Hella

Splendid: State your name and what you do in the band.

Zach Hill: Drums.

Spencer Seim: Guitar.

Splendid: You've put out quite a lot of music over the last year -- two EPs, a split live disc, and the new album. How do you find time to write so much material?

Zach Hill: We look in the hidden places and stay naive.

Spencer Seim: We do it all the day.

Splendid: What is the writing process like for you guys? Is everything improvised, or is it premeditated to some extent?

Zach Hill: It's about half and half, depending on the song or how we feel at that particular moment.

Spencer Seim: We just play untill we like it and then we keep what we got.

Splendid: (For Zach) One of the most instantly captivating things about Hella is the more-than-slightly-off-kilter drumming. Do you ever use actual time signatures, or is it all just free form?

Zach Hill: Yes, there are many time signatures but I can't tell you what they are because I don't know about that stuff.

Spencer Seim: Feet form.

Splendid: (For Zach) I've read that you're self-taught. Is this true? How long have you been playing, and how did you develop into both a highly technical and highly unorthodox drummer?

Zach Hill: Yes, I am self taught and I've been playing drums for roughly eight or nine years. I've never tried to be anything but myself and how I play is what comes out.

Splendid: Do you ever feel self-conscious about possibly over-playing or coming off as wanky? I personally don't hear this happening very much, but it's always a risk that extremely tight instrumental acts run -- how do you keep yourselves in check and avoid doing so?

Spencer Seim: We couldn't wank if we wanted to, or at least I couldn't.

Zach Hill: We don't keep anything in check. We don't feel risk or avoid anything. We play how we want.

Splendid: What do you feel that you were able to accomplish on The Devil Isn't Red that you haven't been able to on your other releases?

Zach Hill: Accurate, well-rounded representation.

Spencer Seim: The Devil Isn't Red sounds more like Hella does.

Splendid: Were you disappointed with any aspects of the new record?

Zach Hill: Nope.

Spencer Seim: Zach didn't play any bongos.

Splendid: How did the two of you meet, and when did you decide to play music together?

Zach Hill: We met through a close musical friend and life decided we should play.

Splendid: The band has a very intense, special sort of chemistry -- in fact, with there only being two of you, it almost has to, in order to produce a sound as big as the one Hella achieves. Do you feel closer to one another than you have to anyone else you've played music with in the past?

Zach Hill: We are very close and have a very strange exchange. Our communication as people is different, but musically is clear and matter of fact.

Spencer Seim: There ain't nobody like Zach Hill.

Splendid: Tell me about the dynamic of playing in a two person band. Do you find that conflicts are easier to overcome when there are just two of you? Does it make the financial end of things easier or more difficult?

Zach Hill: It's much easier and much harder in all categories.

Spencer Seim: When we both agree, the whole band is in agreement. When don't both agree, the whole band is not in agreement.

Splendid: Is there ever a chance that Hella will expand to include extra members?

Zach Hill: It is possible, as is everything.

Spencer Seim: Ahh, whatever.

Splendid: The song "D. Elkan Sings Republic of Rough and Ready'" featured vocals. Was that a one time thing, or is it something you'd like to integrate into more songs in the future?

Zach Hill: It's possible.

Splendid: Most bands develop into instrumental acts as a necessity rather than by choice. Was this the case with Hella?

Spencer Seim: I guess so, but we also didn't want that singing crap.

Splendid: Hella is definitely the sort of band that's best captured live -- in fact, that's how you recorded the last album. If you had your way, would you just play show after show and skip recording music altogether?

Zach Hill: No, playing live is ultimate, but recording is very magical as well.

Splendid: What do you feel is the best show you guys have ever played?

Zach Hill: All of them. Importance shows itself in every moment we thankfully get to play our instruments.

Spencer Seim: Our Broadway show.

Splendid: How often do you feel like you have off nights? Do either of you struggle with perfectionist attitudes and wanting to beat yourself up for mistakes, or do you feel that a little error here and there only serves to bolster the band's overall aesthetic?

Zach Hill: Error is the most important part of performance, and true heaviness. Perfection is meaningless when were talking about expressing honest human energy.

Spencer Seim: I don't know, I usually beat Zach up after the show if he made any mistakes.

Splendid: (For Zach) The cover of The Devil Isn't Red looks great. Do you do any other artwork?

Zach Hill: Yeah, thanks. Making things takes up most of my time second to music.

Splendid: Hella's album art has always been superb, and even the website has a great look and feel -- both seem to reinforce the general vibe that I get from the band as well. How important is the visual medium to Hella?

Zach Hill: Pretty important. Most of our music is inspired by more visual concepts.

Splendid: (For Spencer) I've heard that you've got a side project called The Advantage that covers songs from NES games. Could you elaborate on that group a bit, and tell us when we can expect a tour or an album? (Editor's Note: The Advantage has released its album since this interview was conducted.)

Spencer Seim: The Advantage has a record coming out on 5RC on April 6th -- 26 songs from the original Nintendo. We will be touring this year.

Splendid: How do you feel that the NES stacks up to today's console gaming systems?

Spencer Seim: Good. It has a much more innocent feel to it than other systems and I like that. But it ain't shit on the creativity of the original system.

Splendid: What were your favorite NES games?

Spencer Seim: Mega Man 2, Contra, Ninja Gaiden, Zelda, Gradius.

Splendid: (For Zach) I've had a chance to hear the Nervous Cop side-project that you did with the drummer from Deerhoof. How do you feel about the way that record came out? Was this just a one-off, or something you plan on devoting more time to in the future?

Zach Hill: I really love the recording and the people in the group as well. Very beautiful people with vibrant ideas. I hope another one comes to be.

Splendid: (For Zach) How did you end up getting involved with Chino and Mike Patton in Team Sleep? It seems like Hella travels in a bit of a different circle than the Deftones and Tomahawk...

Zach Hill: I don't see things in circles. I enjoy playing with talented people. I've been fortunate to collaborate with great musical minds.

Splendid: When can we expect the Team Sleep album to hit the streets?

Zach Hill: It's finally being finished as I write this hopefully it will reach people this year.

Splendid: From what I understand, both of you spend practically every waking hour playing and recording music. Do either of you feel like music is a specific calling on your lives, as opposed to just being one of many hobbies, as it is for some musicians?

Zach Hill: It's the furthest thing from a hobby. It's in our piss.

Spencer Seim: I'm music's hobby.

Splendid: What is it that music offers you that other things in life can't or don't?

Spencer Seim: Everything at once.

Zach Hill: Love from a love we don't know about.

Splendid: Lastly -- any parting shots?

Zach Hill: It's in our piss!

Spencer Seim: Arma larma!

-- Phillip Buchan