Interview with Hypnogaja

A lucid dream: Hypnogaja – by Mel in Toronto

It is not everyday that you find something so special that speaks to that hidden place deep within your soul. The intensity and fervent longing inimitably translated in Hypnogaja's music and vocals brings out a true treasure of alternative rock music. It's not only the outstanding songs, but also their unique name that defines this band from Hollywood, California.

Lead singer Jason explains that the band's name "is something I remember from Psychology class in college. I thought it was a cool word with a cool meaning. Hypnogogia is the state between wakefulness and sleep in which you see hypnogogic images. Basically, it's a lucid dream. It's been thought by philosophers to be a heightened state of creativity. You're not awake, you're not asleep, you're in hypnogogia. We changed the spelling just in case someone else thought it was a cool name for a band too," (laughs).

Hypnogaja has been together for four years and is comprised of Jason "ShyBoy" Arnold (lead vocals), Mark Nubar Donikian (vocals, keys), Jean-Yves (Jeeve) Ducornet (guitar, bass), Tim Groeschel (guitar, bass), and Adrian Barnardo (drums). Being an indie band in Los Angeles, "is like being in an overcrowded jail cell and the fire alarm goes off," Jason says. Hypnogaja's well crafted songs with complex structures, intoxicating melodies, and sophisticated lyrics presented through strong vocals make their music stand out regardless how crowded the place might be!

Jason explains that the "topics I usually write about include personal struggle, coming of age, politics, war, love or anything that I need to express. Or anything I think could be turned into a good song." The wide range of topics is reflected in Hypnogaja's songs: MISERY is about break-ups, SILVER STAR is about war, LOOKING GLASS is about drugs, and THEY DON'T CARE is about politics. The band's repertoire includes an emphatically powerful cover version of Eurythmics' HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN. Jason says that "it's one of my favourite songs and it's one that Hypnogaja's done from the beginning. Way back before we were even called Hypnogaja, Mark and I were performing that song at coffee houses and other obscure venues."

These obscure places can also be seen in Hypnogaja's artfully directed videos. Seeing the band in their videos and performing live, makes it almost seem ironic that front man Jason's nickname is ShyBoy. "I used to work in a studio that recorded a lot of female singers," Jason says, "I was usually very quiet and withdrawn when they would come in. One of them took to calling me the shy boy," and it stuck.

If you have the chance to see Hypnogaja live, you should. Jason's favourite part of performing live is, in his words, "the release," and this is what you'll find too.

Their next show is this Friday, August 31, 2007, at The Roxy in West Hollywood, California.

"In your own words" – ONE on ONE with Mel and Jason

Mel: Who are your influences?

Jason: Our influences range from Nirvana to the Beastie Boys. We've got two metal heads in the band, a hip hop/electronic guy and a couple of retro lovers, classic rock and beyond.

Mel: What does it mean to you to be an indie artist?

Jason: Independence. Nothing more. I hate it when adjectives get turned into genres. Like when Alternative became mainstream. Then it's not really an alternative to anything, is it? And you can't really call an Indie Rock band on Warner Bros indie either, because they're on a major label. We need new words for new things, otherwise it gets confusing and ironic.

Mel: Which opportunities do you see with indieSolo?

Jason: Exposure; can never have enough of that.

Mel: What would you like to achieve with your music?

Jason: World domination (laughs). No, really, I don't expect to achieve anything except art. I do music to express myself. And if that gets done, then I've achieved something.

Mel: Who writes the music?

Jason: We work in a variety of ways. Jeeve does a lot of track ideas, both in his studio when we're in L.A., and also on the van while we're touring. Mark writes a lot of stuff with him as well and, sometimes, we'll get together in the studio and work on something from scratch. Tim also brings musical ideas to the table. I usually write the melodies, simultaneously with the lyrics, once there's a finished piece of music to work with. I also collaborate with Mark and a songwriter named John Scott on that part of the process. We go with the flow - wherever the creativity takes us.

Mel: Which artist would you like to record a song with and why?

Jason: I don't know. Probably someone obscure like Neneh Cherry or Sinead O'Connor. I think both of them are just bad ass and I think our styles would mesh well.

Mel: Why did you name your album "Below Sunset"?

Jason: The name refers to the street in Hollywood. All the posh celebrities live above Sunset in their mega mansions. While all the regular people live below sunset. Ironically, I live just above Sunset, by a block, but I'm just in a dumpy apartment. The mega mansion has yet come (laughs). We did however, record the album in Jeeve's home studio just below sunset. But the name also has a deeper meaning for me. The sun setting is a beautiful sight and to be below it, shrouded in darkness, is how I felt at the time of recording.

-end

August 29, 2007 by Mel in Toronto [Melanie Schade]

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Hypnogaja Tickets may be available at TicketScene