 01/06/2006 Datarock
PLACE OF BIRTH: Bergen, Norway
DATE OF BIRTH: Summer of 2000
PERSONAL MOTTO: Do the dirty!
STYLE OF MUSIC (IN FIVE WORDS): So sexy, so nice. Hello!
DESCRIBE YOURSELF (IN FIVE WORDS): So sexy, so nice. Hairy!
Discovered by Mikel Telle (of Telle Records fame, Norway, the original home of Kings of Convenience, Annie and Royksopp), Datarock hail from Bergen, Norway and they are about to stake their claim as your new favourite band. Taking the funk pop framework of classic Prince and the Bee Gees and mixing it with the garage rock snarl of the Velvet Underground sounds like an unlikely combination. Datarock manage to pull it off and then some, which shows what a remarkable group they are. Matching red tracksuits, lyrics about Commodore 64s, a song called ‘Maybelline’ (taking the “maybe she’s born with it” line from the mascara advert of the same name), video references to ‘Revenge of the Nerds’. it would be easy to dismiss Datarock as a joke. The problem for any doubters is that the jokes are fresh, unique, as addictive as sugar and most importantly, they are very funny. The album combines all the catchiness of electronic pop music with the muscle of a fully fledged rock band to create a sound that references every thinkable, and unthinkable, musical genre from the last 30 years of popular music. ‘Computer Camp Love’ (the second single from the album) is kitsch pop genius with its tale of geek love and ‘Grease’ via a Prince chorus. Future single and live favourite ‘Fa Fa Fa’ (you might have heard it on Annie’s ‘DJ Kicks’ compilation) is a strong contender for song most likely to invoke involuntary mass hysteria on the dancefloor. Entitled ‘Datarock Datarock’, the band felt their debut album was so good they named it twice. It showcases a group with a more astute understanding of great pop music than most bands manage in a career. Their’s is a world that understands the pain of the high school nerd. The attention to detail in exploring this world of geeks is so well observed, it’s quite brilliant.
What is your biggest achievement so far?
Surgically removing our anus and going through a sex change.
Who are your musical heroes?
Devo, Devo, and Devo.
Tell us about your new projects...
We’re currently writing a musical. The story takes place in Tribeca, Manhattan, and is the tragic love story of two young New Yorkers living in separate.... music scenes.
What are your plans for the future?
Casting Ewan McGregor as the Upper West Side Jewish punkfunk troubled kid, and Molly Ringwald as his female counterpart: a design student living in Brooklyn, hanging out with the cool retro 2001 electroclash-crowd. The musical is gonna be awesome.
Are there any artists you would like to work with?
There is only one Shaun Ryder.
What is catching your ear at the moment?
The Chap, Liars, The Knife, Quasimojo, Ungdomskulen, Joggers, Caribou, The Sword, Deerhoof.
You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why?
There is only one Shaun Ryder.
What is your recipe for success?
Do it yourself, you lose. Hire others to do it, you lose. Don’t do it! The first step towards failure is trying.
What makes you happy?
Sex, drugs, and drugs and sex.
What makes you angry?
Anger management programs.
What was the last CD/record you bought?
Spank Rock’ s debut album is fucking ACE!
What is your favourite song?
‘She’s like the Wind’, written and performed by Patrick Swayze.
If not a DJ/producer/artist then what?
Stormtrooper.
DATAROCK’S ALBUM ‘DATAROCK DATAROCK’ IS RELEASED THROUGH YOUNG ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS ON JULY 3RD. WWW.DATAROCK.NO / WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DATAROCK |
