The members:
Resident Alien is Emilio Basa on vocals and guitar, Dave Woomer on bass and Chris Bokmuller on drums. Basa is a native of Windsor, Ontario, but the band originally was formed in the Detroit area.
The history:
The roots of Resident Alien began when Basa and Bokmuller met in 2002 through a mutual friend. Emilo’s former band, Primer, had just broken up, and, needing a drummer, the pair formed a two-piece acoustic duo.
As the act honed its skills at coffeehouse settings in the area, each member took time out for side projects in 2003 — Basa joined Green Eyed Red, while Bokmuller hooked up with 14 Days.
About a year and two more disbanded projects later, the twosome was back on the circuit, this time with bassist Woomer, an ex-member of 14 Days. This combo was the official birth of Resident Alien, who played its first show together at F.T. Club in 2004. Currently, Resident Alien is busy booking shows and working on getting its name and sound out to the people.
What's up with the name:
Though it shares the name of Spacehog’s beloved 1996 debut, the name was actually taken from Basa’s residency — though he was born in Canada, he is a legal resident “alien” of the United States.
The style:
When it comes to the style of music Resident Alien plays, even its frontman doesn’t really know how to describe it.
“The funny thing is that we don’t know,” Basa said. “We ask people and they say pop, rock, alternative, whatever.
“I want to be the first band that can’t be pinned down to a specific style (and) always keep them thinking.”
Emilio adds that the band’s catalog of songs includes bits of funk, R&B and certainly rock. His writing influences include Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin.
Got anything recorded?
The trio recently recorded a demo CD, which will be used more for booking gigs and reviews than anything else. As they pass that work around, the band says it is now doing “homework” for its next recording, listening to other artists for inspiration and ideas.
“We’ll probably start recording in the spring and have something to sell by the summer,” Basa said. “We’re planning on releasing an EP — no full-lengths yet because we don’t have enough material, but that is sure to come.”
Tell us your future?
“We’re all just trying to take this thing one step at a time,” Basa said. “We’re not rushing to try and get a major label deal because we honestly don’t even know what we want yet.
“I know that we don’t want to be some image-driven band sold only on the right look.”
Emilio adds that one thing for sure about Resident Alien is that its first priority is, without question, the music.
“Music is important to all of us,” he said. “Money is important, too, but not as much as music. I’ll sacrifice the millions to make good music and be respected as a good musician.
“That’s how you stay in the business for so long. We don’t want to be known as a fad.”
Website:
www.emiliobasa.com
