Published: April 21, 2009 1:15 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight April 2009 Edition
Nine Even
Nine Even
Jake Modica, Guitarist/Songwriter, of NINE EVEN recently spoke to me about the band and their tenacious ability to stay together. We discussed when the band was first formed back in 2001 to where the band is at today. We also discussed their long-awaited debut album Seamsan Over. and what fans can expect from this CD. Site back and read on as Jake candidly opens up about the band and what fans should expect from them in 2009.
Isaac: How do you sum up 2008 for Nine Even?
Nine Even: The year we released Seamsan Over.; our 1st full length album. We have been working a long time as a band to show the world an album that rounded up all the genres of music we love, and channel it into a band we can be proud to play in, and listen to.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in your area.
Nine Even: The music in Northern California is hard to pin down to just one genre or feel. When the Deftones/Far got big, there were a lot of bands who copied them, and now the scene has kind of moved into an Indie frame of mind. But, there is also a huge Metal scene here as well. One of the things we always wanted Nine Even to be about, was playing the music we love regardless of what is going on around us. We never liked it when you'd see a band that changed from sounding like what was on the radio, and then you see them a year later and they altered themselves to fit in with what is popular at the moment. The truly great bands/albums don't sound dated regardless of when or where they were made. That's what we strive for.
Isaac: What do you feel was the band's biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Nine Even: Besides releasing Seamsan Over., I would say coming to a better understanding of how we, as individual members, fit together as a band. Inter band harmony is a hard thing for any band, and we feel like we reached a place we haven't before.
Isaac: Nine Even was formed in late 2001. What do you contribute to your lasting power as band to say together?
Nine Even: The friendship between Chris, and Mike, and myself (Jake) have held us together despite any outside forces that have tried (and they have tried) to pull us apart. I feel like the members of this band were meant to play together, and that's something that I haven't felt in prior bands. The music also is a HUGE part of it. When we finish songs that we love, we want to see other people get to hear them. If we didn't work as hard as we do, it would almost be like having children that didn't get to go to college because we couldn't support them.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Nine Even: Our biggest influences are bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Tool, Radiohead, Incubus, Faith No More, U2, Muse, the Cure, the Secret Machines, Rush, Pink Floyd...I could keep going but I think the biggest thing among all those bands is that they do what they want to do with their music, not what may be the safest thing for them to do. All of them have taken big stylistic risks at one point or another. They also tap into multiple genres of music to create their own music. The most important I think about them as well is, they don't lose sight of creating great songs while experimenting. Some bands kind of become so wrapped up in being unique that they lose the song craft along the way. Bands like the ones listed above keep the songs, but still make them sound unique.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Nine Even: The idea that writing/playing music is an expression of who you are, and what you are feeling with that moment/song. We like to be honest about what we're saying/playing, and sometimes that doesn't just fit 1 stereotype of a sound. We feel like we are people that go through the same everyday struggles as anyone, and we want to reaffirm to the people out there who react in similar ways as us, that they aren't alone. They feel those things, we feel those things. The world tries to take a lot from people, but ultimately what's inside your head is your own, and it feels good to know that there are others who feel the same way. It's ok to march to the beat of your own drum, especially if it's at the same tempo Nine Even marches to (insert typed deprecating laughter here).
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Nine Even: Right now, I would say the consensus would be a band like the Secret Machines or the Silversun Pickups, just because they are not fully out of our reach yet (again with the typed laughter.) Any of the bands listed above, or any band who has the same idea of doing their own thing really.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Nine Even: Heavy Alternative is the term I use most often. Alternative kind of means something different now then it did several years ago. We like playing a wide range of music from Heavy (not really metal) to Acoustic based material, so I think the Alternative tag (in the '90s sense) still applies.
Isaac: What is your definition for Rock Music?
Nine Even: Energetic, mood filled music that makes you forget about outside things, and focus on what you want to do with your time here.
Isaac: What has been the inspiration behind the music the band's first album, Seamsan Over (released in 2008)?
Nine Even: Many things. The album is not designed to be a strict concept album, but the order of the songs is very intentional. Seamsan (we pronounce it seem-son) is a Gaelic word for Hesitation. Over with the period mark after it is about how we are no longer letting the things outside the core of the band hold us back. The songs range from being about ex-girlfriends, almost or daydreamed girlfriends, current girlfriends, to ideas about why we pursue the things we do, and not letting our resolve get taken from us. The Gaelic thing is because my most longtime/best friend and I always made up little in jokes with Gaelic, and a lot of my influences are Irish.
Isaac: Why did it take almost 7 years to complete your first album?
Nine Even: All the usual rock 'n roll lineup problems. Drummers are pretty much the bane of our existence (insert sad laughter). This has a lot to do with the title being (translation) - hesitation over period. The usual money issues of today's world also played a big part in it. The benefits of having that long to finish this album, was we really managed to get things dialed into the right tempo, and stuff locked in. We also have a LOT of other material waiting to go over the next years (about 3 or 4 albums worth). We are actually about to go to RadioStar Studios at the end of the week to record a 4 song EP that we will be releasing later this year. Next year we are planning a 9 song 2nd full lengthalbum, with a couple of longer songs on it (10 and 18 mins. to be exact). We also have a few leftovers we plan to put up online in the near future.
There are many more linked to from those pages, and we are available on the usual stops like iTunes, Amazon, etc. also.
Isaac: What can fans expect from Nine Even in 2009?
Nine Even: Intense live shows everywhere we can make it to, our next EP Helm in September, a whole bunch of cool Merch, and a few more surprises we have rolled up our sleeves!!!
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Jason Avery, and Bob McClain who have come in to help fill out the vision of this project. The original 3 all thank you. Jason, you have come a long way with us in the last couple of years, and we count you as our close friend. Bob, thanks for helping us get this thing on the road. We couldn't have made these steps without you.
First off, the long term friends - David Holladay, Chadwich, and Booty Pink. Closely there after - our roadcrew Adam, and Dave. Our longtime FRIEND and recording explorer Matt Erich. The special ladies of our singer (Leah), and drummer (Mel). Bob's mini me Colin. The rest of the "who's gonna" crew past and present - Florez, Pablo, Chris France, etc. I'm going to have to leave a blanket answer of all the other special people out there who have come to see us over these several years. We've grown, and so have you. Thank you for hanging around. Special thanks to bands like Highlight Bomb, Other People's Children, Orphans of Aliens, Bobfisk, When Echos Fail, Sleepnoise, and many more. Extra special shout out to Gosling/Loudermilk, and the Secret Machines. If you don't have their albums go buy them. You won't regret it.
Isaac: Final words from Nine Even…
Nine Even: Peace...we outta here......(and GO SUNFISH!)
