Kervin's I Think I See Evil is the fiery sound of the real challenge to the Bush regime, an angry voice, among many, using the fury and the communicative powers of music to reach out and propose alternatives, differences, strategies of outright sonic resistance. Based in NYC, the four members responded to e-mail interrogation by Geoff Parkes. How did Kervin come together and what was the impetus - did music agree with political aims etc., or was their a more complex union? Apurva: Technically we got started late in 2000, but didn't solidify the lineup until 2002 when we brought Oliver on board to play bass. That was a huge push in the right direction, and really what we consider to be our starting point. The impetus initially was just to do it for fun, and to see where it goes. At that time, I don't think any of us had coherent enough political philosophies to form a band around. That just sort of happened when Anupum started writing lyrics for the songs that would end up on the album. Anupum: One reviewer wrote that you can't separate the politics from the music when it comes to us, and I suppose that's so. Lyrically, so much was written as I was gaining a long overdue interest in history, foreign affairs, politics, media analysis, etc. that I naturally couldn't think of anything else to write about. But I didn't decide one day that Kervin needs to be a political rock band, so I'm going to write political lyrics. Given your music and lyrics, you obviously feel that the song can also have a political as well as artistic impact - an effect if you like of your "noise, passion and fury". How do you think this comes about and what kind of impact are you aiming for? Anupum: Artistically speaking, I really hope people are inspired by the sincerity of our effort, and appreciate how fiercely and passionately we've injected our personalities into the sound – we're not just some cookie cutter band. Regarding the impact of our message, that gets pretty complicated. We're not an anti-this, anti-that band. The issues that we're trying to get people thinking about are obviously very complicated. So it would be great if listeners just thought to themselves, I have a pretty intense obligation to understand and explore how and why the world's social, political and economic systems are operating as they are (whether you think things are great or not), so I'm going to get on that. NOW! But everyone has to find their own way, draw their own conclusions. Hopefully the lyrics are abstract enough so as not to be preachy. Apurva: It's hard to argue against the incredible impact music can have on people, and therefore the culture and society we cultivate. I really liked what you said once on Logged Off about how cultural choices are political choices. Thinking about it in that regard, it's not hard to see how music can affect everything around us, including choices made in the political spectrum. It really is amazing how music influences the way people walk, talk, dress, even think. And it's not just the music- it's the people behind it, people who are sincere and passionate about what they do, that can really make a difference. I mean, the first time I definitively decided as a pretty young kid that there was absolutely nothing wrong with homosexuality and that homophobes are scummier than scum, was after reading the liner notes in Nirvana's Incesticide. A kind of silly example of the impact music can have, but an example nonetheless. The production values on ITISE are interesting for me - very clean, almost lo-fi, with an emphasis on the clarity of instruments and vocals without a sonic overkill. How did this particular sound come about - was it preplanned, or a studio effect etc.? Apurva: I think we're all pretty happy with the production of the album, though I don't think we had too many preconceived ideas of what we wanted it to sound like. Vedat Kiyici did all the engineering and mixing and we definitely put a lot of trust in his opinion. We knew it wasn't going to have the same sound as your typical punk or metal album. The vocals obviously have a pretty unique style that requires some special attention, and fortunately for us, Vedat really excels at maximizing the potency of the vocals. The guitars are pretty simple, but I try to stay away from your typical muted chord chunking and stuff like that. And, as you so kindly noted in your Logged Off review, the bass is far more intricate than your typical bottom heavy bass lines. So it's not like Vedat could just plug the tracks into some magical punk rock equation and come out with a good sound. But Vedat knows what he's doing and he's really in tune with us as individuals and what we're going for as a band.
Anupum: These days we've been playing mostly regionally, but a coast to coast tour is in the works. The amount of energy we put out on stage is really incredible and explosive, and fans definitely take notice. Even if the music isn't necessarily their thing, they'll gather around just to check out our antics and to be part of the intensity. Apurva: Especially with regards to Anupum- he's kind of in this zone, a zone involving lots of jumping around, falling down, pummeling the floor, and some more conventional means of showing great joy, enthusiasm, and anger. There was a show in North Brookfield, MA that was probably the coolest show we've played to date - a lot of energy from the crowd and you could just tell they were excited to be hearing something different. It's often said that in a democracy, the people get the government they deserve, and I wonder that, given big business/special interests run both the government and the music industry, have we got what we deserved? How do we activate and inspire people to question their realities when American Idol is on? And would you agree that Kervin are working in a music industry apart from that realm, or are you a part of? Anupum: I think it's an oversimplification to say that we're getting what we deserve. Now, are we as people doing all that we can to prevent the institutions that govern, educate, employ and inform us from taking advantage, from getting away with blatant distortions, from reaping extraordinary rewards while quite purposefully screwing others – obviously not. In terms of how to get people interested in doing so, you pick your medium and just keep attacking. Keep making the compelling argument that this is all for control over YOUR life. People are selfish – sometimes taking the "for the good of the world" approach just doesn't click, because people are like, I have bills to pay, children to feed, etc. Who has time for the world? But I don't think there is any formula – different approaches appeal to different people. Rock music is an interesting medium, in that you really have the chance to influence people at the earliest stages, which is where it needs to start anyway. It's not to say that once you're twenty-five or whatever, you've missed the boat… but the younger you get people thinking about civic responsibilities and such, the better.
