Band Name: uniSEF
Music Style: Hardcore/Punk
Location (Home Base): Boise, ID

Q: Tell us about how uniSEF came to be? When did you form? Where does the name come from?

Sef: I’ll try to make this short… I moved to Boise in 03 with my family. Tried to find some guys that were interested in playing Christian punk music… no luck… So after being here for about a year I started writing music myself. Bought some cheap recording software for my PC, broke out an old drum machine that a good friend had given me right before I moved and I started recording my stuff. I had an old friend back in NY who was laying down bass tracks for me and sending them via IM while I was learning how to get the recording stuff to work. Then when I started recording my new material I picked up a bass for myself and started laying down everything in my living room… I can only imagine what the people in the apartments around us were thinking when I was screaming vocals into a microphone… haha… anyway, I put some of the tunes up on myspace, got some show offers that obviously couldn’t happen because people didn’t realize that it wasn’t a full band, but decided to convert a couple of my new songs to acoustic versions so I could at least go down to the local Coffee joint (Joltz) and play… that is where I met up with Tyler. We became pretty good friends right off that bat and started jamming together. He called up his other bands drummer and had him come jam with us. We made it official shortly thereafter, and uniSEF (the band) was born… Oh yeah the name… A friend at work use to make the comment “what do you think this is… Unicef?” meaning the U.N. thing, but because of my name he thought it was funny. So when I tried to come up with a name, that one just kinda made sense… uni = 1, meaning I was the only one in the band… and SEF being my name… uniSEF… I tried to get the guys to change the name after we became a full band, but they wouldn’t let me change it… There you have it

Q: What does everyone in the band do when they are not playing?

Tyler: I train wild animals
Kevin: I am happily married to my beautiful wife Amber and have 2 kids Joey & Sheyanne. All of which are my biggest supporters, and who back me no matter what I do. I enjoy hunting, and fishing. I am presently laid off from work so I have time to play with my kids and hang out with my wife.
Sef: I watch Tyler train the animals… haha… I am also married with 2 kids, love being with my family. I work as an Electronics Technician and take some classes at BSU. I am a youth leader/Worship leader at my church (Calvary Chapel Boise). I play music, record music, listen to music… I think that covers it… Oh yeah I also enjoy putting three periods at the end of my sentences… see…

Q: The uniSEF myspace page has quite of list of bands that influence your sound including XLooking ForwardX, The Deal, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, describe your sound for us.

Sef: ummm, punk-like… I hope… I don’t know, we try to throw a little bit of everything in there; It’s hard for me to say… a little Officer Negative, meets the Unseen, meets Dogwood, meets Green Day, meets Face to Face… I really don’t know… sorry, that’s the best I can do
Kevin: I feel like our sound is a great mix between MXPX, Rancid, Five Iron Frenzy, and Slick Shoes.

Q: On your myspace page you guys claim to be Boise’s only JCHC (Jesus Christ Hardcore Band) band, is this true?

Sef: Not only is that true, but we’re the only JCHC punks in Boise at all… period

Q: The band really doesn’t hide the fact that it is a Christian punk/hardcore band, anyone ever give you guys a hard time
about that?

Sef: nah, actually it’s pretty cool here… none of the other local punk bands even make it an issue, were all friends, love to play shows together, hang out, it’s pretty cool that way

Q: How does your faith influence your music?

Sef: I guess music in general, at least when its real, comes from what’s inside. My faith in Christ being the most important thing in
my life, I suppose it is just natural for that to come through…
Kevin: To me my faith is the main influence on my playing. I feel
completely unworthy to be doing this, but God has put me here in
this time and place for this reason, so I am completely overjoyed
to be playing with uniSEF.
Tyler: When I was younger my parents used to come into my
room because they thought I was listening to the angry punk rock
music with bad lyrics, They would say, “what the heck are you
listening to?!” and I’d reply, “its ok, there Christian.” and they
would say, “oh…well turn it down.” That’s one up side to being a
“Christian” band…kids in the position that I used to be can be
exposed to freedom of expression and underground music
without their parents giving them a hard time. I don’t think I
answered that question right.

Q: Do kids/people ever come up to you after shows to ask you about Christ?

Kevin: I have had a couple of kids ask me about being a Christian, and I tell them that God rocks and he is so good to me, my family and my band.
Sef: Not really at shows so much… but we’ve had many a conversation when we see people hanging out around Boise or downtown that we’ve seen at shows and stuff.

Q: Any bands you played with ever give you a hard time over that fact that you are a Christian punk/hardcore band?

Sef: Not yet…

Q: How does the punk/hardcore scene act towards the message you are trying to convey?

