Dead Sexy Inc. Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 6th 2010 1:47PM by Robert Evans
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Dead Sexy Inc. have plied their trade long enough that they are more than prepared for the debauchery that can pervade SXSW. The Paris-based electro-rock band got their start in Los Angeles in 2004 and has released six records since. DSI will be releasing their seventh record leading up to appearances at Canadian Music Week and SXSW, before heading to Japan for to tour this April. Spinner recently interviewed DSI frontman Stephane Herve.

How would you describe your sound?

We're wild, for real. We play what people call "electro-rock," but we've been raised on the Stooges, Dead Boys and ... let's say the Undertones. Our shows will make you dance -- that's why we got girls -- and will also get the guys banging. We don't play popular music like people swallow everyday, rock or electro. We're closer to Peaches than to Gaga, if that makes sense. We're bad at selling ourselves. All we know is more people keep on inviting us all around the planet! We smell dirty and we bleed onstage. It's not a fashion show, [nor] a testosterone metal gig.

What's your plan to survive SXSW?

We've survived two SXSWs. We're pretty used to it. We've been touring like old-school hardcore bands, but we've included art centers, gay clubs and 10,000-seat venues! We'll play two shows and maybe another surprise one at some friends' gig. SXSW is great, except for the booze curfew. Last year we played at almost 12:30AM and we could not get a beer after the show. We had to sneak into a salsa after-party somewhere to get a drink.

Why do you call yourselves Dead Sexy Inc., and how did you guys come together?

We had bands before DSI -- punk rock, industrial, pop, HC. We admit to a lot of bad taste, but we are proud to play what we like, nothing planned. Emmanuel and I got a flat in L.A. in early 2000. We were working on different projects and got offered to do remixes and a song for a soundtrack. We started to write, got signed to Cleopatra and Paul "PK" Kendall from Mute produced our first mini LP. Then Alexis from Lycosia joined the band for live stuff and became a full band member. Dead Sexy? We were pretty wasted at a party at my friend Debby's house -- Scott Ian's ex-wife -- and she told us, "You guys are dead sexy, period." We kept it and added an "Inc." because some country band from a bad movie was called Dead Sexy.

Describe your musical influences and a musical guilty pleasure.

I'll say as mentioned, the Stooges, New York Dolls, the Cult, Suicide, Depeche Mode, Rose Tattoo, the Virgin Prunes, the Buzzcocks, DAF, Chet Baker, Larry Tee, Lord Byron, Hubert Selby Jr., Lautreamont, David Bowie, Serge Gainsbourg, Slayer, Fisherspooner, Lords of the New Church, Pitch Shifter, Goose, Interpol, Peaches, Pasolini, Nick Tosches. Guilty pleasures ... So many, but let's focus on non-sexual ones -- Third Eye Blind, Stereophonics, Madonna, Lady Gaga. Playing all Biohazard video games and being good friends with Evan Seinfeld.

What major vice can you not do without? Or even minor vice if a major one is too embarrassing.

Nothing is embarrassing. We've f---ed people we don't know the name of, we drink ourselves to death, we take or took drugs, depending on the band members. I'm an ex-vegan -- that's embarrassing. I shave my whole body. Emmanuel can't travel without a hair dryer. Alexis has an addiction to junk food. At the same time, as good old French dandies, we travel with poetry books and we have good manners. We're all addicted to the Web, Facebook and Myspace. I work out, jog, masturbate and love my girlfriend. That's enough?

What sparked the idea for the We Are So Dead Sexy page on your website?

It was a great way to know more about the people we love. We are still working on a cut-up song with parts from those interviews. Basically we love musicians, artists and writers, and DSI has always been an art platform. The We Are So Dead Sexy page is a way to show people we're not just about ourselves. We try to share a bit more than the music.

Robert Evans is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.