I am not not singing a love song for Camila Grey and Leisha Hailey, the duo behind LA-based synthy sensation Uh Huh Her. The girls were at The Phoenix in Toronto Saturday night, and I got the chance to catch up with them before the show.

I was pretty much a nervous wreck, trying not to show it as I was escorted onto their tour bus to conduct my first interview ever. I had never met them before, or even seen them live, so I didn’t know what to expect. I had briefly walked past them the street a few months back, but that doesn’t count, does it?

Officially meeting, Leisha and Cam were really nice, down to earth, and graciously answered my questions. There’s a strong dynamic between them, and I could tell right away that they get along well, and are genuinely good people. (Read the full interview here.)

I asked them how they first met. They hadn’t known each other at all; Leisha had heard of Camila and her old band Mellowdrone, and went to see her play one night. She then decided to call Cam up out of the blue, after meeting her a a few times, and the rest is history.

Leisha, who was a self-proclaimed “musical theatre geek”, moved to New York City at 17 to study acting and music. She had no intentions of playing in a band when growing up, but in 1991, formed her first band The Murmurs while studying in NYC.
Cam, on the other hand, had always dreamt of pursuing music, and has been playing instruments since she can remember. She says she even used to draw tour buses for fun as a child. Over the years, Cam has worked with artists such as Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes, and Kelly Osbourne.

Uh Huh Her’s debut album, ‘Common Reaction’ (go get it, it’s amazing!), is a bit more “poppier” than their 2007 EP, ‘I See Red’, which had more of a “dark and melancholy” sound. Overall, they “didn’t really know what to expect out of it”, since this was their first full-length CD, but their expectations were met.

As a band, they listen to a variety of music, including MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, and Adele, saying they draw inspiration from “people who are truly unique…and don’t pay attention to what the mainstream does”, for example, Bjork.
People who “are born with a gift and just spend their whole life focusing on this one thing”, is something Leisha feels is amazing to see.
I’d say they’re ironically an example of those whom they admire, a person who strives to do their thing, and perseveres through to achieve their goals. “To see other people do it and succeed at it”, is a driving force.
“You have to keep doing your thing and never give up”, says Cam.
I think that’s pretty much the rule of life.

One of the biggest obstacles for Uh Huh Her has been having to work around Leisha’s hectic filming schedule, and being apart; finding time to write amidst travelling back and forth between LA and Vancouver (where her show is shot). Whenever Leisha had a break, they got down to recording and got it done in about 4 weeks. “It’s a little bit tricky, but we made it work, I guess, we’re making it work”.

You can catch Leisha as Alice Pieszecki on Showtime’s ‘The L Word’, which is approaching it’s final season in 2009, with a spin-off in the works, focusing around her character.

Now onto the concert.
I have been listening to Common Reaction over and over, so I was familiar with the songs, and was really looking forward to hearing and seeing the tracks come to life. The entire evening definitely lived up to what I was hoping to experience.

Touring with, and opening for Uh Huh Her were The Fashion, of Denmark. They were energetic and bouncy, and got the crowd clapping and lively. These four guys totally revved it up!

Uh Huh Her hit the stage around 7:45pm, and played about an hour’s long set, including a cover of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams”. Both girls rocked it on keys and bass, with some electric guitar in the mix, and a brilliant drummer who was wonderfully hyped. I loved him!

If I could describe their music, I would say that it is melodically mellow, bass-infused, synth-pop orgasmic-amazingness, that can, and should be replayed approximately 598 times/day.

Music aside, I witnessed a spectacular showing of lights, which is a reason alone, according to Cam and Leisha, to come see the show. They had been playing for about a year under “bright spotlights with no fuckin’ vibe”, and finally got into the theatrics of it. It’s just a fun night to be had by all, with great energy largely attributed to the audience (despite some obnoxious yelling at the stage, i.e. “YOU’RE HOT!”). What an insightful observation!

