In just over a year of existence, Beehive has made a significant impact on Seattle’s music scene by combining the spirit and instrumentation of rock and roll with driving beat-based compositions to fulfill their musical vision. Group members Alethea “Butterfly Beats” Eichhorn and David “Wise Belly” Miller refer to this fusion as “rocktronica,” and the resulting soundscape has yielded 2004’s impressive “Cycle A” as well as a reputation as one of Seattle’s most dynamic live acts. Both group members possess extensive educational backgrounds in music, and as such both showcase multi-instrumental as well as vocal talents over Alethea’s driving, breakbeat-fueled production. The tracks on “Cycle A” contain traces of Massive Attack and other groups from the golden age of trip-hop, but with a more upbeat spin, and they are rendered in a manner that is both danceable and emotional. I spoke with Wise Belly about the band’s sonic intentions, their debut release, and their future.
First of all, can you explain the nicknames?
The nicknames come from having been friends for more than nine years and being like family. When Alethea started out producing and creating tracks, she came up with a name based around her spirit animal - the butterfly. So she is Butterfly Beats, which is a really very beautiful name if you consider how butterflies beat their wings.
My nickname was given to me to because I'm always insisting on how wise I am and it's mostly a joke. So instead of me being wise, my belly gets to be the wise one, so I get Wise Belly as my nickname. Of course these will change on the next record so be ready!!
Obviously the meaning of the term "rocktronica" is pretty straightforward, but can you explain it in the context of the sound that you guys have created?
The context of our sound is combining three fairly separate worlds of underground electronica, rock and pop. It isn't planned as such when we start a track though. It's more like what we are most inspired by is people bringing together really diverse styles and sounds and creating something cohesive. The only trouble is that not that many people do that, so we do it! It's a very natural thing for us and since we both play drums and we both sing, rhythm and melody are very natural between us. After that we tend to build the tracks out of sounds and ideas we like that are unique.
You released your debut, "Cycle A" in October 2004. Can you briefly describe the record, and how the response has been?
The record came out and at first there was a little pop here in town and then things chilled out a bit. Then all of a sudden in May this year after we returned from a networking trip to Austin for the SXSW festival, things started taking off. KEXP put us into rotation, sales at record stores have increased and we have received a lot of demand and interest from sources outside of the city like Chicago and San Francisco. We were a top 50 local album pick at Three Imaginary Girls’ web page and have been featured in the Seattle PI, and Future Music Magazine out of London, UK.
Most people who listen to the record hear it a few times and then it clicks! We love that. Our favorite records have depth and substance and it takes a few listens to get down to that. We have tremendous melodies and great rhythms, and it’s all wrapped in the unique collage that asks the listener to look deeper. Response has been overwhelmingly positive to this.
Word on the street is that the sonic depth of your live show is remarkable for a band consisting of only two people. Can you elaborate on what the Beehive live experience is like?
Our live show is like a fire hose to some degree! On a personal level, playing live and being in front of hundreds of people isn't something we were born into or had much experience with until Beehive. Therefore, every show is still fresh and exciting and the anticipation before a show is like shaking a soda pop or a beer or something, so by the time we hit the stage we pop. We also really love and feel our music so there are moments when we just kind of fade away and a greater musical performance spirit comes through and we aren't really doing the moves or playing the notes. That's the magic! We might as well be in the audience when that happens, because we are channeling at that point. Plus, Alethea's production kicks ass and she designs it for live performance. What she mixes during the show leaves space for our vocals and guitar and it fits nicely while coming for the audience at breakbeat speed!
How about giving me some artists that you guys have been listening to recently for inspiration or just recreation?
Beck, Miss Solar System, Dave Tipper, Kasabian, Manitoba/Caribou, Chemical Brothers, The Roots, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Nogunri (a local laptop artist), Jerry Abstract (another local laptop artist), The Weapons (the 5-song EP rocks!), Erasure, and obscure Flamenco records and a crate of random 60's vinyl!
Is there anything else that you'd like to add? Any future projects, interesting show anecdotes, or anything else that you'd like readers to know?
We have a local show in July and another in August. Then in September we plan to record a five-song EP to shop to labels, management, promo companies and agents just to see how far we can take this dream!
Our new webpage (designed by our dear friend Matt Frickelton of The Fading Collection) is up and ready at www.beehivemusic.com. We love to meet people online and on Myspace, so stop by and visit the Beehive.
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