What's Up! Magazine

Mark Heimer of No-Fi Soul Rebellion

When thinking of great local bands one cannot ignore No-Fi Soul Rebellion, made up of Mark Heimer and his wife Andrea. Known for their rip-roaring live shows and unique approach to performing (combining pre-recorded and live instrumentation, etc.), the duo has released a number of albums and wowed crowds in places large and small.

Boris Budd: Tell us about your life. Can you highlight some signature events that occurred that may have shaped the person you are or are not today?

Mark Heimer: Major influencing factors of my life:

Marrying Andrea in 2003. Total love and support. I need that to keep me going. As much as I flaunt my artistic independence, I really don’t like to be alone. She is totally my other half. I have had other people perform in No-Fi with me, but none of them made me feel as good about it as she does and it makes the whole thing feel correct and complete.

Growing up in Alaska influenced my DIY ethic. It is the last frontier you know. You kinda have to create your own culture there if you want to be part of something artistic.

Late 80s-early 90s radio. Before I bought albums, I listened to the radio. Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Salt ‘n Peppa, Naughty by Nature, George Michael, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, MC Hammer, Milli Vanilli, KLF, that whole period when hip-hop was being appropriated by popular and rock music had a big impact on me in terms of musical aesthetics. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard, “Nasty Boys” by Janet Jackson, “Baby Don’t Forget my Number” by Mili Vanilli, and “Peek-a-boo” by Siouxsie and the Banshees are all excellent of examples (outside of standards like “Walk this Way”) of how pop, rock and hip-hop can coexist in a single composition and sound totally rad.

There is other stuff, but too much to mention and I wouldn’t want to bore anyone…

BB: Explain how the No-Fi Soul Rebellion concept was developed. How long had you tied with the idea?

MH: The concept was inspired by my desire to be somewhat autonomous in respects to how I wrote and recorded music, which I began doing myself around late 1999. I developed the performance schematic in 2000, which was inspired by the cover of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion album Orange, which features a drawing of his theremin on the cover. I liked the idea of the band being symbolized by a single instrument. That is when I came up with the idea for the soul system, a bass guitar with a jog proof CD player inside that is plugged straight into the PA. It’s the original guitar that you play, but you don’t play. I am pretty sure I should probably be suing Guitar Hero…

BB: Please explain your approach to a live performance and the reasons for this unconventional line-up.

MH: I just use nervous excitement to fuel my energy and let myself be free to spazz out and express myself in front of a crowd. It’s probably very therapeutic or something. We prefer to play on floors so we can see the faces of the people in the audience and engage them on a personal level in hopes of making something special happen and letting the crowd know that we know that they are present.

BB: No-Fi Soul Rebellion has had five records released in the past seven years. What pushes you to keep writing and creating and what are the major differences that you notice from record to record?

MH: It’s actually five albums, two EPs, and a live record in 9 years.What keeps me writing and recording is my creative drive and liking to have something to share with people. As far as differences in records, what I notice most is the progression in skill at recording, engineering and musical influence. It’s a nice sonic timeline.

BB: What is your favorite No-Fi record and why?

MH: I think Terrible Muscles is pretty cool and I am still surprised that I made it when I listen to it sometimes. It has a nice mixture and balance of my influences and comes off as sounding pretty damn unique, to me anyways.

BB: Describe your recording process from start to finish. Include details about work habits, gear and environment.

MH: The 5-step program for the Heimer method of song writing:

Step 1: Come up with 30-50 musical ideas.

Step 2: Leave them to sit for about two or three months without listening to them.

Step 3: Review ideas and try to make up lyrics in the shower or while driving.

Step 4: Spend the next 5-7 months trying to write and record a collection of songs and worry about every aspect of them to the point of driving your spouse insane with things like: ‘I suck at this, why do I try?’ and ‘What’s wrong with that song? I like this one!!’

Step 5: Desire to be finished with the damned album sooo bad that you put yer head down and plow through arranging, mixing and mastering with such vigor that you totally neglect to do any sort of promotion for the release and have to listen to people say for the next two years: ‘You have a new album?’

BB: If you could have What’s Up! readers hear one song you have written, what would it be and why? How can we get a copy of the song?

MH: I would have them listen to “Brother Lupine” from our new album Oh Please Please Please to prove that we have other decent songs besides “Let’s Pretend.” Folks can preview it and buy it from iTunes, or can purchase Oh Please Please Please at Everyday Music.

BB: Who are your favorite Bellingham bands of all time and is there anyone in town you dream of collaborating with on a song?

MH: I dunno if I have any all time faves. I liked Black Eyes and Neckties’ first album, but more for the nostalgia of heady days of the mid-2000′s of when we first moved here.

As far as collaborations: I want to produce a Joe Olmstead (So Adult) solo EP where Joe plays and sings and I do everything else. Also, I am pretty sure I am gonna be kicking myself for not joining Sean Meyers’ (Scary Monster & The Super Creeps, So Adult) new band. I haven’t heard them yet, but it sounds like it will be right up my alley…

BB: How do you think your wife/bandmate Andrea would characterize you?

MH: Attractive, kind and intelligent. And big in the pants.

BB: What do you think you would be doing now if you weren’t a musician? Please fantasize in detail.

MH: Graveyard shift donut fryer somewhere in Montana, Alaska or maybe Spokane…

BB: What’s next on the horizon for Mark Heimer?

MH: Writing more songs, playing more shows, releasing more albums, trying to do something to commemorate No-Fi’s 10-year anniversary, and going back to school to become a high school art teacher.