Robots
In Disguise's Sue Denim and Dee Plum are too funny girls,
electro-pop mistresses recently seen in such festival
as "Les Femmes s'en mêlent" in France.
They have nicely accepted to tell us more about their
band and its music…
How
did Sue and Dee met ? How did the Robots started ?
Sue : We met in Liverpool. I was the lovechild of
Ringo Starr and Dee was spawned of Ken Dodd, we were spoiled
little showbiz kids. Our shared background meant we had
a lot in common.
Dee : I was starring in a production of Annie at
the Liverpool Empire, Sue came to see me and was so impressed.
We put an electro band together within the hour.
It
seems your music influences range is quite large. Is their
a special band, or musical genre that inspired you ?
Dee : There's loads of music that's inspired us. Since
I was small I've always enjoyed singing - I love acoustic
guitar/vocals like Loudon Wainwright III and Johnny Cash
and their folk storytelling. I couldn't play the guitar
much when we started in our garage band so Punk is a total
influence, The Slits, X-Ray Spex especially - girls with
attitude in bands. Indie-dance stuff - Happy Mondays,
The Stone Roses for mixing melodies and strong rhythms.
I'm not massively inspired by beats alone - I need to
connect with a voice and good lyrics.
Sue : I was brought up on English folk music, The
Beatles (of course) and songs from musicals such as Oliver!,
The Sound Of Music... I think it was very strange mixture.
In my teenage years I drifted into David Bowie and Velvet
Underground. And The Pixies. Then I moved thru Hip-Hop
to Electro. Bands I relate to now... well, Sneakers Pimps...uh,
Throbbing Gristle... Chicks On Speed.
You've
been touring around France recently. Did the response
from the audience to your music has surprised / upset
/ pleased you there ?
Sue : We have had a lovely welcome so far... the Les
Femmes S'En Melent tour was da bomb! Robots love France.
I'm trying to learn some French.. uh, trying.
Dee : We've had a ball in France! I like the French
intellectualism - the interest in our lyrics and band
concept. Noone has upset us yet..faites-attention car
je lis un livre de la sorcellerie ha ha.
And
in England ?
Dee : We seem to generate loyal fans wherever we go
- however our album is not out in England as yet! There's
not enough music and entertainment in general that makes
people feel good about or able to escape themselves.
Sue : We have some loyal fans in England, they
have Robot haircuts and know all the dance moves.... in
fact some of them are even following us across the Channel
for this tour.
Do
you enjoy playing gigs ? Why ?
Sue : For me it's a love/ hate thing.... I love the
moments on stage when everything is going well.... I hate
the stress of all the organisation, we don't have a big
network of support, (roadies, managers and such) me and
Dee have to everything!!!
Dee : I like the immediacy of being onstage and
doin' it. It's risky coz anything can happen! And it's
great to hear the audience singing along to certain songs
especially when English isn't their mother tongue!!
Where
does the idea of using French lyrics in certain songs
come from ?
Dee : I lived in Paris as a student and speaking French
for me is being able to have another identity and connect
to a place I know. "DIY" is about playing as
an adult so I get to dress up in the French language.
I'm inspired by Brigitte Bardot's singing voice too.
Sue
: Dee speaks French, I like French music - the French
language is poetic....I like the mixture of French 'n'
English - vive la Franglais!!
