Human of the week: Bacteria Earth/Middle Sea Records front man, Shane Hanofee

I first met Shane Hanofee in downtown San Francisco. It was pouring rain and he sat, soaking wet, on the slick Bart station steps. His guitar case was open, a few drenched dollar bills crumpled inside, and next to him laid a half empty bottle of Jim Beam. I put down some newspaper, took a freshly rolled joint and bright yellow lighter out of my pocket, and handed it to him. He put the joint to his lips and the lighter flickered, I could see that sprinkled throughout the blue of his eyes, sat tiny, green pools of sadness. He took a long drag and handed the joint back to me, through the pouring rain I could see the tears well up in his eyes as he began to tell me his story….

Only kidding.

Also, who the fuck smokes joints in the rain?

I really met Shane Hanofee at a day job I wont really mention. The first thing I noticed about him is that he never stops talking. Never. Of course, since I am quite a talker myself, I found this both annoying, and intriguing. He has a story for EVERYTHING. Oh, you think you have an epic life story to tell? Well, guess what, Shane’s is more epic. It helps that he’s talented/smart as hell, and one of the only people I’ve ever encountered, that at times, leave ME with nothing to say. His sarcasm, love of all things inappropriate, and extremely dry sense of humor are a few things I love about Shane.

SO…if you’ll please give a warm welcome to the one..the only…NEW YORK SHANE/SHANOFEE/SAUSAGE PATTY SHANE/INVERTED GROUND BEEF SHANE/ONE UPPER SHANE/ SHANE HANOFEE…

IKAJ:Let’s start off with a little background information. How did Bacteria Earth start?

SH:Well, let me start off by saying that I am completely addicted to music and like any other addict, I need my fix or I go through withdrawals. I’m talking physical pain and discomfort, depression, the whole nine. I moved to San Francisco last September with a backpack and an acoustic guitar and that guitar held me over until December. I came from playing in a hardcore/metal band in New York, which means heavy, loud, and distorted sounds everyday and every night. The acoustic guitar was a watered down version of what I needed. It was my methadone. So, the holidays were filled with loneliness, depression, homesickness, frustration, and doubt and I decided I needed to start making music again. After a few failed attempts at joining other bands in the area and quickly losing interest due to differing tastes, I started to compose again. I had dabbled in chamber music and choral composition back in New York but it was missing the brooding, macabre atmosphere I crave in my art. So I started to compose long-form choral progressions that hung on the dissonant notes, treating them as the focal point. I eschewed percussion in favor of a more organic, undulating atmosphere and incorporated influences from world music, specifically the folk music of Asia.

So long story short, BE started as a sort of tide-over until I could start playing again but I started to feel a real connection to the music and the process. The level of inspiration and output I’ve managed to achieve is unprecedented in my previous projects and, to be honest, I just enjoy the hell out of it.

IKAJ:What made you decide to create your own record label?

SH:It’s been my dream as far back as I’ve taken music seriously to be in a position to support other musicians in perfecting their craft. It used to be, even on major labels, that an artist was cultivated by the label and given time and support to grow as artists, to fully realize their contribution to the artistic community. Nowadays, it’s one album and if it flops, you’re shit out of luck. I wanted to craft an organization that truly considered the best possible situation for the artist to be the same as the best situation for the organization and I believe I’m finally in a position to do so. This means limiting my releases to small pressings, it means offering pay-what-you-want downloads to entice the curious, and it means measuring success in the level of satisfaction within my artists and myself instead of with dollars. At this point in time, we’re talking 50-100 copy runs so you’re not going to sell a couple thousand records working with me, if that’s your goal. What I do promise is quality music coupled with quality artwork. Something tangible that you can hold in your hands, know that you’re helping the artist buy the meager supplies they need, like guitar strings and drum heads so that they may continue to pursue art without embracing destitution.

IKAJ:What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?

SH:I’d consider Bacteria Earth in the ambient or drone vein. I’m influenced by bands like Earth, Growing, Moss, Sunn O))), Aphex Twin, Bohren & Der Club of Gore, Moondog, Nadja, Buried At Sea, Om, Mono and Stars of the Lid. Black metal imagery and noir themes also play an important part.

IKAJ:What do you think about the current scene nowadays?

SH:I don’t really follow scenes closely. I’d just as rather listen to a record recorded by one person, alone in their basement as a band that routinely brings it live. I listen to such a diverse array of artists and genres. I can’t stick to just one scene.

IKAJ:What dream tour would you love to be on with any past or present bands?

SH:Unfortunately, I lack the means to perform live at this time. City living is expensive and I haven’t pulled in nearly enough from my day job to afford the kind of gear I’d need. I’m currently working on the logistics of this and I hope to get out into the live scene by the years end. Up until then, Bacteria Earth is a recording only project.

That being said, I’d love to put on an all-day show in a condemned European church with a full orchestra performing selections from Bartok, Stravinsky, and Terry Riley. That would precede Alarm Will Sound performing their arrangements of Legeti, Aphex Twin, and Varese works and then, once the sun sets, it’d be Bacteria Earth, Bohren, and Sunn O))).

IKAJ:Could you briefly describe the music-making process?

SH:I usually start by laying out a few progressions or melodies on guitar. Then I transcribe that onto sheet music where I fill in the gaps and decide on voicing. I, then run the sheet music through MIDI rendering software and manipulate the audio using various effects and filters adding samples when I feel they are appropriate. In the next month or two, I will finally be in a position to record live instruments and I plan on moving towards reproducing my compositions with small ensembles.

IKAJ:How has your music evolved since you first began playing?

SH:I’ve been playing guitar for over a decade but only in the last 4 years or so have I taken it seriously. When I was younger, I spent most of my time and energy on learning others’ songs. I started composing short chorales and playing a lot of punk and metal in college. I liked my music to be loud, fast, and heavy all of the time. In the past 2 years, I’ve really taken an interest in harmonic theory and song structure. I’m more open to consonant music, slow-tempo, and long-form music these days and I guess that shows in my compositions.

IKAJ:What should fans look forward too for the rest of 2010 and beyond?

SH:Bacteria Earth will be releasing a full-length CD on June 22nd on Middle Sea records called, “Black Silk For Bacteria Earth”. A split cassette with harsh noise artist Simian Washboard is also due out before August.

Middle Sea is working with sound collage/manipulator Curious Cassette 120 for a release due in late summer and we’ll be putting out a record for the Garage/Psychedelic outfit The Death Medicine Band in July. A few other releases are in early planning as well so 2010 is going to be a busy one. Also, we are currently accepting demos so feel free to get in touch with me at middlesearecords@gmail.com