After the show, there was a signing of all things merch. You had to have bought something from the merchandise stand in order to get an autograph, but people snuck in with ticket stubs. What seemed to be half the capacity of the club, were all hustled into a line, waiting eagerly for the ladies who happily signed tees and CD’s.

As for Uh Huh Her’s future, they hope to continue having a really good time doing what they do, and “just keep making records”.
Cam joked that they would like a better tour bus, perhaps with a Jacuzzi on it. But that idea was quickly shut down with the fact that that’d be skanky and gross. I strongly agree.

Leisha and Cam would like to say “Thank You!”; For having such loyal, forgiving fans, for coming back to see their shows, giving them a chance, watching them grow, and just sticking by them.

Uh Huh Her are currently on tour across the U.S., with a few Canadian dates. They hit up Vancouver on November 9th.
Catch the official vid for their first single ‘Not A Love Song’ here. It’s pretty pretty!

Also, here’s a short video I took of my fave song, “Dance With Me”.
Check them out in action!

Leisha, me, and Cam, after the show

Interview by Melania Fedyna (melaniafedyna@gmail.com)
Photos by Natalie Johnson (natalielisajohnson@gmail.com)

Check out the handsome man below. If you don’t know him, get acquainted. This is DL, owner of Peer Pressure in Montreal. Like Pink Mafia’s, their parties are the best around with the most in-demand DJs, hottest partiers and highest street cred. See the two meet in Montreal on Sunday July 13th at Blue Dog. DL is hosting the last party of the Get Er Done Tour, so check it out next weekend. Once you read his 20Qs you’ll come to adore this man. An you know what they say, Once you go black you never go back…

1. What is your dream of happiness?

Making a living out of my passion

2. Blonde or Brunette?
Brunette

3. What Is the quality you like most in a woman?
Being effortlessly sexy

4. What do you fear most?
Fear itself (how corny is that?)

5. 808s or 909s?
808

6. What’s your biggest regret?
All regrets have turned into lessons, so none.

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
The S.A.T.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?
My macbook

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
80′s

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?
Blind because both suck, but still having music would make it easier.

12. How old is too old?
Age ain’t nothing but a number.

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?
Absolutely no clue

14. Who’s your hero?
There’s a few people I admire, but no heroes.

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Black

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
Anything by Celine Dion

17. Metallica or Madonna?
Metallica

18. What’s your most hated vice?
Where to start…

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
Bobby Kennedy and MLK

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
Radiohead, Daft Punk, and can’t think of a third one right now.

Toronto DJ/vocalist DJ Barbi Castelvi is known for her ability to put together a mix of techno/hip hop/new wave and get you to shake what your mama gave ya before the track even reaches its chorus. We got her to answer the 20Qs as honestly as possible. After reading it I know you’ll run to Wrongbar on July 12th to catch her alongside Fierce Helder, Betti Forde, Bitchin’ and The Royal Society during the Get Er Done Tour. Roses are red, her fave colour is blue, she’ll make you dance so hard, you won’t know what to do.

1. What is your dream of happiness?
To be able to grow old happily

2. Blonde or Brunette?
Brunette

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

4. What do you fear most?
Loneliness

5. 808s or 909s?
808s

6. What’s your biggest regret?
Not buying this pair of sunglasses in NYC…Now i can’t find them anywhere…

7. What’s your fave bar or club in the world?
Rice to Riches….It’s a rice pudding bar in NYC….

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?
Chocolate

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Madonna, Prince, Freddie Mercury

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
80′s

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind or deaf and why?
I’d rather go blind…I’d rather be able to hear music

12. How old is too old?
Old is when you’re no longer coherent

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?
Probably hustling the same way i am now but on a larger scale…

14. Who’s your hero?
My mom

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Blue

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
We Built This City by Jefferson Starship

17. Metallica or Madonna?
Madonna

18. What’s your most hated vice?
Inconsistency in personality

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
Queen Elizabeth I

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
NEWCLEUS @ Detroit Electronic Music Festival 2008,
KRAFTWERK @ Ricoh Coliseum and
NEW ORDER @ the CNE Grandstand

Here we are with Toronto’s own k-os. He’s musically talented and pleasing to the eye. We tracked him down and got him to answer the 20qs. So print out the blog entry below, tape his answers to your wall and sigh like its 1989.
1. What is your dream of happiness?
that would be one cup(240ml or half a pint) of organic milk a 1978 Honda Civ in camouflage green with brown leather
interior, and a domestic jockey with a politics degree!

