[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] Foster The People Open Up About Their New Album, Gun Violence, And Bungee Jumping On Stage At Coachella.

Lead by the witty yet wiry-thin songwriter and synth addict Mark Foster, Foster The People are young, boisterous and responsible for the infectious track “Pumped Up Kicks,” that is now on KROQ’s Top 10 Most Played lists and fast becoming one of 2011′s summer anthems.

While KROQ’s Nicole Alvarez interviewed frontman Foster last month in the back of KROQ, we followed up with them as they kicked off their national tour – already sold out in most major cities – on March 8th at Soho in Santa Barbara.

As the live set now boasts 5 people, we chatted with the original three: Mark Foster, drummer Mark Pontius, and bassist Cubbie Fink about their much-anticipated album, Torches, due out May 24th and snapped some live shots of their energetic, gear-heavy live show.

Our main take-away? Their live-set ‘fosters’ a fun, fist-pumping dance party, (during “Pumped Up Kicks” they had the crowd singing along.) But underneath Foster The People’s jolly, synth-pop exterior, the band members have depth and wit. They’ve also managed to retain modesty and refreshing down-to-earth laid back humor despite the crazy track their lives have taken since the band formed October 2009.

So listen close to the lyrics of “Pumped Up Kicks,” and read the interview below, and you’ll realize there’s more to FTP than meets the eye….And be sure to check ‘em out at SXSW, Coachella, or outside of Cali, in a city near you!

KROQ: You are soon releasing your first full-length album on May 24th. What’s your favorite track?

Mark Pontius: A track called “Call it What you Want.” It’s the one we did with Paul Epworth (producer of Bloc Party, Adele and Cee-Lo Green.)

Cubbie: Me too. But the cool thing about that album is I think it really represents who we are as a band. We all have very eclectic music tastes and have spent our lives exploring different genres. In a lot of ways, the music is fresh, but at the same time it has a weird familiarity; it feels like you’ve heard it before because it’s pulling from some many different places.

KROQ: You are often compared to label-mates MGMT, Phoenix, Peter, Bjorn & John, etc. How does that feel?

Mark Foster: (slightly rolls his eyes) I mean, it’s awesome but when you are a new face, you fall under whoever was before you. But next year, people will be comparing another new band to Foster The People.

KROQ: Where there any unexpected muses then musically for the album?

Foster: Aphex Twin. A lot of my programming chops come from growing up on Aphex Twin. As for the other stuff? There’s a lot of soul, a lot of Motown. A lot of influence from Brian Wilson. I’ve lived a lifetime of listening to music. When I write songs, it’s pulling from bits and pieces of whatever is floating around

How did it feel when he first heard his song on the radio?