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David Serra Biography

david-serra
  • Born: December 26, 1974 in Trenton, MI
  • Years Active: 1980s-present
  • Member of: Sippycup
  • Genre: Rock & Alternative

Born out of the Downriver, I mean, Metro Shores sludge and raised on the likes of Sesame Street Fever, Pac-Man Fever, Dave Brubeck, and Johnny Mathis Christmas albums, David Serra got his musical start at an early age. Discovering the trombone in fourth grade opened Serra's eyes to the possibilities of hits like "Hot Crossed Buns." Playing orchestral music in elementary school, Dixieland in middle school, and finally jazz throughout high school, Serra learned theory and developed a sense of masking your mistakes, or improvisation. Discovering punk rock in sixth grade and using whatever sense of formal training he had to his advantage, Serra created and played in various bands along the way. Serra teamed up Downriver locals Al Coolsaet and Alan Leizerman and formed Slugasaurus with the aims of filling time and slapping fives in the void of suburban Detroit. Slugasaurus took from Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, and Minutemen to create a mutual noise that would be shared at shows and jams in various basements with other bands, like the Masturdebators, Lick 'Em Maids, and Wiskus Sunshine. With the onset of high school graduation and "bigger plans," Slugasaurus eventually disbanded leaving behind many cassettes in the angst-laden wake of the mid-'90s. While attending Eastern Michigan University for English literature and film and working as an overnight DJ at Ypsilanti's jazz and blues station, WEMU, Serra continued to experiment and expand his musical knowledge with lo-fi recordings and improvisations. On a chance night at the bar, a band named Peachfish asked to add to their lineup. Always looking to add to the chaos, Serra inquired and hit it off famously with members Jim Frye, Andy Winohradsky, and Martin Brummeler. With a love for structured improvisation, the band decidedly changed their name to Data Cadet, which would prove ironic for Serra in the future. Data Cadet forged a place in Ann Arbor and Detroit with their blend of quirky, sonic hooks, taking their cues from somewhere in between the likes of Brainiac, Nation of Ulysses, and Thinking Fellers Union Local 282. Data Cadet played and toured with numerous bands, and eventually fizzled after a couple of releases. Out of the ashes of Data Cadet, Ypsilanti mathies Melk, and other friends came All Hands, a raucous collaboration that fluctuated from two to five members. Instruments were rotated and riffage was passed between Aric Visser, Chris L., Aaron Hernandez, Martin Brummeler, and Serra. All Hands barely survived a move to Chicago and lost steam after recording their full-length, Gas Station Vacation. A move back to Michigan was inevitable. After finding his way back to the depths of southeast Michigan and working at various record retailers along this path, Serra first freelanced as a writer for All Music Guide in 2000. In the summer of 2002 until the present, one could and can find Serra as a data shifter and contributor to All Music Guide. In this time, Serra became a session handyman, playing various instruments in many groups, such as drummer in the Michigan hardcore band Mandown and Beautiful New, featuring Vince Averill, Chris L., Martin Boonstra and Lee Openshaw. Appearances on future Spy Island and Fell Voices installments are bound to pop up and rumor has it that possible names for future projects from Serra may include Falcon Victory, Witch's Tooth, and the Lesson Plan. You just never know. ~ David Serra, Rovi

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