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LR interview: Penelope and Stephen: The Golden Filter. So Penelope, you are from Australia and Stephen is from Ohio, how did you guys meet? Penelope: After traveling around the world I decided to stop moving and stay put in New York. Stephen had been traveling too, both of us kind of wandering around the globe, and then we both stopped. I rented a place right across the street from Stephen who had just moved to that block at the same time. It's a bit "magic" to say, but it was truly like parallel universes collided. What inspires you? Laughter, nature, history, and landscapes. How do you feel about music blogs posting your music? We've been giving away our singles for free online thus far.... music blogs are necessary to get new music heard... it's not about money nor record sales at all at the level we are at. we just want fans to have access to it. Any thoughts on the new “lo-fi” music movement? For example bands like: Neon Indian, Girls and Washed out. We're happy about it because these bands prove that you don't always need a giant label to get your music heard... and that it may be better to NOT have a giant label try to turn an artist to something they aren't, highlighting a time where there is more artistic freedom and control. Why gold? It's the only thing that didn't devalue during the recession. It's pure. Who is behind your art direction? Where did the idea of being so mysterious came form? We are 100% behind our art direction. From band photos that we take ourselves, to the CD cover. The only help we have had aesthetically is with our videos that Moop Jawdirected. We get along pretty well with them thus far in vision and have a lot of input with how the videos end up, therefore, it has worked out very well. The idea behind being mysterious is nothing new, but it stems from us wanting to slow the world down and let our identities shine through the music and give listeners a visual that is different than two human faces. It's kind of like bringing back the mentality of, say, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, or Steely Dan and how they chose to not be on their cover art. Music can inspire so much imagination... How was the experience of touring with The Presets? Any favorite songs from them? The tour was fantastic. Great energy, great people and fantastic shows. Always lots of laughs backstage too. The live version of "Aeons" with Kim playing the bells is true love... but "If I Know You" is probably our favorite. “Shut the fuck up boy, you’re starting to piss me off.” Is there a story behind these lyrics? You'd have to ask Peter Bjorn and John about the true meaning since it's their song that we remixed (and re-sang). but to us it took on the aura of an annoying boy bothering a female on the dancefloor and the whole crowd in unison telling him to lay off. perhaps something people often think, but don't always have the guts to say. If you could have a Sunday brunch with 6 different personalities who would they be? A creative person, a spiritual leader, a scientist, a mystic, a politician, and a romantic. If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow, where would it be? Tahiti or New Zealand. Any designers you admire? There are plenty of designers that we are inspired by - whether it's in fashion or architecture or furniture or whatever...What we truly do admire is the spirit of innovation and creativity. In regards to clothes, sometimes this is about going to the local thrift store and reinventing something you find there for $2, or a mixing it up with something from a Vintage Store. Or maybe it is a madcap creation never seen before. Wherever we see individual creativity, that is admirable. If you could go back in time, what important event would you have attended? The moment The Great Pyramid of Giza's last brick was in place.
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