Kill Hannah

by Hilary RAWK!
www.myspace.com/rawkmagazine
rawkmagazine@yahoo.com

Probably the prettiest group of boys I’ve ever seen, Kill Hannah seamlessly fuses flawless visual style with dark dance music. Together for over 10 years, the members of KH have been through many changes and incredibly bad luck.

But it seems the KH curse has lifted, and they are enjoying the success and recognition they have worked so hard to get. They’ve recently opened up for bands like My Chemical Romance, HIM, and 30 Seconds To Mars. I chatted it up with lead singer Mat Devine after their free, private Q101 show at the Logan Square Auditorium last week.

When did you first start making music?

Both my parents play piano really well… When I was a kid they forced me to take lessons… then in grade school I studied trumpet. Not exactly a babe-magnet, but I learned some basics.

What made you want to be in a band?

I don’t know . . . I just always thought the coolest older kids in school were in bands. I took a year of guitar lessons when I was 14. I learned mostly Sex Pistols, Faith No More and stuff.

I joined a local punk band, but they kicked me out the day before the talent show. After that I bought a drum machine and a 4-track so I could make music on my own.

Do you feel like making music is something you like to do or something you have to do?

Both. I love it, and because I love it, I HAVE to do it.

What was your first concert?

My older sister’s boyfriend took me to see The Ramones in NYC which I thought was the greatest thing ever. I weighed about 70lbs and had a tiny purple Mohawk, and my voice hadn’t changed yet. My ears rang for 3 days afterward and I was proud of it. I wore that huge concert tee-shirt that said “Gabba Gabba, Hey” on it for like three weeks in a row.

How has your music changed as you've gotten older?

It’s maintained the essence of the KH sound . . . that is to say, it still walks the line between dark, moody, emotional, and heavy pop or industrial or whatever. The new stuff has gotten more technical, less whimsical, more dramatic and more calculated, more ‘mature’ as far as arrangements and architecture. But it’s still very much us.

I admire bands like SP and The Cure . . . bands that have the talent and freedom to release hard driving anthems and intimate acoustic ballads all within the same album -sometimes maybe even within the same song. So that’s a versatility that we’re going for.

When you include out indie stuff, this is our 5th album, so know more. The irony is that the more you ‘know’ how to write, the harder it is to do something daring and original…Staind, Creed, Trapt, Hubastank, Puddle of Mud... I can’t tell those idiots apart. They may all be masters of the 3-minute formula, but does it contribute anything of value? No…

For this record, we deconstructed what we felt were the greatest songs of all time, “Just Like Heaven,” “How Soon is Now,” “Red Rain,” etc. And, believe it or not, the ALL defy standard verse, chorus, verse.

I know you were really into gothic music when you were younger, and you said that has influenced your music and your look . . . . but you guys have a very cohesive style, is that a conscious decision or is that something that just happened?

I may have had more of a ‘Goth’ influence from my high school years, but it was less Alien Sex Fiend and more The Cure, Depeche Mode, Love and Rockets, Peter Murphy...all of which are essential dark pop bands. I was just as influenced by British bands from early 90s like Catherine Wheel and Ride. Our look is cohesive because we decided very early on that this is more than just a local bar band.

We had a higher purpose from day one, however much ambition and style were virtually outlawed in the Chicago music climate at the time. While every other band made a point to dress down for the stage, band members and pizza delivery guys in Chicago became indistinguishable and it did absolutely nothing to heighten the music or add any mystique to the people creating it. Their attitude was very self-deprecating. “We’re nothing special.” “We’re just like you.” And my attitude is if you’re expecting fans to pay $15 to see you perform, you’d better be something fucking special.

Do you think your look reinforces the message of your music?

One aim certainly is to legitimize the music. In other words, the audience must suspend disbelief, when I sing about themes of love and romance and tragedy and hope, one must trust that it's not all bullshit. The gravity of the songs must be reinforced by the sincerity of the band.

That’s not to say that all heavy metal bands go home and fight with swords and all Goth bands go home and hang upside down from their toes, but if Robert smith dressed in a trucker cap and a tank top with a spaghetti stain on his chest, “Just like heaven” may not carry the same weight.

How do you guys come up with tracks—is it a collaborative process?

