When you think of England, your mind probably automatically goes somewhere towards the likes of magical red bus rides, and, of course, Harry Potter. But you’re missing the real magic here. From getting inked to Twittering at the bar, English native Frank Turner is redefining what it means to live in the true punk rock fashion. Although you may catch him having a cup of tea and glued to his iPod—you’ll truly be inspired by his captivating country sound. Combining the elements of folk rock and punk, Frank implements the importance of living in the moment and ceasing opportunities in his lyrics. With his fifth album set to drop in early June (6^th for the UK and 7^th for the US), Frank Turner takes some time to talk British to us and draw out the sound of his latest creation.

Ashley Jean: Although you write about punk rock and rock and roll—your sound doesn’t necessarily reflect the stereotyped genre. However, the lyrics do. Is there a reason to why you tend to sing more folk/country rock, or is that just how the emotion comes up when you pick up the guitar?

Frank Turner: I guess it’s just how things come out. My taste these days is very much in the folk/country rock bracket, I’m listening to stuff like Springsteen, Dylan, Wilco or whatever much more than any punk stuff. That said though, punk is my roots, what I grew up with. There’s something to do with the form as well - when I started this project it was just me and my acoustic, and I didn’t want to play with any other people right then, and that pushed me down certain stylistic roads. Overall I just try and make music that sounds good to me and it comes out how it comes out.

Ashley Jean: Now it’s undeniable that you have a love for tattoos—how does it feel when someone tattoos a lyric of yours (or your face for the matter) to their skin? Does it have any effect on you, personally? I mean, what if someone tattooed something bizarre of you, like your finger or something. Maybe a girl with a hand fetish just thinks to tattoo your finger on her leg…not creeped out yet?

Frank Turner: Haha, um, well yes, I like tattoos, it’s a culture and an aesthetic I enjoy. When I see people with lyrics and so on tattooed, it’s a compliment, it slightly blows my mind but at base it’s a cool thing, something I understand - I have my own band/lyric tattoos. Pictures of me is slightly different, a bit weirder for me, but then I suppose the essentially motivation is the same. It’s something I try not to think about too much.

Ashley Jean: Sticking with lyrics, in “The Next Round,” you mention “I tried to live like Hemingway” in relation to his drinking habits—I couldn’t help but wonder if you’ve ever thought of writing a novel? And if you can imagine yourself doing such a thing, just for a moment, what kind of story do you think it would end up being about? Might it have a connection to the stuff you write about in your music?

Frank Turner: I suppose it’s something I’ve toyed with in my quieter moments, and when I was younger I used to write short stories, but it’s not something I feel particularly driven to pursue right now. Maybe one day - they say everyone has one novel in them, haha.

Ashley Jean: Back to the music, this past weekend were the Bamboozle festivities, so what was it like playing Bamboozle when you’re around bands like, New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, and The Movielife (just to name a few)?

Frank Turner: It was cool, American festivals are slightly different to European ones, but I had fun, hung out with the Gaslight crew and so on.

Golden Mixtape: But you’re not a stranger to the pop punk, rock lifestyle since you have love for Bad Religion and Brett has love for you. What was it like when you realized someone you looked up to was a fan?

Frank Turner: Pretty crazy actually, there’ve been a number of people whose music I’ve been into for many years who have paid me compliments in recent years, and it’s always a little surreal; makes me feel pretty cool though, haha. I hope I never become jaded or inured to it.

Golden Mixtape: Bad Religion’s no stranger to Warped Tour; ever think you’d be up for that all summer?

Frank Turner: Sure. I think it was offered this year actually but it didn’t fit with the plans we already had.

Ashley Jean: It’d be a hot one, especially mid-July, hitting up Texas; you’d be yearning for the UK.  Speaking of, I’d like to move to England one day, but my dad seems to think I won’t survive there. Do you have any survival tips/warnings for a gal like me who just wants to experience a different part of the world?

Frank Turner: England’s not a particularly hard place to survive in, haha. Travel is something I’m in favour of, obviously, you need to hold your shit together when you’re on the move but the process toughens you up. You’ll be fine.

Ashley Jean: Not only surviving day to day would be a task but I have trouble understanding Britishisms, however, I’m always in a learning mood. Teach me a British sentence that I could say around England without getting thrown in jail for.

Frank Turner: You should learn some Cockney Rhyming Slang. I’m heading up the apples to talk to the trouble on the dog. Haha. Translation: I’m heading up the stairs (apples and pears) to talk to the wife (trouble and strife) on the phone (dog and bone).

Ashley Jean: As an American we know what we know about other countries via pop culture, which leads me to inquire about your favorite metaphorical cup of tea?

Frank Turner: Metaphorical? Uhm, music? I suppose.

Ashley Jean: But seriously, how do you prefer your REAL cup of tea?

Frank Turner: I like builder’s tea. Nice cup of Tetley’s, milk and one sugar please.

Ashley Jean: If I were to catch you off guard, perhaps sipping a cup of tea, what physical bad habit might I find you in the midst of?

Frank Turner: Cracking my knuckles and being stuck to my iPhone.

Ashley Jean: Twitter is a huge bad habit most of us have nowadays (I admit it) and since you’re a regular Tweeter, any pet peeves about and/or using Twitter?

Frank Turner: I think Twitter is an interesting phenomenon. It can be a lot of fun and a cool way of exchanging information very quickly - just last night the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death spread very fast around the bar I was in, it was intriguing. It can be pretty stupid though - reasoned political discussion isn’t gonna happen in 140 characters.

Ashley Jean: You can’t mention Twitter without mentioning a Twitter king, Justin Bieber. Which reminds me, in one of your tour videos that you had a poster of Justin Bieber up. Do you have Bieber fever? A favorite song? Or do you just think he’s sexy?

Frank Turner: I’m still not entirely clear on what the fuck is going on with that kid, to be honest. Couldn’t hum a song of his to save my life.

Ashley Jean:  Maybe he’ll make an appearance on your album that’s dropping in June…if you ever figure him out. But if you could draw us a picture of what sound we’ll find on your upcoming album, what would that picture look like?

Frank Turner: A run down cottage at the bottom of a hill somewhere in the South Downs in England, with a flickering light bulb and someone lost in thought in the front room.

Golden Mixtape: Lastly, if you had to make an autobiographical mixtape consisting of five tracks by other artists, which would you choose?

Frank Turner: “Radio” by Rancid
“To Live Is To Fly” by Townes Van Zandt
“One Way” by the Levellers
“Constructive Summer” by The Hold Steady
“Road Ode” by Loudon Wainwright III