CHROMEOMG
Backstage at Lollapalooza, we interviewed a new favorite.
If you were lucky, you got to go to Lollapalooza. This weekend, if you were really lucky you got to hang with some of the bands that were performing. And, if you were really, really lucky, you also got to chat with one of the guys from Chromeo…and that’s exactly what happened to us.
If you aren’t familiar with Chromeo, do yourself a favor and get acquainted. These boys, Dave 1 and P-Thugg, are responsible for making millions of people dance with their smooth funk. And when we sat down with Dave, vocalist and guitarist (and Columbia grad school student), we got the chance to ask him a little bit about how they make their magic.
Where does Chromeo come from? It’s a cross between chrome, which is the more robotic element, and Romeo, which is the lover element. We really came up with it because we were just two kids who grew up together in Montreal listening to “black music,” if you can call it that. You know, jazz, hip-hop, soul, funk…all the best stuff. And we put our spin on that influence and added the electronic part.
I’ve heard that you’re a professor at Columbia University; is that true? Well, kind of. I’m getting my PhD in French Literature and one of the requirements is that you have to teach a certain amount. So I teach French, which is actually my first language.
Who are some of your favorite artists on the scene today? Our favorite band right now is Vampire Weekend. And I like some of MGMT’s stuff, although I haven’t heard it all. Santogold is obviously killing it right now but she’s huge already, and of course, my brother A-Trak and his girl Kid Sister make great music. Holy Ghost has one of the freshest sounds out there…I want them to open for us on our Fall East Coast tour.
Your MySpace says you’re a “hip-hop” encyclopedia. So…Biggie or Pac? Biggie, definitely. Tupac was next level but it was a war, man, and I’m from Montreal so I have to rep the East Coast. I know every Biggie song by heart. And I love Nas and Mobb Deep. Oh, and Lil’ Wayne. I think “A Milli” is definitely the best record of the year.
You’re always wearing really dapper suits. Are you into fashion? I’m so glad you noticed my suits! Usually, I don’t like to answer this question because it always sounds kind of funny. But I love Margiela; they made the 3-piece suit I wore onstage today. Dries Von Noten and Kris Van Ashe are great too.
How do you think your music has changed between your first album and your second, “Fancy Footwork”? I think on this album we just tried to make the production more polished and Quincy Jones influenced, and I think we succeeded in that aspect. The love and the funk are still there of course, but the sound’s a little smoother.
--SABRINA BACON
This story was published on August 7, 2008.
