HIS NAME IS ALIVE is the latest American band to appear on the UK's coveted 4AD Records. The band, based in Livonia, Michigan, have released their debut LP, 'Livonia', an odd, ghostly, otherworldly collection of choral/ethereal/industrial sounds. In other words, it's a feast for more adventurous ears. They've been (wrongly) compared to the loathed/loved COCTEAU TWINS, but HNIA's concoction of sound is far more experimental and creative. The main force behind HNIA, Warren Defever, was interviewed here (along with partner Karin Oliver) by GODSEND's Todd Zachritz in February 1991.
1-HOW/ WHEN/ WHERE DID HNIA FORM, AND WHO IS HNIA? (Karin): HIS NAME IS ALIVE formed around the composer Warren Defever. It started with just Warren and an occasional guest artist, but wound up being Warren and his harem. Of course, we also have some guys in the band now, too. Names are Warren, Karin Oliver, Jymn Suge, and Melissa Elliott.
2-HOW DID HNIA COME TO BE A 4AD ARTIST? (Warren): We sent a tape to them, 'I Had Sex With God', and Ivo, the main dude, called me to say he liked it. I kept sending him tapes of songs, new songs, re-mixes, etc. until he finally agreed to release something.
3-WHAT RELEASES DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE, AND HOW CAN THEY BE FOUND? (Warren): We are in the process of setting up a mail order system in which these tapes will be made available: 'I Had Sex With God' (tape #3) includes tapes 1 & 2 ('Riotousness + Postrophe' and 'His Name Is Alive') covers the years 1986-1989. 'Love Can't Buy Happiness' covers the time from 1989-June 1990. 'New Stars New Tongue' from June-August 1990 and a live tape.
4-WHAT INFLUENCES THE MUSIC OF HNIA? (Warren): I really enjoy just sitting in my room or basement twangin' away or practicing my sampling and the results are simply experiments that turned out (at least in my mind). Friends come over and add their parts and I slap on a title. Actually this is the creative process, not so much the influences.
5-WHAT OTHER ARTISTS/MUSICIANS DO YOU LIKE? I really enjoy the work of Glenn Branca, Harold Budd, and Graeme Revell (SPK). These are my 3 favorite composers of all time. Also way cool are: Jimi Hendrix, Alex Chilton, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, the Pain Teens, and I love all rockabilly.
Karin really likes Broadway musical music and Jane Siberry.
6- DO YOU PLAY LIVE OFTEN (OR ANY TOURING PLANS)? (Warren): Lately, we've been playing once a month. If the 2nd work is released then hopefully a real tour will happen. If not, more haphazardscheduling of live shows is to be expected.
7-HOW DID THE NAME 'HIS NAME IS ALIVE' COME ABOUT? (Karin): It came to Warren in a dream, I think, although he'll never tell us. It's a question of great controversy. Most of us agree that it has nothing to do with any known religion, but then you never can tell, can you?
8-ELABORATE ON YOUR INSTRUMENTATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD HNIA... (Warren): LIVE: Warren, Jymn, Melissa-guitar, Karin-vocals, Damian-drums, also live we have an artist, Davin, who designed our stage show, taught me to sculpt, and runs the films. THE ALBUM: Warren-guitar, bass, samples, vocals, Karin, Angie-vocals, Damian-drums. On the album, Jymn got credit for something you can't even hear.
9-DID IVO REALLY TOTALLY REARRANGE SOME OF YOUR TRACKS ON THE LP? HOW SIMILAR IS 'LIVONIA' TO YOUR EARLIER TAPE RELEASES? (Warren): The song 'Reincarnation' is really two older songs put together. In the last tape I sent Ivo before we agreed to do a record, I chopped up 'E-Nicolle' and 'Fossil' but didn't put the pieces out of order as Ivo did. Ivo says I'm way too destructive with my music and enjoyed the opportunity to destroy ('break down') some himself. 'As We Could Ever', 'Some and I', and 'If July' were earlier released on 'I Had Sex With God'. 'The Darkest Dreams' was on 'Riotousness & Postrophe'.
10-IS HNIA VERY WELL-KNOWN IN YOUR HOMETOWN? A FRIEND OF MINE WAS TRAVELING THROUGH AND SOMEBODY ASKED HIM IF HE WAS WARREN DEFEVER. I don't think we have a lot of fans here. We have gotten a LOT of local press. People around here have heard the name and stuff. But locally speaking, my other band, ELVIS HITLER, is actually more popular.
11-YOU STATED SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS EARLIER. IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED MAINLY IN MORE EXPERIMENTAL TYPES OF MUSIC AS OPPOSED TO 'ROCK & ROLL'? I definitely love experimental music. I love the theories that seem to always accompany it. I think it's the total disregard for all that has come before. Every industrial work invents it's own language and form of music. BUT--I also really like some regular rock bands. I really enjoy listening to GUITAR as well. Also there's my love of rockabilly. When I first discovered music, it was rockabilly I loved most. For a long time, I'd only ever played rockabilly.
12- HAVE YOU MET WITH MUCH OPPOSITION OR DISINTEREST IN YOUR MUSIC/LIVE SHOWS) BECAUSE OF YOUR MORE EXPERIMENTAL/LESS CONVENTIONAL SOUND? At most of the shows, the audience stands or sits very quietly and doesn't move for the entire performance. It's kind of strange. I think it must be a good sign, though.
13-DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD HNIA... Our songs are basically 3 minutes long and feature guitar and vocals plus maybe an ambient sample. We're very minimal. The guitar is usually very loud and distorted or it's acoustic. The vocals are female and the guitar is male. It is part folk music (guitar and vocals, no drums). It is part classical music (the notes, the polyphony, and the structure). It's either quiet or loud. No real in-between.
14- WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR HNIA? We would like to be able to keep doing that which it is we do--elsewhere, we have very little purpose here on the planet. I need to work on my sculpting. Karin is still in school. Jymn also plays in the bands SNAKE-OUT and BONEMACHINE. Damian also plays in the band ELVIS HITLER.
