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His Name Is Alive

May 05, 2024

His Name Is Alive is an American experimental rock band/project from Livonia, Michigan.[1] After several self-released cassettes, they debuted on 4AD Records in 1990, starting a long run at the label. Throughout the band's long history, leader Warren Defever has been the only constant member, with a variety of musicians and singers contributing over the years.

His Name Is Alive
His Name Is Alive performing in 2005
Background information
OriginLivonia, Michigan, U.S.
GenresExperimental rock, dream pop
Years active1985–present
Labels
Members
Websitehisnameisalive.com

Biography edit

Defever began recording in his basement in 1985, while still in high school. His initial work consisted primarily of Defever alone recording the music to a 4-track recorder, with friend Angie Carozzo providing vocals. After Defever went off to college and met Karin Oliver, she became the band's primary vocalist.[1]

The group's work resulted in a self-released cassette. Defever sent the tape to 4AD in hopes of being signed to the label. Despite label president Ivo Watts-Russell's rejection of the band, Defever continued to send him tapes, with improved versions of the songs appearing on each new tape. Ivo signed the band in 1989, believing that (along with his This Mortal Coil partner John Fryer) he could re-mix the songs into a proper album 4AD could release. Livonia appeared in the summer of 1990,[1] and became one of the label's biggest sellers of the year. "He took it apart, and he didn't put it back together," Defever would later comment on Ivo's production style.

A second album of songs similarly recorded in Defever's home studio (which he later dubbed Time Stereo) and remixed in England by Ivo and Fryer, Home Is In Your Head, appeared in 1991.[1] Over most of the rest of the 1990s, Defever improved Time Stereo to record more professionally, and the band became a favorite of 4AD's devoted fanbase.

In 1993, HNIA released Mouth by Mouth, their third full length for 4AD,[1] and embarked on their first full North American tour with Defever on guitar, Karin Oliver on vocals, and Trey Many on drums. This album and tour showed a different side of HNIA to their fans, marking the first time Defever had full control of the mixing and assembly of a HNIA release. Mouth by Mouth was a more ambitious noisy pop record that lacked some of the earlier sparse gothic sounds people came to expect from the first two releases. Defever's wide musical taste became more apparent as Mouth by Mouth showcased his love for obscure '60s pop, reggae, Japanese noise and free jazz.[citation needed]

Defever then took an extended break to work on new projects and write songs for 1996's Stars On ESP, an ambitious project three years in the making. He continued to collaborate with Karin Oliver and Trey Many on this release but also wrote songs with Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry, Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters, Ian Masters of Pale Saints, and Erika Hoffman. Stars on ESP was a breakthrough for the band as Defever began to fully realize his potential as a musician able to paste many influences together in one cohesive work "On their fourth album for 4AD, Stars on ESP, the group mixes dub, dream pop, surf, country, and Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys into something altogether unique."[2]

In 1991 and 1993, 4AD commissioned videos from British animators the Quay Brothers. The brothers Stephen and Timothy were allowed to choose which songs they would like to create videos or short films for. They choose the songs "Are We Still Married?" and "Can't Go Wrong Without You".

1998 was a year of big change for 4AD and HNIA, as Ivo sold the label to Beggars Banquet, resulting in major changes in the label. The band signed a more traditional contract with the label, bringing with it increased commercial expectations. When 1998's Ft. Lake failed to meet those expectations, most of the band left for full-time jobs or more commercially successful endeavors. Stripped down to Defever and vocalist Lovetta Pippen (an experienced soul and gospel singer before joining HNIA after appearing as part of a gospel choir on Stars On ESP), the duo released two soul and R&B-influenced albums in 2001 and 2002, alienating much of the band's fanbase.[citation needed] After having sold a respectable (but far from commercially successful) 100,000 albums for 4AD from 1990 through 2002, the band was dropped by the label, leaving the band's future in doubt.

