Canadian electro-funk duo, Chromeo, is business casual indeed. These boys are all about the gold grills, leather jackets and Nike Jordans. P-Thugg (keyboards, talk box and synthesizers) and Dave 1 (guitar, lead vocals) discovered sudden notoriety after releasing their second album, Fancy Footwork in 2007. Soon, they had ad spots on MTV and were playing massive festivals like last year’s Monolith at Red Rocks and Coachella in Indio, California. Chromeo’s third studio album, Business Casual, drops September 14 and more 80’s influenced material ensues. At this point in their career, the childhood friends have found their definitive sound which resonates loudly on the new album.
Why do you think Fancy Footwork was your breakthrough album when She’s In Control spawned the massive club hit, “Needy Girl?”
We were still kind of looking for a sound. It was the beginning of an experiment. I think the most memorable single is Needy Girl but I think with Fancy Footwork, we were really in tune with what our sound was and we just went all out. It finally cemented our sound and gave us direction for the next album.
Your lyrics are littered with humor. How important is comedy to your music?
It’s very important to our music. In real life, we are two funny dudes and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We make sure everything is perfect on the albums and while we‘re in the studio because we’re both perfectionists. We pay close attention to details. Recording is so intense that when were done, its nice to alleviate the mood with funny lyrics. It makes it fun. That’s the balance we come up with.
You guys definitely succeeded in finding a unique sound. Who were some of your earlier influences?
We both listened to a lot of funk from the early 80’s like Phil Collins, Hall and Oates, Michael Jackson and some classic rock like Fleetwood Mac. We like a lot of stuff from the late 70‘s, too. Currently, I’m listening to the Scissor Sisters, Vampire Weekend, The Roots and Big Boi.
I caught you at Monolith Festival last year and your set was one of the most energetic sets of the festival. How does it feel to on stage night after night?
We’re having a blast. It’s a miracle when there’s more than 5 people at our shows. It naturally puts us in a good mood which is pretty gratifying. Some bands take their fans for granted, but we don’t. Seeing people sing our songs is amazing. The talk box is a bit hard to juggle. The sound goes into the tube and you have to make the sound with your voice. But it’s a lot easier now that I’ve done it so many times.
You guys jokingly refer to yourselves as “the first successful Arab/Jew partnership since the dawn of human culture.” What’s that all about?
That was a bunch of non statements to just to have fun. It’s such a non issue to us that its kind of funny to us. People started to take it seriously. We have never thought like that, never. We really don’t care.
How is Business Casual different from Fancy Footwork?
There’s a lot more work put into the chord selections and vocal harmonies. It‘s a bit more musical without being too serious. We are music nerds but not in the technical sense. We’re not trying to create a jazz album. We’re still just having fun.
Your lyrics are often about girls and relationships. Are you always breaking up and making up?
Yup. Always breaking up and making up. But I’m doing fine with the ladies (laughs).
How do you feel about the music you make on a personal level?
Personally, I mean its just helps me to have fun. It’s all about me and Dave in the studio with making each other laugh at musical references. We’re constantly making fun of 80’s clothes and all the funny glasses.
Do you think the cliché idea of sex drugs and rock and roll is dead?
We’re straight edge. We don’t do drugs at all. We casually drink every once in a while. Promoters love us because we don’t trash the green room. That idea should stay in the late 70’s and 80’s. We know way too much about the dangers. Back then they kind of had an excuse because they were more uneducated.
What kind of message do you want to get out to your fans?
Stay in school, don’t do drugs and if you like music, go full force. Consistency is the secret.
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