When Drowners made their self-titled debut, singer and guitarist Matthew Hitt was the mastermind behind the songwriting. However, for the band's follow-up, On Desire, (out now via Frenchkiss Records), the New York City rock outfit followed a more collaborative approach.

"I think touring the first one led to a buildup of ideas," Hitt tells Myspace. "So when it came to recording the next album, we already had things we wanted to try and ideas to share. So we were waiting for the end of the tour to start getting to it."

With much of the instrumentals done outside the studio, all they needed to focus on was the lyrics and a few other tracks that drummer Daniel Jacobs and bassist Erik Synder penned. "We did a lot of the studio experimenting though like rearranging," Daniel says. "Our producer Claudius Mitterndorfer was collaborative with us, which was huge—with the rearranging and the textures."

Hitt admitted that the material wasn't fully done by the time they hit the studio. "Most of the songs were 90 percent finished by the time we went into the studio," he says. "So that there was room for rearranging."

We had the chance to sit down with the guys and get to know them better. Find out more about the members of Drowners below.

Matthew Hitt

Age: 26
Instrument: Sing and play guitar.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: The Monkees theme [song] from The Monkees, "Hey, Hey We're the Monkees."
Favorite Track from On Desire: Today, I think I like "Troublemaker" because it's the most fucked with band live song that makes sense. It maintains what our original live show was combined with what we learned in the studio. So for me it was a good display of the evolution we went through while recording.
Best Show You've Been To: I don't know.
Best Show You've Played: The first release show, not because it was the best show. But since I've been in New York, I wanted to play Bowery Ballroom, and we sold it out, which was pretty exciting at the time. 
Post-show drink or snack: I'll go get some beer.

Daniel Jacobs

Age: 23, possibly 33.
Instrument: I play the drums.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: I think some of my earliest influences are Raffi, "Baby Beluga." It put me behind the piano when I was five years old. It's probably the earliest one I've got.
Favorite Track from On Desire: It's always changing, but "Trust the Tension" because I think we went the furthest with that from the first incarnation of the song to how it came out as a recorded version. And to see how it went on its evolution and seeing the creative process were really creatively fulfilling and fun.
Best Show You've Been To: Cro-Mags at CBGB's in 2001, and the Harley Flanagan and John Joseph reunion in 2000.
Best Show You've Played: I don't think I can rank the best. They're all great.
Post-show drink or snack: A water or a whisky.

 Erik Snyder

Age: I hover between 18 and 46, depends on the day. Sometimes I feel 18. Sometimes I feel 46.
Instrument: Bass.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: Probably Minor Threat.
Favorite Track from On Desire: "Trust the Tension" as well.
Best Show You've Been To: The one that DJ mentioned is high-ranking. It's the Cro-Mags one at CBGB's, which was a big reunion show because there was massive beef in the band. But also in recent memory, probably Echo and the Bunnymen a couple of years back at Irving Plaza.
Best Show You've Played: Probably the first record release [show] as well because it was the culmination of all this stuff. It was that first wave validating us as a band, and we were having a party to celebrate it. 
Post-show drink or snack: I like beef carpaccio. I also do an arugula, shaved fennel and a little squeeze of orange. Marijuana, too. That's it.

Jack Ridley

Age: I'm 59. I'm the dad of the band. 
Instrument: I play guitar.
The Song or Band that Inspired You to Be a Musician: That's a good question. Either some early Nirvana or my mom sticking the broomstick in my hand for some early [Bruce] Springsteen, I guess. But it changed since I was a kid.
Favorite Track from On Desire: Not sure yet because we haven't played them all live, and I feel like it'll change for me. But I really enjoy "Pick Up the Pace." "Troublemaker" is really fun.
Best Show You've Been To: Any !!! show probably.
Best Show You've Played: Any of the shows in Brazil were fun. Again, not because it was our best performance, but we were really in a fun place and out of our minds and having a super real experience.
Post-show drink or snack: Beer and a blunt.