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Music

Warren Defever

born 1969 · musician, producer, mastering engineer

Livonia-born leader of the shape-shifting band His Name Is Alive, a 4AD act recorded in his parents' basement, who now masters records at Third Man Records in Detroit.

Born

Livonia, Michigan
age 57
Also known as
Warn Defever
Detroit years
1969–present
Field
Music

01 / The Detroit story

The Detroit story

Warren Defever grew up in Livonia, learned several instruments from his grandfather and began recording while still in high school, also touring as bassist of the Detroit psychobilly band Elvis Hitler. For years he recorded in the basement of his parents' house, which he later bought, and those home recordings became the first albums of His Name Is Alive, signed to the British label 4AD from 1990. The project moved restlessly between dream pop, folk, noise, soul and gospel. Defever opened his own studio, Brown Rice, runs the home label timeSTEREO and in 2007 opened the UFO Factory, a Detroit studio painted entirely silver. As a producer or remixer he has worked with Iggy and the Stooges, the Gories, the Von Bondies, Destroy All Monsters, John Sinclair and Yoko Ono. Since 2018 he has worked in the mastering studio of Third Man Records in Detroit.

Highlights

  1. Leader of His Name Is Alive, on 4AD from 1990
  2. Early albums recorded in his family's Livonia basement
  3. Opened the UFO Factory studio in Detroit (2007)
  4. Mastering engineer at Third Man Records Detroit since 2018

02 / Their Detroit places

Their Detroit places 2

Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.

  1. Worked here · 2018–present

    Third Man Records Cass Corridor

    He masters records and cuts lacquers in Third Man's Detroit mastering studio.

    441 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201Map ↗Place page →Source ↗

  2. Founded · 2007–

    UFO Factory / UFO Bar

    Status being checked

    Detroit recording studio he opened in 2007, with everything inside painted silver, including the piano.

    Place page →Source ↗