Defever kept the band's name alive through several notable appearances on compilations like Kill Rock Stars' Tracks and Fields, and We Could Live in Hope, the Low tribute album. Several full-length releases on the Time Stereo label were mostly instrumental music, live recordings, and a few new experimental recordings. In 2005, Defever co-founded the Silver Mountain Media label, and secured distribution for HNIA with major label Sony-BMG. 2006's Detrola was the first full-length release on the label, and was met with much acclaim, winning back many of the old fans from the 4AD days, and earning success on college rock radio and modern rock charts.[citation needed] Detrola primarily features newly discovered Andy FM on vocals, although Lovetta Pippen and Erika Hoffmann make guest appearances as well. Andy FM was best known as the keyboardist for Detroit underground favorites the Tranzistors and Sonapanic. In interviews Defever has often described her as "the best singer ever to sing me Elvis songs and Patsy Cline songs at my birthday party. She plays an important role in HNIA, she's a great singer and she's not afraid when the trombonist takes off his pants and pees in his trombone."[citation needed]

The follow-up to Detrola, titled Xmmer, was released on September 18, 2007. Sweet Earth Flower, the band's tribute to free jazz saxophonist Marion Brown was released by High Two on November 6, 2007.

In May 2010, His Name is Alive released their 11th full-length album The Eclipse. The album was one of the ten CDs released in the limited edition box set also entitled The Eclipse. It features Warn Defever and vocalist Andy FM. Other contributors include Steve Sparks on drums and Jean Cook playing violin. The album was released for MP3 download, FLAC, and CD through the Silver Mountain Media store.

In May 2011, His Name is Alive embarked on a "20th anniversary" series of shows which included a community bike ride in Detroit.[3] Defever says 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of His Name is Alive even though the group's first record was released in 1990. Defever says one undisclosed year has been blacked out of the band's chronology for reasons he will not discuss.[4]

Discography edit

Main albums edit

Singles and EPs edit

  • The Dirt Eaters EP (1992) (4AD)
  • In Every Ford EP (1993) (4AD) promotional CD
  • Universal Frequencies EP (1996) (4AD)
  • Nice Day EP (1997) (4AD)
  • Melody Farm EP [split with Little Princess] (1997) (Shaolin Temple / timeSTEREO)
  • Pets Farm EP [split with Little Princess] (1997) (Motorway/ timeSTEREO)
  • Drugs Farm EP [split with Little Princess] (1998) (Rocket Science / timeSTEREO)
  • Woodstock/Mothers Day" 7" included with LP of Fort Lake(1998) (4AD)
  • Can't Always Be Loved (1998) (4AD)
  • Happy Blues / One Year (2001) (4AD)
  • Nothing Special (2001) (4AD)
  • Raindrops Rainbow EP (2005) (Silver Mountain Media)
  • Silver Makeup EP (2007) (Silver Mountain Media)
  • Firefly Dragonfly (2007) (Acuarela Discos)
  • Dream Rememberer (2010) (Silver Mountain Media)

Independent projects, compilations and remixes edit

  • Sings Man on the Silver Mountain and 8 Other Songs (1992) (Rykodisc)
  • King of Sweet (1993) (Perdition Plastics, reissued in 2005 via timeSTEREO as MP3)
  • Sampler (1993) (4AD)
  • Radio LP (1998) (timeSTEREO)
  • Always Stay Sweet (1999) (4AD)
  • Emergency (2000) (timeSTEREO)
  • When the Stars Refuse to Shine (2000) (timeSTEREO)
  • Early Music Volume 1 (1985-1989) (2000) (timeSTEREO)
  • RMX's 1995-2000 (2000) (timeSTEREO)
  • Rare Tracks in the Snow (2000) (timeSTEREO)
  • Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (2001) (timeSTEREO)
  • Heart and Hand [10-CD box set] (2001) (timeSTEREO)
  • Cloud Box [10-CD box set] (2004) (timeSTEREO)
  • Brown Rice (2005) (timeSTEREO)
  • Leaf Club (2005) (timeSTEREO)
  • Summer Bird LP (2005) (Ypsilanti)
  • Ufo Catcher (2005) (En/of)
  • Someday RMX (2006) (Silver Mountain Media)
  • Detrola Instrumental (2007) (Silver Mountain Media) (iTunes only purchase)
  • Xmmer Instrumental (2007) (Silver Mountain Media)
  • Eclipx (2010) (Silver Mountain Media)
  • Dragons Look Out Your Window (2013) (Silver Mountain Media)
  • Home Is (2013) (Silver Mountain Media)

