“It’s weird being a character in someone else’s dream” The Jeevas interview by Di / Photo courtesy of TheJeevas.com When Kula Shaker split in 1999 it appeared we may have lost the talents and intriguing songwriting of Crispian Mills from the music world. Over the last three years rumours abounded of Mills’ return, and he indeed resurfaced briefly with a band named Pi, supporting Robbie Williams on tour - but this was quite obviously not how it was meant to be. Now, at last, the time is right as Mills is bursting back onto the scene with three-piece band The Jeevas. With former members of underrated band Straw - Andy Nixon on drums and Dan McKinna playing bass - The Jeevas are a fusion of psychedelic rock with songs reminiscent of The Beatles, Small Faces, David Bowie and The Undertones, to name but a few. It’s a sound and style that works and that all three members are obviously very happy and comfortable with, assuring they have definitely found their place in music.

Speaking to us before their show at Middlesbrough Empire, as the second band to grace Play’s live music event, Andy recalls how the band came together: “We got together by accident. Crispian was recording some songs in my house, where I have a studio and he knew I played the drums, so we just tried some ideas. I suggested that Dan come down and we started playing - in 30 seconds we were all happy and smiley and we had a band!” Crispian adds sincerely, “I’ve had enough experience in other bands to know it’s hard to get good chemistry - the bottom line of this thing is it has a life of its own - it happens because it’s meant to happen.”

The CD sleeve of The Jeevas album 1,2,3,4 reveals the definition of a Jeeva as ’an indestructible, subatomic particle of consciousness’ - catchy! So, why was The Jeevas chosen as the name for the band? “We wanted to use that definition, but it doesn’t exactly roll of the tongue!” laughs Andy. Crispian explains, “It’s just snappy. I like the sound of the word, but if you do think about it… you’ll be on your own... But it suits rock and roll. It’s an old Sanskrit word for ‘soul’- it was just right.”

Although Crispian and his fellow band members deserve to do well in their own right as The Jeevas, there is still a definite influence from Mills’ Kula Shaker days, so much so that some of their well-known songs are included in The Jeevas’ set. “Some of them really work and suit the sound, and people do ask to hear them,” the former Kula Shaker front man explains. “However, there are some that don’t fit - and some that we don’t want to try!”

Beyond the Kula Shaker presence, this is a band of hugely diverse and varied influences, as pondered thoughtfully by Mills. “It’s like a big... bubbling soup! We’ve all thrown things into the band, but we can’t necessarily remember what they all are. We’ve got to acknowledge that we’ve been influenced by the great three piece bands, by Jimi Hendrix and The Who….” “And the Bee Gees! They were a great three piece!” quips Andy. Remaining quiet for much of the interview, Dan adds, “We’ve literally been influenced by each other”, emphasising the strong bond in the band.

All three certainly display admirable and sound attitudes towards the band and to the music, so we ask what are their hopes and aspirations for the band. Andy begins, “ We do aspire to things, but we try not to plan too far ahead. We’re in control of our career so we can do it at our own pace, take it one day at a time. Like today, we woke up and thought about doing this gig- and talking to you. It keeps it fresh, exciting and fun.” Nodding with agreement, Crispian however, identifies a certain amount of commercial success is perhaps important. “You have to be successful enough to record another record. We probably will make another, even if only our mum’s buy it! Success shouldn’t matter, but when you’re new, it does. We didn’t know how successful we we’d be, but we’re getting a lot of positive feedback.”

With the gig growing closer we asked for their thoughts on Play before preparing to leave. “People appreciating live music has got to be a good thing. For every good band there may be a crap band, but it’s better than some guy playing records” mulls Crispian. Enthusiastically Andy continues, “I think it’s a very good thing. When I was growing up… there was a war on…. You couldn’t get eggs… it was all green fields round here- but they had nothing like this where I lived! It’s definitely great. “

Many thanks to Crispian, Dan and Andy and to Andy Shillito and Maureen McCann.

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