Coop and Strat

AC: Please introduce yourselves to the Audio Current readers and describe Hyena in your own words.

Coop: Well hello bloggy bloggertons. I’m Mike Cooper and my mate and fellow centaur brother Bryan Stratman had an idea one day. To combine the live element of indie rock with electronic music. We started messing around with drum machines and loopers but then soon found that we were too attached to our instruments to let them go completely. In this we combined the live performance with dj elements…. Cause a muthe f—ker wanna make the ladies shake they ass.

AC: I knew there was an underlying motive to your actions.

AC: When I spoke to Strat before he said you just wanted to make some dance
tracks, and once you started it all fell into place easily.  Was the
creation of Hyena as simple as that?

Coop: When 1 kat is a producer and owns his own studio and the other has been playin drums since he was hairless and both had ideas pourin out they’re gills, it happens pretty swift.

AC: When you’re working on a track, at what point do you start writing lyrics and adding vocals?  Does it come after you’ve finalized the beats and instrumental elements?

Coop: Yeah, we wait til the song tells us what to say.

AC: Nice, now we know your secret formula.

AC: Which instruments do each of you play in Hyena?

Coop: We’re both multi-instrumentalists. It’s not so much about who plays what cause we both play everything. Its about the Melody and Rhythmic ideas we are trying to convey and we will use any instrument or means to make the song happen, closest to what we hear in our heads.

AC: How did you both get your start in music?

Coop: Strat’s grandfather put that shit in his blood, age 0.  Me (Coop), been a drummer since I was 10.

AC: Have you both been in loads of bands before?  What kind of music was it?

Coop: Strat’s been in tons of bands but my opinion is this, kat is more of a producer. We’ve both been playing in bands since we were super young. All styles of music.  Always aiming to please the female gender.

AC: There’s that motive again.

AC: Which San Diego scene do you consider Hyena a part of?

Coop: SexPark

AC: What are some of the other bands in your scene?

Coop: San Diego is producing a shit-ton of great bands.  Look at the Casbah’s schedule.

AC: Buddy Akai are one of the other SD bands trying to pull off live
electro-rock.  Do you have any opinion on them?

Coop: They’re great buds. They kill it and I hope to kill it with them soon. Viva la mexicanas and mexicanos!

AC: Obviously, Crocodiles and The Soft Pack are having great luck abroad and
Strat has even had The Soft Pack in his studio for a session.   What do you
think of these two bands?

Coop: Great dudes, but what’s up no love for Transfer???

AC: The first time I heard Transfer was in 2006 or 2007. I was listening to my favorite radio show, Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 and the song ‘Sinking, Sailing’ came on, I was sold immediately.  I couldn’t believe you were from SD and I’d never heard of you.  Now I’ve seen you guys rock the Casbah at least three times.  I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want your head to swell too much, being in two awesome bands and all.

AC: Your Myspace page says that you are unsigned. Are you planning to release
your debut album yourself?

Coop: Already did, but super interested in label support. This is a limited release on the west coast.

AC: Suits take notice.

AC: Have you begun planning any tours for Hyena?

Coop: Putting the feelers out definitely. West Coast (L.A, San Fran, Portland, Seattle) Austin, New York and the U.K. are all on the agenda within this next year.

AC: Do you have any idea who you would want to tour with?

Coop: Michael Jackson. J we love and miss you.

AC: Any specific bands or albums you’re listening to right now?

Coop: All day everyday Purple Rain, Prince….

Coop: PS. Passion Pit, T-Rex, Hot Chip, Zeppelin, Michael Jackson. I watched the movie “This Is It” damn what an extraordinary dude!

Love,

Cooper

DOWNLOAD HYENA MP3′s HERE

Don’t miss Hyena‘s CD Release Gigs, Tonight and Tomorrow at EL DORADO BAR!  (See below)