Bill Hemp Keeps You Moving with Dymaxion Vehicle

Are you looking for music that can sound both organic and electronic at the same time? Are you in the mood for something haunting and ethereal with a bit of a kick? If this is the case, you may want to check out '˜Design' by Dymaxion Vehicle. Dymaxion Vehicle (pronounced: dy-mak-see-uhn) is the brain child of multi-instrumentalist Bill Hemp. Hemp, a veteran of the music scene in the 90's on the east coast, has been in a plethora of bands but on '˜Design', he goes it alone, playing guitar, bass, keyboards, synths and various programmed beats. A variety of vocalists join Hemp on the disc and together they are able to blend melody, syncopated beats, razor sharp guitars and synthesizers into a wall of never ending rhythms and sound. It's the technical foundation that drives '˜Design' but make no mistake, there is a natural process going on with Dymaxion Vehicle and you can hear it on the disc.

While in the studio, (which is where Bill probably lives 24/7) Bill Hemp explained to me how he got Dymaxion Vehicle up and running.

David Carr: What was the impetus to record this type of record? What led you to record something steeped in electronic pop after being in so many traditional bands?

Bill Hemp: It started when I left my last band. I was looking for a new way of working. I had learned a lot with the various bands I had worked with but I wanted to learn more about technology and about different ways of working in the studio. Basically when you are in a band in the studio, you are on one side of the glass and the producer is on the other side of the glass. I wanted to learn about what was going on, on the other side of the glass. I took an interest in programming, pro-tools, and drum machines. The last band I was in used backing tracks live and this was before pro-tools! I just wanted to learn more about this stuff. I wanted a different approach to making music.

David Carr: You have quite a roster of vocalists on the disc. Which came first, the music or the picking of the vocalists?

Bill Hemp: The former. I had the music for all of the songs prior to enlisting the vocalists. Once I got the vocalists I would send them the music and then they would put lyrics to it. In some cases I had tracked guide vocals. In other cases I had the music and lyrics and even melodies already in mind.

David Carr: How did you find these vocalists? Are these folks you have worked with before?

Bill Hemp: I was able to find most of the vocalists by putting out ads on line. Z-Mark and Emily Unverferth were both in a band called Sweetie with me.

David Carr: your past bands have had the traditional guitars, bass, drums set up. Who are the artists that influenced the type of music on this disc?

Bill Hemp: Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys are two big influences on this disc. I got through the 80's not being a big fan of Depeche Mode. In the late 90's they released '˜Ultra' . I listened to it and I thought it was cool. A year later I listened to it again, and I was bowled over! It just showed me a whole new way of making music. That disc inspired the instrumental piece on '˜Design'. I cover "West End Girls" by The Pet Shop Boys on the disc. That particular song I did with my sequencer. I did it years ago on my computer but my computer died so I just did the whole thing with my sequencer. The Pet Shop Boys in my mind embody the idea of the perfect pop duo. This whole experience has been an exercise in learning.

David Carr: Let's shift gears and talk about the name. Where did Dymaxion Vehicle come from and what does it mean?

Bill Hemp: I really wanted a name that sounded futuristic. I read the New Yorker and I am really into inventors and architecture. I was reading an article about this amazing architect, Buckminster Fuller. I saw the name Dymaxion Vehicle in the article. I just really liked the name. Dymaxion sounded so futuristic and Vehicle represented to me, the creative process of carrying out ideas.

David Carr: Is Dymaxion Vehicle a band or a project? Is it both? Is it neither?

Bill Hemp: Well, it's turning more and more into a band. It's not the traditional band set up. It was just going to be a studio project but I do keep using the word band when I speak about it. I felt during the recording process that there was a real team effort in making the disc. I will definitely be working with many of the vocalists again. It's feeling like the type of band I want to be in now.

David Carr: How are you promoting the disc now?

Bill Hemp: We are doing it on all fronts. It is now on ITunes, Amazon.com and CD Baby. It's going to radio stations in Boston and Los Angeles. I had a couple songs played at the Central Social Aid and Pleasure Club in Santa Monica. I am also doing a lot of internet chat shows. "Deep Mahogany" is the first single off of the disc and the next one will be "Brave New World"

David Carr: Are you working on any new music?

Bill Hemp: I am actually doing a remix version of the disc called '˜Redesign: Fun In Strobes'. It will feature all of the same songs except for "Quantum In Spectral" (the instrumental) and "West End Girls". It will be more of a dance oriented disc and it will probably feature a Depeche Mode cover.

David Carr: Bill thanks for taking the time to chat with me on your new disc.

Bill Hemp: Not a problem David.

Where pop meets Goth, meets dance meets electronics, is where you will find Bill Hemp, Dymaxion Vehicle and '˜Design'. Get it soon and be moved.