Live edit

  • Sound of Mexico (1995) (timeSTEREO)
  • Finer Twilights (1997) (timeSTEREO)
  • Golden City (1997) (timeSTEREO)
  • Great Lake States Blues (1997) (timeSTEREO)
  • Ten Years Long Time (2000) (timeSTEREO)
  • In the West (2000) (timeSTEREO)
  • In the East (2000) (timeSTEREO)

Video edit

  • "Are We Still Married" (1992)
  • "Can't Go Wrong Without You" (1993)
  • "Peace In Detroit" (2002)
  • "Come To Me" (2007)
  • "Vanilia" (2010)
  • "St. Michael" (2007)
  • "Dream Rememberer" (2007)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 604. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ Phares, Heather. Stars on ESP at AllMusic
  3. ^ "His Name Is Alive Rerelease King Of Sweet, Prep 20th Anniversary Shows". Stereogum. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  4. ^ . WDET. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2011.

External links edit

  • Official His Name Is Alive site 2007-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  • timeSTEREO
  • Silver Mountain Media Group (defunct)
  • HNIA at the Eyesore Database
  • HNIA Discogs entry
  • His Name is Alive at Myspace
  • His Name Is Alive at Bandcamp

May 05, 2024
name, alive, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 2014. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources His Name Is Alive news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message His Name Is Alive is an American experimental rock band project from Livonia Michigan 1 After several self released cassettes they debuted on 4AD Records in 1990 starting a long run at the label Throughout the band s long history leader Warren Defever has been the only constant member with a variety of musicians and singers contributing over the years His Name Is AliveHis Name Is Alive performing in 2005Background informationOriginLivonia Michigan U S GenresExperimental rock dream popYears active1985 presentLabelsSilver Mountain Media4ADRykoSonyHigh TwoKill Rock StarsWarner Bros MembersWarren Defever Andrea Morici Dusty Jones J RoweWebsitehisnameisalive wbr com Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Main albums 2 2 Singles and EPs 2 3 Independent projects compilations and remixes 2 4 Live 2 5 Video 3 References 4 External linksBiography editDefever began recording in his basement in 1985 while still in high school His initial work consisted primarily of Defever alone recording the music to a 4 track recorder with friend Angie Carozzo providing vocals After Defever went off to college and met Karin Oliver she became the band s primary vocalist 1 The group s work resulted in a self released cassette Defever sent the tape to 4AD in hopes of being signed to the label Despite label president Ivo Watts Russell s rejection of the band Defever continued to send him tapes with improved versions of the songs appearing on each new tape Ivo signed the band in 1989 believing that along with his This Mortal Coil partner John Fryer he could re mix the songs into a proper album 4AD could release Livonia appeared in the summer of 1990 1 and became one of the label s biggest sellers of the year He took it apart and he didn t put it back together Defever would later comment on Ivo s production style A second album of songs similarly recorded in Defever s home studio which he later dubbed Time Stereo and remixed in England by Ivo and Fryer Home Is In Your Head appeared in 1991 1 Over most of the rest of the 1990s Defever improved Time Stereo to record more professionally and the band became a favorite of 4AD s devoted fanbase In 1993 HNIA released Mouth by Mouth their third full length for 4AD 1 and embarked on their first full North American tour with Defever on guitar Karin Oliver on vocals and Trey Many on drums This album and tour showed a different side of HNIA to their fans marking the first time Defever had full control of the mixing and assembly of a HNIA release Mouth by Mouth was a