

SK: Final words?

OA: It's been a pleasure touring the U.S and meeting all you wonderful fans, so we'll see you soon for another round of the Fight!

Fightstar’s first full-length record, Grand Unification, was released in the U.S in April on Trustkill Records. Their second record, One Day Son, This Will Be All Yours is slated for release in September.