Usually I start with a lo-fi home recording of a song, and we develop it further as a group, take it to a finished state, and everyone puts their unique signature on it.

On this record sometimes other members would come to me with a great music bed for me to sing on also. That’s new to me, but it was a great exercise

Do life events affect the music you make?

Of course…the day my relationship with my girlfriend fell apart, I wasn’t inclined to write an upbeat disco song, that’s for sure.

Do you think music has to be deep to in order to be meaningful?

It might have to be deep to be meaningful, but it doesn’t need to be meaningful to be great. Some of the best songs are shallow and fun. See entire Duran Duran catalog.

Do you think your music affects or matters to the people who hear it?

Obviously. We get letters all the time to affirm that. Have you seen how many fans have KH tattoos? In extreme cases, our songs mean more to these fans than their families. I know bands that completely shaped me growing up. I lived my life according to the messages they preached, so I completely relate.

Who are some of your influences—musical and in life?

Life: Nikola Tesla, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, Michael Stipe, Morrissey. Music: The Cure, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, NIN.

What band(s) were you in before you got involved in Kill Hannah?

I put out a 7” record with a band called In A Jar UK. Ha . . . don’t tell anyone.

Are you involved in any other projects?

I work with friends on a new project called Chicago Suicide Club which is a clothing company, online community and event promotion company in Chicago. It’s brand new and very cool.

Mat, I know you are into photography and graphic design, are you involved in the design of the CSC site or clothing designs?

I have a very hard time finding shirts in stores that I would want to wear… so I came up with some designs. One of my partners went to the school of the art institute with me, and everyone in the team has artistic backgrounds also, so there’s a lot of collaboration. The style of shirts represents the tastes of the members of the club.

Do you consider music a type of art? How do you think people experience of the two kinds of art differently?

Like all mediums, music can be art if you choose to make it. I mean, paint itself is meaningless, right? In the hands of a hillbilly it can be used for paintball tournaments, however in the hands of a visionary it can also be used to adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

There’s nothing inherent in the medium that makes it art. It’s in the will of the artist. Both visual art and music, when they achieve their highest aim, can drive one to tears and change the world. They can also both suck really bad.

What was your best show experience ever?

We just played a radio show in Florida to 13,000 kids. We were opening for My Chemical Romance and other bands. It was like being Bon Jovi for a day. It felt totally surreal and natural at the same time.

Any interesting touring stories?

We toured the UK for 2 weeks in a double-decker bus and I changed my clothes only once the entire time… I smelled like carrion.

How do you feel about your fans?

I love them all. They are real, they’re honest. I see a younger version of myself in all of them. I want them to multiply.

When you hear your older albums, are you ever critical or impressed by them?

I’m impressed. Not to be arrogant but they are all underrated, and some of the songs we made in 1998 are still relevant today. I probably should not have worn white leather pants in that one press photo though I guess.

What was it like working with Sean Beavan on For Never and Ever?

It was cool. He’s still a close friend, as is Critter who engineered the record. We just ran into Critter in Florida. He’s on tour with angels and airwaves, whose album he produced. Sean is supremely talented, and it was rad to spend those 3 months in LA steeped in the process.

It was a magic time when the entire team was focused on the album, morale was high and we all felt that there was significance to our crusade. That it was really gonna matter to people. We also played an assload of Halo on the Xbox.

You guys struggled and worked your asses off as an unsigned band for 10 years . . . what does the word ‘success’ mean to you?

Success to me will be a cover of a major magazine, or a compliment from one of my heroes.

I know you are huge fans of music . . . what are some of your current favorites?

I know I'm late here, but I've been on a bright eyes/cursive kick lately.

If you could work with anyone in the world, who would it be?

Diane warren or David Bowie or Billy Corgan.

I know you’re set to tour with The Pink Spiders, Love Arcade, and Action Reaction . . . what else is in your immediate future?

We have our fingers crossed for a couple huge tours in 2007

In my immediate future? A veggie sub with extra mayo from Subway. But that’s a safe assumption considering that’s all I eat every day.



MEMBERS
Mat Devine: vox
Dan Wiese: guitars
Jonathan Radtke: guitars
Greg Corner: bass

BAND CONTACT
Website: http://myspace.com/killhannah
Email for bookings: tcouch@indegoot.comulb.net

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Rawk Chicago 11-30-06