more ambitious noisy pop record that lacked some of the earlier sparse gothic sounds people came to expect from the first two releases Defever s wide musical taste became more apparent as Mouth by Mouth showcased his love for obscure 60s pop reggae Japanese noise and free jazz citation needed Defever then took an extended break to work on new projects and write songs for 1996 s Stars On ESP an ambitious project three years in the making He continued to collaborate with Karin Oliver and Trey Many on this release but also wrote songs with Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters Ian Masters of Pale Saints and Erika Hoffman Stars on ESP was a breakthrough for the band as Defever began to fully realize his potential as a musician able to paste many influences together in one cohesive work On their fourth album for 4AD Stars on ESP the group mixes dub dream pop surf country and Pet Sounds era Beach Boys into something altogether unique 2 In 1991 and 1993 4AD commissioned videos from British animators the Quay Brothers The brothers Stephen and Timothy were allowed to choose which songs they would like to create videos or short films for They choose the songs Are We Still Married and Can t Go Wrong Without You 1998 was a year of big change for 4AD and HNIA as Ivo sold the label to Beggars Banquet resulting in major changes in the label The band signed a more traditional contract with the label bringing with it increased commercial expectations When 1998 s Ft Lake failed to meet those expectations most of the band left for full time jobs or more commercially successful endeavors Stripped down to Defever and vocalist Lovetta Pippen an experienced soul and gospel singer before joining HNIA after appearing as part of a gospel choir on Stars On ESP the duo released two soul and R amp B influenced albums in 2001 and 2002 alienating much of the band s fanbase citation needed After having sold a respectable but far from commercially successful 100 000 albums for 4AD from 1990 through 2002 the band was dropped by the label leaving the band s future in doubt Defever kept the band s name alive through several notable appearances on compilations like Kill Rock Stars Tracks and Fields and We Could Live in Hope the Low tribute album Several full length releases on the Time Stereo label were mostly instrumental music live recordings and a few new experimental recordings In 2005 Defever co founded the Silver Mountain Media label and secured distribution for HNIA with major label Sony BMG 2006 s Detrola was the first full length release on the label and was met with much acclaim winning back many of the old fans from the 4AD days and earning success on college rock radio and modern rock charts citation needed Detrola primarily features newly discovered Andy FM on vocals although Lovetta Pippen and Erika Hoffmann make guest appearances as well Andy FM was best known as the keyboardist for Detroit underground favorites the Tranzistors and Sonapanic In interviews Defever has often described her as the best singer ever to sing me Elvis songs and Patsy Cline songs at my birthday party She plays an important role in HNIA she s a great singer and she s not afraid when the trombonist takes off his pants and pees in his trombone citation needed The follow up to Detrola titled Xmmer was released on September 18 2007 Sweet Earth Flower the band s tribute to free jazz saxophonist Marion Brown was released by High Two on November 6 2007 In May 2010 His Name is Alive released their 11th full length album The Eclipse The album was one of the ten CDs released in the limited edition box set also entitled The Eclipse It features Warn Defever and vocalist Andy FM Other contributors include Steve Sparks on drums and Jean Cook playing violin The album was released for MP3 download FLAC and CD through the Silver Mountain Media store In May 2011 His Name is Alive embarked on a 20th anniversary