MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Paper Tongues

(Credit: Liza Chrust/MTV)

Earlier this week we introduced you to MTV PUSH featured artist Paper Tongues, the rock-funk-rap fusion band from North Carolina who provided the theme song for the new MTV show "When I Was 17."

With such an excitable sound, the band surely brings the ruckus live, and that's where Paper Tongues gets their reward: from the connection they make with their fans. One look at their tour dates shows a group willing to go anywhere and everywhere there's a calling, crisscrossing the country to spread their gospel.

In the interview below, Paper Tongues discusses their fans and how their reaction spurs them along on their relentless tour schedule. In the second video, the band talk about its predictably eclectic collection of influences, calling the album a "mixtape" of their collective tastes.

Check out those video interviews, as well as the band's episode of "The 5," all below.

Tags Paper Tongues, PUSH, PUSH: Paper Tongues, The 5, video

(Credit: Liza Chrust/MTV)

This week's MTV PUSH artist is Paper Tongues, an innovative North Carolina-bred outfit that fuses hip-hop attitude, loud rock riffs and U2-esque anthems to make a sound all their own. The band recently released its self-titled debut album and is supplying the theme song for the new MTV show "When I Was 17."

You'll be seeing a lot of Paper Tongues on MTV this week, but in case you still don't know the band, let "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson tell you a little more about how the band laced him with its demo.

Plus, watch Paper Tongues' video for "Trinity" and the epic effort "Ride to California." And after the jump, read what the guys in the band had to say about their time as teenagers.

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Tags American Idol, Dave Matthews Band, Death Cab For Cutie, justin bieber, Paper Tongues, PUSH, PUSH: Paper Tongues, Randy Jackson, U2, video

The story is almost too good to be true: Random dude approaches super-producer Randy Jackson in a Los Angeles diner, starts talking about his band, writes down his phone number and said band's MySpace page and skadaddles. A couple hours later, Jackson calls the dude and says he digs the tuneage and wants to work with the band. Crazy, right?

The random dude was Aswan North and his band, Paper Tongues, is now signed to A&M/Octone Records and managed by Jackson. Dreams really do come true! We recently caught up with the Charlotte, North Carolina, septet for this episode of "The 5." During our rap sesh, North & Co. discusses their raucous live shows, a recent group bout with a gnarly case of the flu and how the band often busts out improv rhymes during long drives.

Paper Tongues' debut album comes out March 30, and to celebrate the release, the band has plans to crisscross the States -- and possibly beyond -- for the next 24 months. Yikes! As Jackson would say, "These guys are some road dogs, dawg!"

Check out the interview below.

Tags Paper Tongues, Randy Jackson, The 5