Hyooman is an Alternative/Indie Rock band from Minneapolis, MN. The band started as the brainchild of songwriter Leng Moua who sought to make an album with his friend and former bandmate (now drummer/producer) McCoy Seitz. The band was later joined by Tamara Alswager (guitar), Dillon Marchus (bass), and Elise Bremer (keys). The band is somewhere in between the lo-fi bedroom pop of Alex G and the 90s/early 2000s Alternative Indie rock sound such as Grandaddy or Pavement. In May 2021 the band released their first single, “Half Brain,” followed by “Kid” in Nov 2021, which is the first single from their upcoming album Pilot which is set to release early 2022.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
What first got you into music?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): My older brother owned a large collection of 80s pop cassettes and I would listen to them as a child. While I was listening, I’d daydream about performing on stage.
McCoy (drums): I was intrigued by the guitar from a young age and pretty intent on learning how to play it. Then I got Dude Ranch in 4th grade and all the chords were power chords so it was good timing for me as a beginner to be able to actually (kind of) play songs that I was excited about. I was hooked.
Elise (keys): I was born a ham and like expressing myself loudly. Music naturally followed.
Dillon (bass): Probably driving around with my mom in her ‘85 Oldsmobile Firenze listening to mid 80’s contemporary and New Wave on LiTe Rock 105.
Tamara (guitar): Punk music. It was angry and I could relate.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): It depends on the project. I’m open to working with any artist (musician, visual, graphic, etc.) if the creative vision is right.
McCoy (drums): My friends. In terms of bigger names, Gibby Haynes would be a fun one. Richard Swift (RIP) would've been high on the list.
Elise (keys): Leng Moua, McCoy Seitz, Tamara Alswager, and Dillon Marchus. Someday perhaps?
Dillon (bass): Vangelis, David Byrne or Boards of Canada
Tamara (guitar): I've always liked Adrienne Lenker's writing style from her guitar to her poetic lyrics that get you thinking. Ritzy and Rhydian of The Joy Formidable always create such epic and mesmerizing soundscapes and I imagine it would be pretty fun experimenting with sounds with them. I met them at a show once and they were such warm and kind people as well. My friend, Kelly Heipp writes rad music that's right up my alley (heck yeah, Kelly, let's collaborate more!). Collaborating with bands like Manchester Orchestra, Daughter or We Were Promised Jetpacks would really appeal to my emotive side of writing music. I could go on forever. There are so many talented artists out there that I admire.
Your latest song is 'Month End'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): I wrote the song out of frustration with the demands that jobs and society make on people in disregard of their wellbeing. We recorded the song in Nov 2020. We intended to record the song live but due to COVID-19, we could only have so many people in a room and so we had to parse out the sessions. Any unusual things? I made chicken tenders and we reheated them in a pizza toaster oven in the studio.
What are you focusing on right now?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): I think our primary focus is being a band and keeping it fun. That’s a five-way relationship with people who have separate lives, moods, schedules, opinions, etc. Naturally it poses challenges but it’s more enjoyable than doing it alone. There’s that saying, “Faster alone, further together.” Meanwhile, we are also focused on releasing our first album and are working on a second album.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): “Follow through on your promises.” Otherwise, your word is meaningless.
McCoy (drums): Get an eyepatch.
Elise (keys): I am advice averse.
Dillon (bass): The juice is worth the squeeze” - some preacher on the trinity network in 2004 ;)
Tamara (guitar): Oh man, can I list a few? "Tamara, go see a doctor" - Big yay for Josh Mervis for that push that is changing my life. Also, a simple "be kind" was constantly repeated by my mom growing up which has been embedded into my brain. And lastly, from one of my favorite authors/psychologists that has helped me in many ways - "For each person who needs to learn to trust more, there is another who needs to experiment with more discernment. What makes me happy might make you miserable; what I find useful you might find harmful. Specific instructions about how to think, feel and behave thus offer few interpretations. So instead, I want to suggest a way of thinking about what goes on in our brains, how they have developed and continue to develop. I believe that if we can picture how our minds form, we will be better able to re-form the way we live."
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): The biggest challenge for any artist right now (I think) is keeping it sustainable.
McCoy (drums): I can never find a beret that fits me right.
Elise (keys): I think for me the greatest challenge is finding the time and the energy when so many things about modern life demand attention.
Dillon (bass): Scheduling, always
Tamara (guitar): There are a lot of challenges artists face that are unique, but gosh, I must say staying up until 2am for shows is a big challenge for me.
How do you structure your day?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): I don’t really have a structure but I set reminders on my calendar a lot. Even for small things – like when a friend recommends an article to read.
McCoy (drums): It all starts with a nice bowl of oatmeal. Then it's off into question marks.
Elise (keys): My day structures me. I’ve lost control completely.
Dillon (bass): I work 8-4 at a charter elementary school. After that I’ll usually have an hour or so before a band will have a rehearsal or session. If I have the night off, I’ll usually cook something then work on technique or theory or record instrumental music until 10pm or so. Sometimes I’ll head out to a venue close by or just wind down. I’ll usually try to get to sleep before 1am. Weekends can be a bit more unstructured, but I’ll usually get brunch with some friends around 11. If I don’t have prior plans then I’ll hang with them and we’ll usually end up finding something music centric to work on.
Tamara (guitar): I typically have to base it off how sleepy I am.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): Cooking, riding my skateboard, video games. Wow, that reads like a 13 year old’s hobby list.
McCoy (drums): I've recently started selling insurance when I get some downtime. Are cats a hobby?
Elise (keys): I love to cook but hate doing dishes.
Dillon (bass): camping, cooking, dressing myself
Tamara (guitar): I really heckin' love riding my motorcycles, hiking/camping, writing and reading poetry, astronomy, photography/graphic design, making baking recipes with edible flowers, gardening, animals and studying neuroscience/biopsychology (and psychology in general) in correlation with mental health advocacy.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): Rarely. If I do sing in the shower it’s usually something like the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme.
McCoy (drums): I've never been a shower singer. I play a lot of drums in the shower though.
Elise (keys): I don’t think I’ve had a silent shower in my whole life. Les Mis anyone?
Dillon (bass): Hmm some that come to mind: The Heathcliff cartoon theme song ; Any Toots and the Maytals or Wailers; Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young; This Must Be the Place - Talking Heads; Eyes Without A Face - Bill Idol; House of Stone and Light - Martin Page; so many others
Tamara (guitar): Nah, I usually nap in there or just sigh a bunch, though
What are your plans for the future?
Leng (lead vox, guitar): The plan is to release our first album this year. Meanwhile, we are in the studio workshopping songs for the second album. Ultimately it’s about putting together a body of work that we can be proud of…oh, and play some kickass shows.