2. Blonde or Brunette?
that answer changes daily …it depends on if the sun’s out and im riding my bike around or if i am planning to sleep in.

3. What Is the quality you like most in a man?
Loyalty
4.What do you fear most?
the possibility that ones next lifetime is created and determined in the astral plane of ones current life therefore making ‘dream-time’  the most crucial creative experience and so ..instead of dreaming about shagging Anne Hathaway, Jayme and Lauren i should have, by way of extensive bicameralism been forging and shaping a better body mind and souL..

5. 808s or 909s?
depends on who’s riding the riddim over which they are played
is it New Order or Lil wayne?

6. What’s your biggest regret?
accessing the images it takes to answer this type of question… and not marrying this other musician cause i could have…

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
the back patio of Sweaty Betty’s waay back … or any bar before its spot gets blown up!

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?
my DJ.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
Bob Marely the Sex Pistols Ellen Page

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
it depends on what crap is playing on the telee.. then i choose my own escape but pretty much the seventies when i was too small to look out the car window…

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?
if i had to choose .. i wouldnt choose any of those fates!
f*ckers

12. How old is too old?
well.. the word ‘how” implies a method so i would propose that the age at which any individual applies ‘the method’ of using age as a meter to judge anything is too old

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?
on a ranch with nuff offspring, a mechanical bull and fresh vegetables being carried in bosom of my wife!

14. Who’s your hero
Hesus

15. What’s your favourite colour?
Green

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

17. Metallica or Madonna?
im a man… yes i am… and you can’t help but love me
so(sung ostenato in B minor)

18. What’s your most hated vice?
smash n grab then running for cab—> oh.. and also forgetting who i am…

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
it has to be me. Any other answer would be unwise and carry the heavy putrid stench of Hubris.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
Emily Haines at the BackSeat Taxi— >Feist same venue and
Catpower at the Sutton..

Meet Nikki Awesome.A member of The Royal Society.The facebook group says The Society “began to acquire a wide and diverse fanbase, both for their delicious good looks and their insane amount of talent.”

And Nikki obviously has something to do with this. Check out her and the rest of The Royal Society during the Get Er Done Tour (they perform at Wrongbar July 12th).So read her 20Qs below ladies and gentlemen, then run to your local library, find a thesaurus and look up synonyms for “awesome”. You’ll find “amazing”, “grand” and “majestic”.She’s these and more, so read on…

1. What is your dream of happiness?

Drinking Veuve Cliquot in a claw-footed bathtub with a beautiful view around 3:45 in the afternoon. Motown in the background.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Duh.

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

TOP quality.

4. What do you fear most?

Getting a bad set of hilights. Also nuclear war.

5. 808s or 909s?

808s

6. What’s your biggest regret?

Not being born into old money.

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

I was just at Forty Deuce in LA, that was pretty fun. If I could I would go to every bar only once. I hate being a regular anywhere.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?

FASHION, BABY!

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Elvis.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

ummmmmmm…. 60’s for music and 80’s for fashion

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

This question is dumb.

12. How old is too old?

If you start using your own fashion history as retro looks, you’vegone too far.

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?

In a private “spa” facility being treated for “stress”.

14. Who’s your hero?

John Cusack.

15. What’s your favourite colour?

The colour of a non-english-speaking poolboy emerging from ice water in slow-motion on a june day

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

That “I love Soca” shit drives me crazy. Shhh don’t tell my band.

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Who are they? Is that a brand name of pants?

