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Byron Bay metalcore band Parkway Drive [pictured right] are nominated for Best Hard Rock or Punk Album at this year's Jagermeister Independent Music Awards for their third LP, Deep Blue [music video for lead single 'Sleepwalker' embedded above].

Ahead of this year's event - more details on that at the bottom of this post - we briefly caught up with Parkway Drive's vocalist, Winston McCall.

What's your favourite musical moment of 2010 so far, Winston? 

The Gaslight Anthem live at Area 4 in Germany. Amazing band, three incredible albums, rain and mud. incredible

What does being independent mean to you? 

No bullshit. No compromise. Music for the sake of music. 

What's the biggest challenge you face as an independent musician? 

None. We don't have anyone telling us who to be, what to wear or how to sound, so none.

Conversely, what's the best thing about being independent? 

Creating music and playing it in an environment free of commercial intent or egotistical posturing with no concern for the bottom line

What's your favourite song of 2010 so far by an Australian artist? 

'A-Bomb Blues' by Canberra's I Exist. Eight and a half minutes of warped, hardcore, stoner blues. Intense, vast, heavy and vicious. It takes some serious talent to write a song of this length that not only keeps your attention for the entire track but hammers it into submission with some serious riffs. [Footage of I Exist recording their debut album I: A Turn For The Worse embedded below]

As a band, what would you ultimately like to be known and remembered for? 

Being ourselves.

Thanks for your time, Winston! For more info on Parkway Drive, visit their MySpace.

The 5th Annual Jagermeister Independent Music Awards are held at The Forum Theatre, Melbourne on Friday October 1st, 2010, featuring live performances from British India, Cloud Control, The Amity Affliction, M-Phazes, Sally Seltmann and Joe Chindamo. Doors open at 8:00pm; tickets are $29+BF and available now via Ticketmaster.

For more info on AIR and Australian independent music, visit http://www.ausindies.com/