Defever began recording while still in high school, and toured as the bassist of psychobilly band Elvis Hitler. He attended University of Michigan for one year, but dropped out to concentrate on music. His UoM classmate Karin Oliver provided vocals for some of his projects until 1998.
For many years Defever recorded in the basement of parents' house, which he later bought from them. There he produced a number of bands, including Godzuki and Tarnation. In 2003 Defever opened his own recording studio, Brown Rice, in the Detroit area.
Along with housemate Davin Brainard, Defever runs a home record label, timeSTEREO.
Defever is known as a compulsive liar in interviews, and is infamous for manipulating unsuspecting journalists with clever fabrications.