Interview: Mikey di Francesco of Van She

Few bands have been able to slide into my musical radar and stay there as abruptly as Van She; a band who recently released their debut album 'V' on the much adored Modular Record label. On the album are several lasting singles broadcasted in a style that takes all the things you love from the past and tweaks them into a fresh approach for the present.

It was the Van She Tech sound that first locked me into a lasting relationship with the band’s music. I can’t remember which rework I heard first. It could have been any number of productions ranging from an extraordinary list of artists including Feist, Klaxons, Dragonette, Teenager, New Young Pony Club and more.

The sound of the Van She Tech remix captured everything I loved about the music being made during that time: disco beats that give the rest of the production room to breathe, powerful synth leads, catchy vocals and often an appropriate hint of cowbell.

Once I was hooked on their remix releases I was more than ready to enjoy the album’s singles, “Cat & the Eye”, “Changes”, mega hit “Kelly”, “So High” and my personal favorite, “Virgin Suicide”.

So without further adieu, here’s my chat with Mikey di Francesco of Van She and Van She Tech fame:

Joseph: Bacardi's been doing a lot to support the current dance scene. How did you and B-live decided on covering Blue Oyster Cult?

Mikey: We chose "don't fear the reaper" primarily because it's a beautiful song but we wanted to do something that was not a major hit and overly popular. Also because it suited Nick’s approach to vocals and it's in "the frighteners" not to mention the more cowbell thing. We love will Farrell too. Land of the Lost was awesome and also because they gave us shit loads of Bacardi.

[Side Note] I also enjoyed Land of the Lost.

What sort of sounds can we expect from your second album? Please avoid the trap many artists make after their first successful debut (heaping on as many featured big name alternative celebrities as possible).

No plans to heap on big name alternative celebrities, not that we have anything against them. As for rules there are no rules I would say that overall it's going to be a little more dance floor like a haunted disco where dracula is the bar manager or something. We have spoken to hoops about doing some backing vocals though.

You’ve been remixed by a huge handful of talented individuals, (Yuksek, Alan Braxe & Fred Falke, Lifelike, Strip Steve, G.L.O.V.E.S to name a few) whose rendition of a Van She song is your favorite?

Personally my favorite is the Shinichi Osawa remix of Kelly. He took it to a harmonic avenue that I didn't see on the map, really inspiring stuff.

I spent a couple days before the interview intricately searching through thousands of adult films and still can’t place a certain sample. I think the question on everyone’s mind is, “What’s the name of the porno used in the “Are You The One” remix?

Ha ha no well to be honest it's from a sample cd from the late 90's called extatic goldmine. It's actually one of the first sample discs I ever got from a friend back in the days where you had to play it from the cd and sample it into the sampler. We just needed to fill some holes and what better way to do it than with some porn fx, it's an inherent part of human nature so naturally everybody relates to it. But if you want to hear some rocking porn dialog check out gant gerrard "hot mamma" on dusttraxx Chicago.

I used to live by the code that was the Van She synth guitar tone (You know what I’m talking about). What happened to that sound? I’m noticing it’s not in any of your new remixes, why???

Well I think we really did do it to death, occasionally I pull it out. That sound is actually thanks to an awesome synth called the dave smith poly evolver and that synth is all over the remixes and the album. I had serial number 51. Amazing machine but that particular patch is really 2007-2008 to us now, we need to re jig the ingredients.

What is your favorite article of clothing and why?

Too many to mention probably something my uncle made or gave me.

When I first popped in my Crystal Castles cd the song now known as “Vanished” showed up as “Cex Sity”. At the time I did a little research and found out “Sex City” is the name of a Van She song, making “Vanished” a hidden code (Just blew ya brain). Are the Castles long time friends of yours?

Well they originally did a remix of it and then asked if they could use it as a track on their record which was nice. We like them.

“Here With You” Is one of the most dreamy, beautiful and overlooked tracks you guys have ever made. What were some of the inspirations for this song and why’d it get left off the album?

"Here With You” is on the first and only ep thus far. That track was originally something else and evolved in the studio, yeah it's one of the only van she songs I can actually listen to without wanting to leave the room, I think it's one of our greatest works. It's special to us, we often pull it out when we are really high and Marvell at how awesome we are ha ha just kidding.

When was the last time you used your status as a celeb to get something for free?

F grade celeb. Modular gives us CDs and LP's when we go in and sometimes we get into shows if we know someone but I don't imagine getting stuff for free. If a celeb is so rich then they should pay full price [Hear Hear!] You may get some clothes for free but you are expected to wear them. Having said that we love presents! Like when Bacardi gave us a case of Bacardi.

Location of best sunset or sunrise?

Somewhere between Los Angles and San Diego. Desert mountains on one side, edge of the earth on the other and highway in the middle

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After a bit of touring as well as a fairly decent remix comp of 'V' titled 'Ze Vemixes' Van She settled down and made a lovely Blue Oyster Cult cover in partnership with Bacardi's B-Live program. You can find it bellow along with Holy Ghost!'s remix of the cover. As for my own thoughts, I couldn't be more excited for this new vampire bartender album. With the pace that we hustle music these days ol' 2007 is practically retrograde. And since retro will always be in I plead of you Van She please bring back that synth sound in some of your newer remixes. I will never tire of it! Be sure to check them out when they begin touring again and always be looking for Van She Tech remixes.

Support:

Van She Myspace

Van She Tech Myspace

Van She Twitter

$ Van She - Don't Fear the Reaper

$ Van She - Don't Fear the Reaper (Holy Ghost Remix)