Diva is the debut studio album by the grunge band My Sister’s Machine, released on January 24, 1992 through Caroline Records. The album was recorded at Robert Lang Studios in Shoreline, Washington. Diva included the singles “I’m Sorry” and “I Hate You“, both of which had accompanying music videos. The video for “I’m Sorry” was directed by Paul Rachman, who also directed music videos for Alice in Chains‘ “Man in the Box” and “Sea of Sorrow“.
Before the formation of My Sister’s Machine, singer and lyricist Nick Pollock had played guitar in an early incarnation of Alice in Chains with vocalist Layne Staley; they called themselves Alice N’ Chains. When that band broke up on friendly terms in 1987, Pollock played for a year with older musicians in a funk band. In 1989, he formed MSM along with guitarist Owen Wright, bassist Chris Ivanovich, and drummer Chris Gohde; Wright and Gohde previously played in a band called Mistrust, which also included former Culprit singer Jeff L’Heureux.
Since none of the other band members had ever been a singer before, Pollock got the job by default being the band’s primary lyricist. In order to have more artistic control over their debut album, the band initially decided to sign a deal with a small independent record company called Caroline Records. “The band’s standpoint is that it’s not time,” Pollock said:
“We consciously decided to go with an independent, so we could (have the freedom to) say, ‘This is the way I want the cover to look,’ and ‘I want to be part of producing the album, even though I am not a record producer, because it’s a learning experience for me.’ We have a really good relationship with the label. When the time comes when we’re ready to move on, they’re more than willing to sell the contract to a major label with the resources to put on a bigger marketing push”.
Tracklist:
- Hands and Feet
- Pain
- I Hate You
- Wasting Time
- Love at High Speed
- I’m Sorry
- Walk All over You
- Sunday
- Monster Box
- Diva
Credits:
My Sister’s Machine
Chris Gohde: drums
Chris Ivanovich: bass
Nick Pollock: vocals, vox organ
Owen Wright: guitar
Additional personnel
Saucy Pierre: guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Management
J. Eugene Salomon Jr.: legal representation
Production
Ronnie S. Champagne: producer
My Sister’s Machine: producer, arranger
Steve Culp: assistant producer
Mr. Colson: mixer
Howie Weinberg: mastering
Chris Ivanovich: art direction, artwork, design
Nick Pollock: art direction, artwork, design
Saulius Pempe: art direction, artwork, design, photography
Randy Hall: photography
