Before Buddahead, there was Raman Kia. He was born in Iran, where learning piano offered a respite from the harsh drumbeat of daily violence. Kia fled the country while still a boy, and studied in England before eventually settling in New York City. It was there that pal Leona Naess (daughter of Arne Naess, former husband of Diana Ross) nicknamed him Buddahead, and his lush adult alternative sound began to take shape.

Kia and his band then hit the road. In 2003, Buddahead played Bonnaroo, and ended up contributing a cut called “Invisible” to the festival’s commemorative CD. That tour exposure led to a deal with Sanctuary, and the label issued Buddahead’s debut LP, Crossing the Invisible Line in May ‘04. It was a slick, AAA, radio-ready affair comparable to mature pop acts like Train or Coldplay.

We sat down with Buddhead and talked about war, catholic school girls and (again) selling your soul to Satan. (We can’t help ourselves, sorry.)

MONKEYCUBE: We’ve read about your family history in Iran and escaping to England. How does the current war in Iraq and talks about future war in Iran affect your music/performance/lyrics?

RAMAN KIA: Neither the war with Iraq or the possibility of a war with Iran have so far affected my writing. I don’t write like that but that is not say that living in a country at war, with the mood of a nation being affected by it, has not reflected in some way on me, and that in some sub-concious way i am a reflecting this in my musical mood.

Why did your family send you to a Roman Catholic military school? And we’ve always wanted to know this: was it just like Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and/or did you ever see children being fed into meat grinders?

Metaphorically speaking, I guess so but in reality sorry, nothing that gory.

Won’t even humor us, huh? Is it wrong to want your 25 year-old wife to dress like a Catholic school girl?

If your wife is into it, there is nothing wrong with that; but if she is not and you can’t get over the fantasy then go see a shrink. Personally, I don’t see the attraction to the Catholic girl thing. There were plenty at our sister school Holy Cross and we called them “Holy Gross”.

We’ll let that one go, then. I read you play the piano. Do you write on the guitar, piano or both?

Both, but only if I can get my hands on a piano. So, it ends up mostly to be a guitar because there is always one laying around.

Your album Crossing the Invisible Line dropped late last year. Here’s our new favorite question: Would you ever sell your soul to Satan for a Top 10 single?

I have already sold my soul to satan for far less. He lives in L.A. and his address is … but I changed my mind and got it back.

Ooh … good one. And his name is Keanu Reeves? Here’s a stereotypical question: Which track from the album means the most to you right now and why?

Today, I’d say “How Does It Feel” but only because first thing this morning I read fan mail from a girl in Hawaii saying how much she loved that song. It made me feel good about it.

Awww … very cute. Would you rather have teenie-bopper fans or musical snobs that understand what a time signature and key change are?

I believe there is a happy medium. I have no problem with teenagers being into my music and I think it is cool if the snobs are into it as long as they are not into it because of the time signatures and key changes but because of what those kind of things do to create a better song. There is nothing worse than an artist who only makes snobby music because he can.

Here’s a snobbish question then: What kinds of guitars/strings do you use?

Taylor acoustics, Fender Electrics and D’Addario strongs because they sponsor me.

You are one of the first bands to embrace Podcasting, and we’re getting ready to premiere our very own Monkeycube Screechcast. What do you see as the potential for the medium?

I think the potential is endless. It could be the wave of the future. I believe in it strongly of course which is why
I wanted to embrace it from the get go. Podcasts are done by those who love the subject matter they are casting and not yet controlled by any corporations. I love its purity.

Final deep thought to share?

Don’t believe what you read, even when what you read is telling you not to believe what you read.

Buddahead’s Crossing the Invisible Line is in stores now and the supporting tour is weaving its way through the U.S., Europe and Japan this March.