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Shagging Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. I just can’t give it up.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Frances Farmer or Rosemary Kennedy

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Radiohead touring OK COMPUTER with my best friend in high school, then catching them years later with my Daddy. I’m checking them again thissummer.Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Lovers tour was wicked and we danced through the whole show even though the seats were way in the back! Watching the Deftones play the last stop on their tour with DieMannequin from the side of the stage (where I was LUSTING after a Strat painted with the Louis Vuitton monogram… I was totally planning on jacking that shit)

To initiate our newest blog, we have an interview with non-other than Wax Romeo, with his DJ sound like no other.  Keep reading for his answers to the most thought-provoking questions of his career.

”forbidden scarf dance, sea turtle/city turtle, “Come on Rick, I’m tired. Let’s go home.”, “She’s kinda…stout…”, pushy behaviour, cigarette smash and grab, guest: dj badu, hasty hands, 4am Gerry’s, disregarding disregard, myspace-offs, return of the mack, katmandu, balcony-bedtime, gold, i like to party…everybody does, dune buggy, A licky boom boom down, lurkers/loaches, eagles/seagulls, “Smell that bitch, her yacht’s ignited…”, dude food, sex jamming, eastern-fusion, mornings, 100% energy, naive melodies, diet sprite, ultimate cory, edelweiss.”

1. What is your dream of happiness?

I must be a miserable son of a bitch ’cause nothing is coming to mind.

2. Blonde or Brunette?

Blonde.

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

Effeminate an non-threatening.

4. What do you fear most?

Water. And K’thulu.

5. 808s or 909s?

909s, be serious.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

I Am Legend. No contest.

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

AV club.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?

Prime rib.

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?

Bernard Edwards in Chic, SOS Band, Talking Heads.

10. What is your favorite decade in music?

1978-1988

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

What a rotten thing to ask a person.

12. How old is too old?

Dead.

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?

Washed up and impotent.

14. Who’s your hero?

Shawn Kemp. ODB of the NBA.

15. What’s your favourite colour?

I like black for clothing, but white for girls and Mazda Miata’s.

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

Jack and Dianne.

17. Metallica or Madonna?

Madonna.

18. What’s your most hated vice?

Blacking out.

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?

Garfield…or…actually…Odie.

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?

Kiss, the Pixies, and Shambhala.

Click here to listen!

We’re back again for the weekly 20 questions with people who we think are totally rad. Half of the Tegan & Sara team was hunted down and here is what she thought to be the best answers to our random questions. Enjoy!

1. What is your dream of happiness?
1a. babies and one of those roof top gardens
2. Blonde or Brunette? Both. Simultaneously.
2a. brunette.

3. What Is the quality you like most in a man?
3a. the use of “love language” in their relationship vocabulary

4. What do you fear most?
4a. death of people i love

5. 808s or 909s?
5a. i’m confused. what is an 808s. is this a drug reference?

6. What’s your biggest regret?
6a. being a total selfish jerk and my first tattoo

7. What’s your fav bar or club in the world?
7a. hmm. dislike all of them.

8. What’s the one thing you can’t you live with out?
8a. this american life the NPR radio program

9. What are the 3 musicians dead or alive you’d like to see perform?
9a. bruce springsteen, cyndi lauper, violent femmes (in the 80’s)

10. What is your favorite decade in music?
10a. now

11. If you had to choose, would you rather go blind of deaf and why?
11a. ugh. can’t choose.

12. How old is too old?
12a. more importantly, how young is too young?

13. Where did you see yourself in 15 years?
13a. see answer # 1a.

14. Who’s your hero?
14a. my mom

15. What’s your favourite colour?\
15a. green

16. What song could you live without ever hearing again?
16a. livin la vida loca

17. Metallica or Madonna?
17a. madonna

18. What’s your most hated vice?
18a. don’t have any vices

19. Who is the most tragic figure in history?
19a. all marginalized people

20. What are the top three live shows you’ve seen in your life?
20a. -wilco on the yankee fox hotel tour in vancouver at the commodore
-constantines at logans in victoria circa shine a light tour
-madonna in the summer of 06 in montreal