Lo-Fi-Fink
Words: Marisa Brickman
Image: Jonathan Brown
Lo-Fi-Fnk are not a joke and they would be highly offended if you thought they were. As is the case with some of their other label cohorts (eh, hem, Best Fwends), playful music often gets accused of being a piss-take. Best Fwends definitely fall more into the category of piss-take than Lo-Fi, but the earnestness is endearing. There’s something about the gay electro disco tunes, the elf-like Leo and hip-hop August that just doesn’t seem quite right, but, when given a chance, witnessed live and taken for what it is (fun pop music), Lo-Fi-Fnk are actually pretty dope and definitely different.
Hailing from Sweden, the mild-mannered twenty-somethings are super sweet, soft-spoken and have an air about them that makes you realize they are up for just about anything. ’SUP has seen them quite a few times now – partied with them at the Bestival Festival in Isle of Wight where we bought them vodka shots and posed for photos with their eye-ball hats, celebrated Halloween during CMJ and partied at a polish disco in Brooklyn. I think they might be a bit scared of us, but nothing seems to be stopping them from gathering fans from endless touring, releasing a hot new album called Boylife and continuing to make neon-colored music videos. Oh, and picking up the ladies.
How old are you and what do you do in the band?
Leo: I write songs and sing and co-produce and answer myspace messages.
August: 24-years-old, I co-produce and do the bookkeeping and if I’m feeling good I answer mails and myspace!
What is Stockholm like? It seems like a really clean and innocent place, kind of like you guys. Tell us what its like there and how where you are from influences the music you make.
Leo: The biggest influence is that really not much is happening in Stockholm. It’s small and not very wild. And also a very important factor: we don’t have NME in Sweden.
August: Stockholm is very good if you like doing music, there’s not much to do, not much clubs and such. It’s easy to get peace of mind. But there are a few clubs that are good so you don’t get bored.
Why did you call your tour Boylife?
August: Because that’s the name of our album the tour is supporting? Lack of imagination? NOOO! We love that name of course!
Despite the fact that some people might think you’re gay, you guys are quite the ladies men, huh? What do you look for in a lady and what are your tactics to get girls?
Leo: I know what I like, but I try more to be a ladyfriend than to be that annoying pick-up-guy.
August: Ice blue eyes and nice manners. It’s an extra plus if she can speak English or Swedish. How? By waiting hard and long.
You’ve been doing a lot of remixes lately. How do those come about and which ones are you most proud of?
Leo: I like our The Feeling remix [“Love It When You Call”] a lot.
August: It’s often our record company that asks us if we like to do this or that, or some people on myspace. If we like it or the money is right we do it. I’m almost always most proud of the latest.
We’ve partied with you guys in cities all over the world. Tell us some of the best parties you’ve been to and some of the special moments.
Leo: A special moment was the other night when some guys started a spontaneous striptease on stage. And a girl came up and tried to steal the attention but no one cared about her. Everybody wanted to see the fat guy naked.
August: Duh. We just love Eastern Europe style. That’s what makes the best party!
What do you do to make your live shows an experience?
Leo: I try to just get into it and also I try to sing as good as I can. Then I leave the entertainer bit to August.
August: Our gigs are surreal and off the hook. I listened to it once when a radio station recorded one of our shows and I was amazed! Like, ‘whatta F-word!?! Who are those electronics and funkadelics awesome guys?!’ I think the unrealness of it all makes it such an experience.
Are you going to get a new bassist now that Nottee is gone?
Leo: I play the bass now. We got a drummer instead. But Nottee is not gone, she is working on some great songs, so watch out.
August: Now we all bout drummers! So F’n 2007
What can we expect from Lo-Fi this year?
Leo: After a tour of the US in March, we will start workin on our album seriously. We have a lot of songs waiting to be finished.
August: A new album waiting to get mastered in the studio? And loads of awesome live shows, 2007 super drummer style!
Website: lo-fi-fnk.com