Oliver: We are all operating under the control of big business to some extent, whether we are aware of it or not. I do not think that big business is necessarily a bad thing, when properly regulated by a government concerned with the welfare of its people. But when the products they are selling are absolute crap (see the "pop music" section of your neighborhood chain record store) there is a need for change in what the large music industry is funding and promoting. I am not against the huge music labels as businesses, but I am against the promotion and creation of meaningless pop-music garbage that portrays Americans as over-sexed politically indifferent morons. If someone up at Sony or Virgin had the intelligence to actually consider signing bands on a long term, supportive basis, I think we could end up with another situation, like that of the Beatles, where a pop-band became something great. So yes, we recognize that we operate within the music industry (although at this point, we are just starting out so we are not really players in it).We are not against the idea of major music labels (even though I've heard most of the people running them cannot even sing "happy birthday" in time). What I am against is the fact that much of the music industry is being run by people who are not musicians or even music lovers. Maybe someday people will stop buying all of this catchy pop shit that goes out of style before the actual artists have their18th birthdays. Cy: In theory, democracy would yield a government that the population deserves. However, democracy in theory and democracy in practice, inside the US, are two very different things. We have a relatively OK version of representative democracy but there is still the social Darwin hierarchy that runs the show. I do believe that within the confines of our system there is the power for the people to change the status quo, but it's not going to be handed to us by the powers that be… we are going to have to demand it. I hope that the fact that American Idol is on television is just the thing to inspire people to start questioning their reality. Such as "what the hell happened to popular culture?" or "why should I take pop-culture so seriously?" There have definitely been people to rise to superstar status that actually had something thought provoking or beautiful to say, and I like taking them seriously. But in lieu of such gems, I don't see the need to validate every hoo-ha that sees fit to make them selves a celebrity. Big business, big government, big blah, blah, blah… to me it's all about corruption. My dad only imparted two bits of wisdom in my 28 years of life and they are "absolute power corrupts, absolutely" and "money talks and bullshit walks." Breaking these cycles is not easy because it means changing basic human tendencies. Can humans aspire to more? I hope so… what other hope do we have? As political subjects, politicised artists I guess, what stops you from losing faith in your ability to communicate, to advocate for change? How do you remain engaged, musically and socially and politically, and from whom do you draw strength? Is their a community you feel a part of - if so, who and how? - if not, what gets you out of bed and battling, instead of remaining inside and alone? Anupum: Sometimes I wonder if I ever had faith, so maybe there's none to lose. You know, you can never tell what is going to come from your efforts, and in what we're trying to achieve, the results will never be so tangible or clear cut as to give us a sense that "we did it." It's easy to stay engaged when you're constantly feeling frustrated by the product you're given – whether it's the music that's being put out or the legislation being passed. There has been a severe wearing down in the quality of thought that goes into such endeavors, especially when you're talking about what is in the mainstream. So given that, I think I could stay infinitely engaged. In terms of how much energy and what type of energy you can devote to the effort, I guess that evolves over time, and even changes day to day. We're all moody people. Cy: I have to have some faith in order to be involved in anything in life. The number one thing that motivates me is my faith in art's ability to communicate truth. All forms of communication can be corrupted but I still believe that real art can transcend manipulation… truth has this way of permeating through the stench of bullshit. I guess I draw strength from that.
Anupum: Absolutely nothing changes for Kervin. This is not one of those "both parties are the same" laments… that's a pretty dangerous concept in of itself to spread. However, no one elected official is the solution to anything. I hope Kerry wins, but that certainly won't put an end to reckless foreign misadventures (let's please not forget that ALL of our Presidents engage in activities such as covert arms sales, the violent repression of grassroots movements all over the globe, supporting coups for economic advantage, etc.), a mainstream media that is so inept, to call it laughable would be giving it too much credit, and the ultimately destructive consolidation of institutions that should be keeping a check on one another. NONE of that changes with Kerry. Where do we go from here? More words, more guitar, more grooves. Just keep attacking.
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Just keep attacking - An interview with 
What's a Kervin gig
like? Have you been
playing much? If so,
what are the live
moments that stand out
for you? Can you make
a connection with a live
audience? 
Apurva: It's also hard to talk about people getting
what they deserve when discussing such critical and
sweeping world issues, because so many lives are
affected, and you can make the argument that most
are rather innocent bystanders. At the same time,
it's hard not to say that. Between Paris Hilton
having her own reality show and the Governor of
California using the phrase "girliemen" in his
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
SPEECH FOR GODS SAKE, I feel like we've
gone past the line of getting what we deserve. We got what we deserved a long time ago. Now
it's just getting silly. But I do think bands like ours can make a difference. It's been happening
for years. I think there's some sort of magical moment where people will hear something new
and really dig it, and then it'll hit them like a brick: "I've been consuming absolute garbage for
the last 10 years!!"
It's mid-November,
and one of the
majors has bought
the election. Kerry's
in or Bush is in.
Does anything
change for Kervin?
Where do you go
from here, as the
evanescent
Madonna as Eva
Peron once sang?