Sef: Some people don’t seem to care, but there are those that really hate it… there is a lot of anger in punk, especially against religion… and the one thing that we try to show everyone is that we don’t do religion… following Christ is not religion… it’s a hard thing to try to explain, but just going to, and playing shows, hanging out with the other bands really conveys that better than anything we could say using words…
Kevin: A lot of people don’t realize the punk scene, is really just a bunch of kids who are looked down on for being different, but God says in the Bible come just as you are, I take this very literally. Meaning you don’t have to come to church in a suit or all prim and proper, all God asks is that you come. I feel all the punk kids in the scene that I have met receive us very well and like it or not they are hearing Gods word in our music.

Q: Tell us about some the other bands you have played with that have been the most memorable.

Tyler: Any show with Will Remain…those guys are the best.
Sef: Dude… you’re not allowed to talk anymore…… Our Corpse Destroyed, Flatfoot 56, P.O.Q., Pieces of Eight have all been awesome bands to play with…

Q: What was the Craziest show that uniSEF ever played?

Sef: I’d have to say the O.C.D. FF56 show… We showed up for the show and no one was there, the doors were all locked… so we all walked across the street to Donnie Macs just hoping someone showed… after about an hour we went back to Grove Street and one of the kids waiting for the show called the owner… and the dude had no idea that there was supposed to even be a show that night, but he came out real quick opened everything up, turned on the heaters… then OCD and FF56 showed up. The first band (A Blinding Spyre) started their set, I had to go out to my car to make a phone call, locked the door and got out with the lights on, and the keys in the ignition… so I’m suppose to play a set in like 15 min, my keys are locked in my car with the lights on. So I’m on the phone with locksmiths, my wife, trying to get the doors unlocked. Then to top it all off, as soon as the show was over they started loading all of this goth dance party stuff into the place, and all of these goth people started coming in, and I kinda got scared… So, it was pretty crazy because we didn’t even know if this show was going to happen… but it did, and it was just a crazy night… but in the end, it was an awesome show. The other bands were awesome! Then we went out to Denny’s with the guys from OCD and FF56 and hung out till like 2AM, it was pretty cool
Tyler: Probably the infamous “Shed Show”. 1. We were playing in a tin storage shed…great for acoustics. 2. We were the only real “punk” band. and 3. I was on crack and decided to play as many wrong notes as possible and sing off key. It was an unforgettable night…especially since we have it all on video.

Q: Tell us about the albums that uniSEF has released, what songs are the band most proud of? (I will place links for folks to find your cds)

Sef: We have 2 official CDs. The first one was a compilation of all of the songs I wrote before becoming a full band, and then a few new ones that were written as a band. They were all re-recorded with the band in our studio and it ended up being a really cool first full length. The second was the split we did with Thee Imposters out of Chico CA, they actually drove up to Boise to record their stuff. It was a fun weekend. Our songs on that CD were all written while Tyler was away at school in Wyoming. So it was kinda strange, but fun at the same time. I like them both, but the next one will be the best ever for sure!

Q: Does the band have plans to release more albums? Does anyone have any side projects going on?

Tyler: Were going to start writing for a 2nd full length with some faster harder songs, definitely excited for it. I’m working on a George Strait tribute band called “Strait Up”
Seth: Dude… seriously… no more lip outta you…
Kevin: Not really any side projects for me, just playing for my church every Sunday.

Q: Any plans for uniSEF to tour?

Kevin: I personally would love to tour with uniSEF, they have become like my brothers and I love hanging out with them.
Sef: We’ve talked about it, but if we did it would be a short tour. I would love to get out on the road though, maybe shoot out to Cornerstone or something… we’ll see.

Q: If you could give one message to the punk/hardcore scene what would it be?

Tyler: Go to shows! Big or small.
Kevin: That we love them that’s why we have to play this music to give the unbelievers God’s message, because God is using us to reach out to them
Sef: Die, Die, Die for what you believe!

Q: If you want to add anything else (links, shout outs, whatever), go for it.

Sef: Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years, all the local 208 punx, Calvary Chapel Boise, My family, and God for allowing us this opportunity. We’ d love to hear from all of you out there so look us up on myspace, shoot us an email. Thanx to Josh for hooking up this interview, and to you for reading it… Later…
Kevin: I would like to give a shout out to my church the Nampa Vineyard, and all my friends there. They have all been really supportive of me and the band. If anyone wants to chat I have a myspace page linked with the uniSEF site. Keep your head up and trust in God he can deliver you from the ensnarement of the enemy!!!! Love you guys Kevin

You can go and check out the band on their website and listen to some of their music on their myspace page.
uniSEF website: www.unisefmusic.com
uniSEF myspace page: www.myspace.com/unisef
To purchase their albums and merchandise go CLICK HERE

And don’t forget that you can go and discuss great Christian punk, ska, hardcore and Oi! at the HXC Christian forum by clicking the image below. Sef from the band posts on there if you want to chat with him catch him on the forum!