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Just over two years ago, the young guys of Between The Trees had a best friend in need of help. Now, the story of Renee Yohe and her struggle continues to sweep the world in the form of To Write Love On Her Arms, while they spend their nights on the stages they have earned, singing the songs she's inspired. I know fairy tales aren't real, but I get the feeling this is as close as you can come to a perfect ending. Yet, this is so obviously only the beginning.

In those two short years, the young fivesome from Florida have managed to tour the world - including the UK twice, play Download festival and sign to Universal Records all whilst having released only one album. We were given the chance to catch up with the guys after their show in Newcastle, supporting one of their favourite bands, The Rocket Summer. The only problem being the drop in temperature that cold February evening...

OS: How has your second trip to the UK been?
All: Amazing.
Wes Anderson [Synth/ Keys]: Definitely awesome.
Ryan Kirkland [Vocals/ Guitar/ Piano]: It's always a great experience.
Josh Butler [Drums]: It's a lot more comfortable too, because we kind of know how things work now, and so, I guess, we're getting to enjoy it a little more, because we're not so freaked out by everything; culture shocks.

OS: Are your finding the UK music scene to be particularly different to that of the US?
Wes: It's a lot different, because like, a lot of people are a lot more crazy about music than back at home. They appreciate it a lot more.

OS: Obviously last time you were here, you toured with British band Kids In Glass Houses. What's it been like on tour with a full American line-up this time around?
Wes: It's different.
Ryan: It's definitely a lot different in terms of the crowd.
Wes: Yeah, there's different people, a different crowd, different fans. So, it's good to make different fans, rather than the same ones coming back. It's awesome to tour with The Rocket Summer though, because we've listened to them since... I don't know how long ago. So, to be on tour with them is pretty unreal.

OS: Would you say the music scene has changed your life?
Wes: Well, I definitely didn't think I'd be doing this! So, that's a pretty big life change.
Ryan: I mean, not being such a big band, it's been a really cool experience being over here with so many kids willing to listen and, people that actually like the music.. It's awesome. Over in America, everyone is so picky. There are so many bands everywhere, so everyone's so picky on what they like now, so it's really refreshing to have people who are there for you, even though you're touring with such a big band like The Rocket Summer.

OS: You're a band that's at the forefront of supporting organisation To Write Love On Her Arms. What's it been like to be involved, and has it effected your writing or music at all?
Ryan: I don't really think it's effected my writing.
Wes: We wrote most of our stuff before To Write Love... even started. Renee was already going through all the stuff that the story was about.
Josh: It's kind of benefited us, both TWLOHA and Between The Trees, because we have things on with To Write Love On Her Arms, but they can help us out in similar ways. So, it's kinda teamwork. I mean, for a time, we were so afraid of being known as 'The To Write Love On Her Arms Band', whatever that means. But, it's become a really cool relationship between us, just working together, you know.
Wes: It's great to get emails and messages from fans too, saying that they appreciate us supporting things like that, because they go through the same thing, and to hear their life story. Just, how our music helped them change their life around. It's pretty unreal to hear that
Ryan: It's refreshing; it's cool to be apart of an organisation that's so fresh and about something so... not new, but maybe new to the ear. It was something that was so hush hush, but To Write Love, and us, and a bunch of other bands have come to bring it to the surface. It's a real issue. So, it's cool to be apart of that.

OS: And, what's it been like being on tour with Jamie [Tworkowski, founder of TWLOHA]?
Jeremy Butler [Bass]: It's fun!
Ryan: It's cool because we talked about doing it last time we were over but it just didn't work out. And last time, we were gonna bring over some of the shirts, but that didn't work out for whatever reason. It's really cool to have him out though. He's a cool guy.
Jeremy: He's hilarious.
Ryan: He is hilarious.
Wes: It's great that he can tell his story over here, for people who don't know about it, too.

