Steve Nawara didn’t stay inactive very long since he left
Electric 6, the band he used to play bass for under the name of Disco. After a
stint in Conspiracy of Owls, Steve started to operate his own label, Beehive
Recordings, dedicated to the music from his hometown of Detroit. A very
interesting chat since any true rock/soul/rhythm and blues fan MUST HAVE
records from Detroit in his collection…
1) Can you tell us how you started out The Beehive recording
company ?
Steve Nawara : Music has always radiated from the city
of Detroit. There hasn't been a time in 100 years where music hasn't been a big
part of our culture, it seems that everyone has an instrument or has played in
a band at some point in their lives. If not, you can almost guarantee that that
person has an impeccable record collection. The difficulty is that it is hard
to keep up with all the songs that are being written here on a daily basis, most
of the music goes unrecorded or unnoticed, so the main goal of Beehive is to
preserve our heritage.
2) Can you explain us how the label works and its purpose ?
SN : Thanks to digital technology and advancements in
recording gear, we can record music at no charge to the artist and also
distribute our music for free to our audience through our website, we are a
purely digital recording company, though there has been a lot of talk about
finding ways to release vinyl. So regardless of genre or popularity, we can ensure
that we release the diverse & eclectic nature of Detroit music.
3) Is the label born out of frustration ?
SN : Beehive was born from the love of Detroit music.
However, there is no doubt that the music industry has gone from a great place
to discover music to a place where music is forced upon you. American radio
probably only plays about less than 1% of the music created in the States. So
instead of waiting around for the industry, Beehive offers a way to have your
music heard and develop your career as an artist while you wait (likely
forever) for that big deal.
4) Beehive is only recording Detroit music, do you think
we're on the edge of an huge Detroit revival ?
SN : It is my belief that Detroit is the music capital
of the world. Over the decades we have created multiple genres of music, like
Motown, Punk (MC5 were the first band ever to be labeled as punk rock), Techno,
The Garage Revival, as well as giving birth to some of the largest superstars
of our time, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Madonna,
Eminem, The White Stripes, to name a few. Everyday I get to record music that
inspires me more & more, so yes, I do believe that Detroit is in the
beginning of a new revival but one that the world has never known. It won't be
a single genre like in the past, but an eclectic wave that will wash over the
world.
5) The Beehive Ball was recently held in Detroit, is this
kind of formal event important for the label ?
SN : Absolutely. The Beehive Ball is a way for our fans
to get together and celebrate, while raising some much needed funds for our
cause. Our first one last November, was a smashing success, so The Ball will
now be a Detroit tradition from here on out. It is also important since we are
a digital entity; it brings Beehive into the real world.
6) Can you tell us a few words about your new recording
studio ? Do you use vintage equipment ?
SN : A good friend of mine, Phil Cooley, a local
entrepreneur, offered a space in a recently purchased & renovated building
that now houses film makers, carpenters, artists, dancers, a fencing team, and
many other groups, creating a co-op of sorts. He showed me the boiler room
where there were gigantic furnaces that took up the entirety of the space, but
now it has all been cleared out and has been painted a burnt orange and filled
with all the vintage gear I've been collecting over the years. Vintage
equipment is key to our sound due to the sterility of digital recording.
Everything must pass through a tube before it hits the board.
7) How do you pick up bands you work with ?
SN : Obviously, they must be from Detroit but most
importantly, its got to get you by the boo boo. Music thrives on emotion and
merely exists intellectually. Though I am a fan of prog-rock, it lacks the
excitement that makes you want to jump out of your skin, which is what the
world needs right now more than anything. The awakening of the human spirit.
8) What went wrong with the radio ?
SN : Capitalism with it's head cut off. Americans
have somehow been convinced that gigantic monopolies are the free market at
work, when it is nothing but economic despotism. This is why music has become
globalized and every genre kind of melts into this grey slop. It's becoming
harder to tell the difference between punk, metal, hip hop, when you listen to
the radio. It is time for the world to start 'in-sourcing' and really find what
is within our communities and bring out the best we all have to offer.
Only then we will hear good music on the radio again.
9) You're also playing in Conspiracy of Owls. Is there an
album #2 in the works ? Do you think you're gonna tour Europe ?
SN : Unfortunately, Conspiracy Of Owls has come to
pass. I'm afraid to say that my time in the band ended on a very bad note,
dealing with a broken jaw from one of the members during a drunken evening and
then being kicked out because I couldn't make the shows afterwards due to my
jaw being wired shut. After putting in a years worth of rehearsals, I believe
the band quickly became tired of the songs while we started to play them in
front of audiences. Such a bummer, I really liked that band, as did many
others. We are all still friends and enjoy hanging out, despite the drama that
occurred. So I'm sorry to say, there will be no 2nd record or tours in Europe.
Thanks a lot ! Feel free to post some links to the beehive website and to
explain how to purchase the music.
SN : We give away our music for free so anyone can come take a
listen and download what they like, after becoming a member (which is also
free). However, we accept donations which anyone can do here.
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