20 Questions with Chromeo

Electrofunkadelic duo Chromeo have been been tearing up the Canadian music scene for years. “Fancy Footwork” sounds like smearing on cherry red lipstick and running out the door in 5 inch heels, while “Night by Night” is the 80′s theme song for an unwritten action movie.   They’ll be hitting up Metropolis in their hometown, Montreal on July 31rst and the Phoenix, in Toronto, on August 3rd. To find out more about tour dates and getting tickets, take your ass HERE. But first, P-Thugg was nice enough to take the 20 Qs below.

1. What is your dream of happiness?

My dream of happiness is to live a full life, work as hard as I can and die with enough good “god credit” to spend my time in heaven jamming with Rick James, Roger Troutman and all the rest of my idols which aren’t dead yet so I’m not going to name them, it’s back luck.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Brunette

3. What is the quality you like most in a man?

Loyalty. Can’t really explain it because I’m going to sound like I’m giving a moral lesson, but that’s very important.

4. What do you fear most?

Dogs.. All animals actually.

5. 808s or 909s?

808s. Nothing against 909s or 909 based music though.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Wow, metaphysical question… I’m not too sure, I don’t really regret anything. I’d rather try and fail than regret something I didn’t try. Maybe I regret not listening to my high school french lessons… I was more of a math and physics guy.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?

Blizzarts in Montreal. Dave and I spent years going there every friday and it’s still open today. They make the best Irish Car Bombs in town.

8. What¹s the one thing you can’t live without?

7up soda and my talkbox.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you¹d like to see perform?

Roger Troutman, Rick James and Fleetwood Mac. Actually it would be great to see them perform together, right?

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

Well I’m actually right in between 2 decades that I equally like. 70s and 80s, but I don’t like the whole 70s and I don’t like the whole 80s, so here’s a new decade I created, from 1976 to 1986… That’s my favorite decade, it’s still 10 years and covers much more material than just 70s or 80s. Best of both worlds.

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?

Oh that’s easy, go blind, completely blind any day before loosing hearing. At least I could carry on with music, look at Stevie! (no pun intended)

12. How old is too old?

No age is too old, as long as you have style and grace. You don’t become old you just become vintage. Vintage is good.

13. Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Family, kids, hopefully still producing or dabbling in music. I can’t wait to become a father, I’m going to be like Joe Jackson (rip) and make my 27 kids form a band.

14. Who¹s your hero?

My new hero right now is Muhammad Ali. I Just saw a documentary on him, and he’s such a cocky, confident, funky dude. I love watching old footage of him just taunting journalists or other boxers, a true legend.

15. What¹s your favourite colour?

My favorite color is Green, my sign is Leo, my favorite fruit is grapes, my favorite pastime is going to the movies.

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?

Well that’s an wide subject, but if I really had to choose one right now it would be

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Madonna of course, although I enjoy quite a few Metallica songs, Madonna takes over especially with her first album. Jellybean Benitez’s production is amazing.

18. What¹s your most hated vice?

Drugs. Ruining people’s lives and your own for 30 minutes of high time…Don’t like that.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Roger Troutman, the talkbox king, has a tragic story. He was killed by his brother (who killed himself on the spot) out of jealousy. He had such a great career, perfected the whole talkbox thing and made it an art. It’s weird because I feel I have something to do with the death of my own idol. Just a little while before he died, something like 2 weeks before, I wanted to get in touch with Roger and I got the contact for his brother Larry Troutman by mistake. I talked to him on the phone and he seemed a bit angry that I wasn’t looking for him. Maybe all the years of Roger being in the spotlight and the jealousy pilled up slowly and I was the trigger… It was literally 2 weeks after! Hopefully it’s not all my fault.

20. What are the top three live shows you¹ve seen in your life?

Bootsy Collins at the Metropolis in Montreal, what a memorable show… I was 16 at the time and I remember him starting the show with a cape and his back to the crowd for a complete song as the intro. He turned around during the second song and people lost it. I have a picture with him from that show. I followed him to this hotel to get my bass signed, which I also still have up on my wall.

Kanye West, in 2005 I think, and it was at The Forum in London. That was back when John Legend was playing keyboards for him. I think that’s the last true hip hop show I saw. Just pure energy and hunger. The crowd was really into it and throwing the typical English “Booooo” sound around, which is a sign of appreciation.

Steely Dan at the Montreal Jazz Festival a couple of years ago. I went alone with Dave’s father and we had a grand time. I couldn’t believe how good Donald Fagen still sounded and how much attitude and sense of humor he has. Their band was really tight and the drummer they had was incredible. Sounded just like the record, no Motifs or Phantoms on stage.