Strike Up The Bands - 2004
Interview with 7th heaven

1. There are two things that kept running through my mind as I researched your band;
first, that this may be the hardest working band
in America and second, you guys really seem to have things figured out!
To start the interview would you take a moment to quickly introduce yourselves?

Richie Hofherr - Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Andrew Blake - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Dan Miller - Drums
Mark Kennetz - Bass, Vocals

2. Silver is a 30 song, double CD that you sell for ten dollars – not only is that incredible but also a brilliant move to help
spread the word about 7th heaven; what made you decide to go this route?
Richie: We want our music out there. We made a decision early on to release a great product for a GREAT value.
We thought that people would hear 30 songs, double CD for $10.00 and think I'll give it a chance.
With that amount of songs, it's too many to download. It opens up a world of opportunities for us in film and tv placement.
We already landed the CD on MTV's "Punk'd" and "Making the Video".

3. You guys have invested in a studio making it possible to set your own pace and not rush through the recording phase – another
excellent idea! How do you feel this has helped you beyond the obvious fact that you can spend more time refining the music?
Richie: Having a studio at our disposal is VERY benificial to us in the respect that we don't have a clock controlling
when we can be creative. You never know when magic will happen. We can record as much as we want.
We can make sure it sounds exactly as we want it to sound. We can really capture the band's sound.
Plus it helps that I know how to produce.

4. How long did it take for the writing, recording and mastering of Silver, and how do you feel about the final release?
Richie: We are 100% happy with this CD. We sometimes sit and say to each "I can't believe this is OUR CD".
We are fortunate to capture exactly what we set out to do. I spent over 2,500 hours on "Silver"
(writing, tracking, producing, mixing, arranging and mastering)

5. It’s always interesting to ask the artist what song from the album has special meaning to them and why,
what would each of you say is the one song on the album that means the most to you?
Richie: I can't really pick ONE song for that. I think the CD is a reflection of how we felt when we wrote it as a whole.
I would say a different song everyday. I think listener's will say that too.

6. With 30 songs on the album, Silver, definitely shows your strength and diversity as a band, is there plans to develop a
particular style or sound or will you continue with an open forum, letting the music evolve on its own?
Richie: 7th heaven will always be a band that is open for styles, will reflect what we are going thru and what brings
excitement to us and hopefully to the listeners.

7. It is a staggering site to look at your touring schedule, which supports my theory of you being one of the hardest working bands
in America, how do you feel about your live show and about the busy summer that lies ahead of you?

Richie: We didn't spend a entire year writing and recording "Silver" to have it sit in the closet wondering why it isn't selling.
We know that if people are going to know about "Silver" we will have to bring it to them and touring/playing is something
we are willing to do to make it happen. I think we'll be playing over 150 dates this year.

8. It’s obvious through the hard work and investment you have put into recording this album and the busy touring schedule you
are keeping that you are working towards something, what would each of you say is your personal goal with all of this?
Richie: To create good music and share that with people. Make a career at touching a emotion with a listener.
I LOVE creating and performing music, so as long as I'm doing what I love I'm forever grateful.

9. All work and no play can be a very dangerous thing, so I wonder what it is that you do as a band and as individuals to ?
Strike A Balance? in your life?
Richie: Living Dangerously! I work on 7th heaven about 12-15 hours a day everyday. Some days more. I also work on my other
companies doing websites, videos, music, management, graphic design, publishing and the record company.

10. Many of the visitors to my sites are musicians looking to these interviews for a source of information as to what it takes to
make it in the music industry, what advice do you have for them?
Richie: Gain fans, sell product, make money - the tri-fecta of our business. That model works for everyone from Madonna
down to a garage band. Play as much as possible, you'll always pick-up a few fans at every show.

11. What would you say has been the most effective tool in helping you get to where you are today, teamwork, dedication, the internet…?
Richie: Being easy to work with and letting the fans know we appreciate them and know we're nothing without them.
We promote VERY hard, In Chicago we're the only band to ever run full page ads in the main music publication for the entire year.
We run TV commercials. Keep up on our mailing list. Make flyers/newsletters.
Our website has helped us a lot, getting 400-500 hits a day.

12. Is there a closing message you would like to share with the fans?
Richie: We appreciate every fan. Having great fans makes it that much better.
We are truly blessed to be able to do what we love and it's because of our fans. So thank you.