Tsumi recently went through some legal hassles over their former band name, Norm4Eva, ended up changing them name, and are working to put that nonsense behind them, and work on building recognition with their new name. We chatted about the legal headaches, now gratefully behind them, and about what's in their future.

SCS: OK, let’s start by getting the bullshit out of the way. You were recently involved in some legal wrangling over the use of your former band name Norm4Eva. There was an artist who also went by the name Norm4Eva, and one of you had the name registered. What was the deal behind that?

Heather: Let's just say we're glad it's over. :P Lawyers writing letters to other lawyers, posters being torn down, general angst and bad feelings. You know, the usual fledging artist thing. Minus the lawyers.

SCS: It’s a pretty unique name, written as one word with the letters & numbers. How did it come about that you had the same name? Was it total coincidence that your name ended up being exactly the same, or did you see the name somewhere and liked it and decided to use it?

Heather: Well we first saw it written on a bathroom wall. Turns out it was the tag of a local artist, something we didn't learn of until more than a year after the fact. She registered it as a local trade name 18 months after we'd been using it publicly and asked us to cease and desist.

SCS: You chose to change it to Tsumi, which according to a Hebrew bible dictionary means says Tsumi is "…a general term for crime/sin/offense. You can go to prison as a result of tsumi but you may get away with it by going to confession." It is also a play on words for "sue me" which you were basically going through. Are you mad about having to change the name especially after working to get it known?

Heather: We were brainstorming names and our photographer-slash-roommate Barb Stalh came up with "Sue Me." Then keys player Nick Semrad suggested putting a spin on it by spelling it as a pseudo Japanese word. We Googled the name to make sure no one else on the face of the planet was using it and then we discovered that in various languages it means 'guilty pleasure'. Yeah, we were kinda mad about changing the name, but now it makes sense. We're changing our lineup significantly so we may as well change the name along with it!

SCS: In the end, did you end up changing it because they had the legal right to it, or just because it was faster and easier to end the problem and get it behind you so you could focus on music instead of bullshit?

Heather: Basically the latter. It was more of a placeholder than anything, and if someone really wants to call up lawyers to defend their own grafitti... more power to 'em. We just wanna play.

SCS: OK, that’s enough of that. How and when did Tsumi in any former incarnation form as a band?

Heather: Well it started when I met Luke Sticka at a local open stage and he asked me if he could play with me. He'd been watching me for a while and had parts written in his head already, I called Jeremiah Moore after seeing him at a drum circle and the next day we were a band!

SCS: If someone asked you "what does your band sound like?" how would you answer?

Heather:I mostly go by what other people tell me. The most recent description was Chrissie Hynde meets Dave Matthews Band. Is that WTF enough for you?

SCS: How would you describe a Tsumi show? – What can someone who hasn’t seen you live expect?

Heather: According to our fans our album very accurately represents our live sound. That's not to say we're note-for-note live. Sometimes Luke or Nick will extend a solo beyond the 16-bar norm but we're not a jam-band either. We've found a happy medium.

SCS: So what types of music and which musicians/groups influenced the band members?

Heather: Heather is most influenced by Vito and the V-tones and Flatwater Circus, mostly because she grew up around them. Luke draws on Wilco and Tim Reynolds, if you can imagine that weirdness.

SCS: What are your goals for this band? touring or just playing around town?

Heather: Most definitely touring! We've been playing too much around town so we sort of flooded our own market. We're looking to Omaha more now and once our lineup is solidified we're going to start branching out.

SCS: Heather, You used to play around town solo under the name Heather Syren, what experience did you all have in bands before Tsumi got together?

Heather: Well officially I'm the only one who's had a band before this one. I had a band called The Normans in high school, but they dumped me because I wasn't popular enough. Tried playing solo in town for a while but then I met Luke, so here we are. Luke's previous band experience is pretty much limited to jazz band in high school.

SCS: How have you grown, musically and creatively, since the band first started?

Heather: I've become much more confident, in every aspect; playing, singing, especially songwriting. Luke's stage presence has gotten much better too; he's much better at forgetting the surroundings but not the audience.

SCS: How do you guys work your songs out? How do they go from idea to finished product?

Heather: Usually I start with an idea based on some lyrical or guitar hook. Then I throw it to Luke who will add his part, or help in writing a bridge here and there. The rest of the band hears it at practice if they're lucky, sometimes on stage!

SCS:When and where was your first local show, and how did it go?

Heather: First gig was at the GINA Benefit back in '03. Luke was late getting off work that night and showed up just in time to learn a new song (see?) and meet Jeremiah. Amazingly enough, we owned 'em! People came to us and asked, "How many YEARS have you guys been playing together?" to which we replied, "30 minutes."

SCS: What was your most memorable live performance and what made it that?

Heather: Probably the CD release show. There was so much energy in the room from everybody that we cared about. We were lucky enough to catch it on VHS and it was a really great show.

SCS: Most embarrasing moment at a show?

Heather: One time we played a song for about 27 seconds only to realize that no one actually remembered their parts!

SCS: What do you like and dislike about the music scene in Lincoln?

Heather: We like the fact that there are so many great and talented musicians who are willing to share it with just about anybody who asks. The thing we don't like is that the crowds around here seem to stick to bands they're already familiar with. This town's pretty blues and punk oriented, and deviating from that makes it hard to play with other bands around here. It's tough to break into the scene.

SCS: Aside from the obvious, be careful what name you pick, have you learned anything in your experiences in a band that you feel newer local bands could learn from, or made any mistakes they should avoid?

Heather: Make sure you get along with your bandmates. It's hard to travel with people that you don't already like.

SCS: Who are some local bands or musicians that you admire or feel should be recognized?

Heather: Electric Soul Method for one, which Luke joined last April. The energy that they put off is amazing, proven by the fact that they won KZUM's Artist of the Year award. Once A Pawn is also a favorite of ours for the fact that they have always been kind and willing to share gigs with us.

SCS: Do you have a favorite local band to play with?

Heather: Once A Pawn of course, and also the Amalgamators. We used to open for Electric Soul Method and that was always awesome, though now it'd be a little awkward. We shared a gig with the Killigans one snowy day, and nobody showed up but it was a blast! We should do it again!

SCS: Do you think growing up/living in Lincoln influences your music in any way?

Heather: Life is a little slower paced so we have more time to perfect our songs.

SCS: Are you working on a new album now, and if so, when do you expect it to come out?

Heather: It's written already, and our bass player is excited about recording it but release date is unknown. We need to find permanent drum and piano players before we think about albums, and we may be halfway there; we're on our way to a jam with a perspective pianist in an hour.

SCS: Was there one defining moment which led you to a life of rock and roll?

Heather: I was cleaning Ken and Vito's (both of the V-tones) apartment and singing to a CD. Vito came home from work but I didn't notice; I just kept singing. He pulled me aside and said "No no no; it's like THIS." After I got done cleaning that night they both pulled me aside and said, "Look, we're going to teach you how to be a musician." That was it for me.

SCS: What was the first album/CD you bought?

Heather: First tape I ever bought was called "Girl Groups of the 60's". First CD Luke ever bought was the Mortal Kombat soundtrack. Whoops.

SCS: What’s the most recent CD you bought, and what bands would you recommend people check out?

Heather: Most recently we bought Soular's self-titled album. Before that, I picked up William Shatner's "Has Been". I'm still under the impression that it's absolutely amazing.

SCS: List off your top five albums of all time.

Heather: