Lilofee's Seductive, Synthy Sound

We may have just finished selecting our musical favorites of 2008, but we’ve already got an act on our radar for 2009. We’re hooked on the catchy tunes of Lilofee, an electro duo hailing from California, which combine the sounds of the '60s girl bands with modern synth rock (especially our favorite “Lock and Key”). We’re not alone either as they’ve generated much buzz in their hometown of San Francisco, where they recently played with Sebastien Tellier.

Lilofee, made up of multi-instrumentalist Rob Easson and vocalist Kimi Recor, take their name from a dark fairy tale from Germany, where Kimi was born and raised. In the story, Princess Lilofee falls in love with a water god and moves under the sea to start a family with him. But after seven years she misses her old life above the water too much and returns to it. In the end, she hears the cries of her children at the water’s edge and ultimately decides to rejoin her family in the depths. “The blind acts of love, selfishness, sadness, but most of all, our ability to sacrifice our own happiness for those we love -- Lilofee songs really center around the themes of this story, so it’s quite the perfect name,” explains Kimi.

Having wrapped up work on their first album, The Only Years, Rob and Kimi took some time to answer a few questions for us:

How did you two meet?

Kimi: I was visiting San Francisco from New York for the summer, and I had heard about Rob through some mutual friends. We ended up getting introduced at some after-party. The very next day we wrote our first song, and after writing about five songs in one week, I called my roommates in NY, told them I wasn't coming home and ended up staying in San Francisco and forming Lilofee. Rob is like my brother from another mother -- and my musical soul mate.

What is your favorite San Francisco concert venue?

Kimi: I love seeing bands at The Independent. It's got a great vibe and good sound. I guess it really depends what I'm in the mood for. If I want to go out to a small, crazy, intimate venue, I'd have to say The Knockout or El Rio (their outdoor set-up is magical in the summer). Oh and Bimbo's is amazing, I've never seen a bad show there.

Rob: Our favorite place to play so far in San Francisco is Mezzanine. Has a great sound for the low end and a good stage setup -- two things we need as an electronic and rock band. I really like the Warfield for going to shows.

So what is "Lock and Key” -- our favorite song of yours -- all about?

Kimi: “Lock and Key” is about the sexual battle that is happening in our society. It’s a manifesto about how sex and sexuality are becoming widely accepted, especially in the mainstream media, but how sexual education is still trying to conform to outgrown standards.

What song do you wish you'd written?

Kimi: “House of the Rising Sun” (it’s the first song I can remember hearing), anything by Leonard Cohen, or “Shake the Disease” by Depeche Mode.

Rob: “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones and "Happy Birthday." I'd find a way to get paid every time someone sang it, double in a restaurant. Everyone would get a birthday card from me, but it would have a payment due statement included. Ah, I would be so hated!