series of shows which included a community bike ride in Detroit 3 Defever says 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of His Name is Alive even though the group s first record was released in 1990 Defever says one undisclosed year has been blacked out of the band s chronology for reasons he will not discuss 4 Discography editMain albums edit Livonia 1990 4AD Home Is in Your Head 1991 4AD Mouth by Mouth 1993 4AD Stars on E S P 1996 4AD Ft Lake 1998 4AD Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth 2001 4AD Last Night 2002 4AD Detrola 2006 Silver Mountain Sony BMG XMMER 2007 Silver Mountain Sony BMG The Eclipse 2010 Silver Mountain Media Silver Family 2012 Silver Mountain Media Silver Dragon 2012 Silver Mountain Media Tecuciztecatl 2014 London London Patterns of Light 2016 London London Silver Mountain Media Black Wings 2017 Silver Mountain Media HHBTM Records All The Mirrors In The House 2019 Disciples Return To Never 2020 Disciples Tanpura and Harmonium 2020 no label Singles and EPs edit The Dirt Eaters EP 1992 4AD In Every Ford EP 1993 4AD promotional CD Universal Frequencies EP 1996 4AD Nice Day EP 1997 4AD Melody Farm EP split with Little Princess 1997 Shaolin Temple timeSTEREO Pets Farm EP split with Little Princess 1997 Motorway timeSTEREO Drugs Farm EP split with Little Princess 1998 Rocket Science timeSTEREO Woodstock Mothers Day 7 included with LP of Fort Lake 1998 4AD Can t Always Be Loved 1998 4AD Happy Blues One Year 2001 4AD Nothing Special 2001 4AD Raindrops Rainbow EP 2005 Silver Mountain Media Silver Makeup EP 2007 Silver Mountain Media Firefly Dragonfly 2007 Acuarela Discos Dream Rememberer 2010 Silver Mountain Media Independent projects compilations and remixes edit Sings Man on the Silver Mountain and 8 Other Songs 1992 Rykodisc King of Sweet 1993 Perdition Plastics reissued in 2005 via timeSTEREO as MP3 Sampler 1993 4AD Radio LP 1998 timeSTEREO Always Stay Sweet 1999 4AD Emergency 2000 timeSTEREO When the Stars Refuse to Shine 2000 timeSTEREO Early Music Volume 1 1985 1989 2000 timeSTEREO RMX s 1995 2000 2000 timeSTEREO Rare Tracks in the Snow 2000 timeSTEREO Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most 2001 timeSTEREO Heart and Hand 10 CD box set 2001 timeSTEREO Cloud Box 10 CD box set 2004 timeSTEREO Brown Rice 2005 timeSTEREO Leaf Club 2005 timeSTEREO Summer Bird LP 2005 Ypsilanti Ufo Catcher 2005 En of Someday RMX 2006 Silver Mountain Media Detrola Instrumental 2007 Silver Mountain Media iTunes only purchase Xmmer Instrumental 2007 Silver Mountain Media Eclipx 2010 Silver Mountain Media Dragons Look Out Your Window 2013 Silver Mountain Media Home Is 2013 Silver Mountain Media Live edit Sound of Mexico 1995 timeSTEREO Finer Twilights 1997 timeSTEREO Golden City 1997 timeSTEREO Great Lake States Blues 1997 timeSTEREO Ten Years Long Time 2000 timeSTEREO In the West 2000 timeSTEREO In the East 2000 timeSTEREO Video edit Are We Still Married 1992 Can t Go Wrong Without You 1993 Peace In Detroit 2002 Come To Me 2007 Vanilia 2010 St Michael 2007 Dream Rememberer 2007 References edit a b c d e Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books p 604 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 Phares Heather Stars on ESP at AllMusic His Name Is Alive Rerelease King Of Sweet Prep 20th Anniversary Shows Stereogum 14 April 2011 Retrieved 23 May 2011 His Name Is Alive Celebrates 20 Years WDET Archived from the original on 11 March 2012 Retrieved 23 May 2011 External links editOfficial His Name Is Alive site Archived 2007 02 07 at the Wayback Machine timeSTEREO Silver Mountain Media Group defunct HNIA at the Eyesore Database HNIA Discogs entry His Name is Alive at Myspace His Name Is Alive at Bandcamp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title His Name Is Alive amp oldid 1218952069, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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