OS: You're quite open about your religion, so how would you say your faith effects your music?
Ryan: How our faith effects our music? I think it puts a positive outlook on a lot of things. I mean, we write from life and our faith is our life. We just write about the different things that every other person has in their life
Josh: I definitely think that our faith has helped keep us together as a band. I mean, there's a lot of bands who have no faith, who then get to the tough times and want to give up. But, because we have faith, it's just kind of kept us together.

OS: How would you like people to view your music?
Ryan: Just, err, good music that you can enjoy and something that brings a smile to your face. I mean, I wouldn't want anybody to get sad off of it...
Josh: And hopefully something that sparks something within someone and causes them to think; just challenges them.

OS: And do you get a lot of fans connecting quite emotionally with the lyrics?
Jeremy: Ohh, yeah. We get messages a lot, just about how 'The Way She Feels' or 'A Time For Yohe' has effected them, or saved them; literally, saved their lives. I mean, emotion is huge as far as people's lives go, and to actually hear our music effecting that... it's weird to us because we never thought that that would happen to us when we wrote it, two years ago. It's huge.

OS: You were able to play a few Warped tour dates last year, in the US. How was that experience?
Josh: A, it was exhausting.
Wes: And hot!
Josh: B, it was freaking incredible.
Wes: It was hot!
Josh: We only did ten dates, and it was awful, but at the same time, it was amazing. It was so crazy, like, there were bands who got to ride in the bus, but then, we had to drive to each venue. Be there by 8 o'clock in the morning, and it was an eight hour drive every night. There's no sleeping involved... It's just exhausting!
Wes: Next year, if we do it, it'll be different.

OS: So, how did your name come about?
Ryan: You say it!
Josh: No, you go, Ryan.
Ryan: You're the one that made it up!
Josh: Alright. It's just the idea that one tree represents the beginning of everything, the other tree represents the end. Then, the time in the middle is what we've been given to do something.
Wes: And here we are!
Josh: This is what we're doing and we're Between The Trees, so, this is us.

OS: Which songs would you say define you as a band?
Ryan: 'Fairweather' means a lot to me, for the band.
Josh: I always say 'White Lines [And Red Lights]' is my favourite to play, but like... 'The Way She Feels' and 'Darlin''; we wrote those songs way before we even thought about being Between The Trees. So, the fact that those songs have withstood all that time is kinda cool, and special to us.

OS: What sort of bands and music would you say influences you?
Wes: [Without hesitation] Jimmy Eat World. Big time!
Jeremy: We love The Format, but I don't know if they necessarily influence us... Okay, I'm gonna say it anyway. We love The Format.
Josh: Get Up Kids.
Ryan: Coldplay.
Wes: Personally, I was a big Something Corporate fan.
Josh: We also listen to… old Blink 182.
Wes: 50 Cent... Justin Timberlake!
Josh: We watched the Justin Timberlake HBO Live video today. But, we also listen to - this is kinda new to all the UK... UK-anians…
Wes: UK-anians?!
Ryan: You guys can adopt that now.
Josh: Anyway! Country. We listen to a lot of country. Not that that has anything to do with our music, but we listen to a lot of country.
Wes: Well, it kinda does, because country's written about real life things, and heartfelt things, and so are we!

OS: Finally, what can fans expect for the coming year?
Josh: If we get any opportunity to come back, we will do it at the drop of a hat. We love coming over here and it's always fun, so, any opportunity we're given, we're here.
Jeremy: Our record's being released on Universal, in springtime. So, we have it released, but it's our official big release with our major label.
Ryan: So, hopefully the UK will get it soon after that.
Jeremy: So, that'll be big!
Wes: There's gonna be a lot. It's just not completely planned yet.
Ryan: Not all of it, not all of it!
Wes: There's a lot in the works.
Ryan: We just... can't speak about all of it yet. [laughs]

Check out the band's MySpace for all the news and information you could ever wish for. Also, please check out To Write Love On Her Arms to find out more about Renee's story, Between The Trees' involvement and how you can help, or seek help.