Interrogation

You’re in Mexico City customs right now?

Yes. I have never had to fill out so much paperwork in my life. They
fingerprinted us, too. I’ve never been to Mexico before. It reminds me
of São Paulo. It’s kind of like home here. I really like it.

Why is the new album called Donkey?

It came from a good friend of ours, Roberta D’Angelo. She’s funny
and she’s come up with interesting English translations. She thinks she
makes sense, but she doesn’t make sense. She went through a phase where
everything was “donkey.” It is kind of like an adjective. Gwen Stefani
is donkey. That club is donkey. It really has no meaning. I like
donkeys. They are beautiful creatures. Roberta started dating our sound
engineer. He is not so donkey.

For those who don’t know, can you say how you came up with
the name of your band, Cansei de Ser Sexy?

It came from a Beyoncé quote. She said she had gotten tired
of being sexy. We liked how it sounded and thought it would make for a
good name.

Does Beyoncé know about CSS?

We think she may know. Maybe she has seen some press on it. I hope
she knows. She’s great. I am a big fan. I would be honored if she
knew.

If you could speak to Beyoncé, what would you
say?

I think I would be too shy to talk to her. I would be embarrassed
and run away. If I was near her, I think I would scream loudly like I
was in the Oprah audience. The people in the Oprah audiences scream so loud!

You have a couple of Seattle ties. One is your label, Sub
Pop. How did you guys end up on Sub Pop?

We were so lucky to have had a few offers. Sub Pop was one of them.
We couldn’t believe they wanted to sign us. It is such a solid label.
We love the history and the way they deal with bands. It was a decision
from the heart. I’m very glad. We love Seattle so much. Last time there
we played with Ladytron and got to hang out with Band of Horses. Pike
and Pine streets are the best. I really wish I could spend more time
there. Maybe someday I’ll live there.

You and your boyfriend, Simon Taylor-Davis (guitar player in
Klaxons), both got tattoos in Seattle, right? Why Seattle for your
tattoos?

Yes, we got each other’s names tattooed on our hips. There’s a place
in the Ballard area called Anchor Tattoo where all the Sub Pop people
get their tattoos. Curtis James is who did the tattoos; he’s very
skilled. I got a tattoo there before, as well, of the leaf off a
Newcastle Ale bottle. I like the design of the leaf. And I used to like
the beer; I used to think it was the best. Now I can’t stand it. I
think I had too much.

You have such a distinct look and fashion when you perform.
What is your style? Do you have a style?

I like baggy stuff. I like to be comfortable in clothes before a
show and during a show.

When you are playing live, what kind of things do you think
about? You don’t think about donkeys, do you? Your music is so sexy and
dancey; please tell me you think about sexy things.

Sometimes I think I’m in a dream. And the people in the crowd are
printed on a picture before me. Sometimes at the beginning of a show I
think about whether or not I have gone to the bathroom. It’s not a good
feeling during a show when you haven’t completed all your bathroom
duties. Most of the time I am just inside the music, thinking about
singing the song well. If I started thinking about all these people
there watching the show, I might get distracted. I always want to put
on a good show.

People are saying CSS are the best band ever to come out of
South America. Do you feel pressure because of that?

The only pressure I feel is when I look at the tour schedule and we
see how long it is, but that is more an anxiety. I never feel pressure
to reach expectations. I just feel it is important to play a good show.
That’s it. Nothing too complicated. It’s not worth all the stress. A
good performance—that is what I want to send out to people.

You lost your bass player Ira Trevisan in April and your
drummer Adriano Cintra moved from drums to bass. How has that change
been?

The change has been very natural. Ira was never too committed. I was
a little turned off by it. We always knew she would leave one day. It’s
better that she left; now we are all totally committed and on the same
page. We’re a group.

What made you want to cover the Breeders’
“Cannonball”?

We all love the Breeders. During rehearsal one day someone was
messing around with the bass line and we decided to learn the song. We
actually got to meet them. They were incredibly nice. We don’t ever
play it live, though.

In your song “Move” you sing, “You better get your move on.”
Do you have a favorite dance move? Do you own the dance
floor?

When I was a kid, I took jazz dance and I think that is where all my
moves come from. I like jazz hands and I like when women shake their
butts.

Do you do much butt-shaking?

No, it’s not really something I can do. I stick to jazz hands.

In “Move” you also sing, “If someone drops you on the dance
floor, they should kick as many people as possible.” Have you seen much
kicking at your shows?

No, there hasn’t been kicking. The message of that song is for the
clubs. I hate when people are on the dance floor and they don’t have a
notion about space. The dance floor is not a mosh pit. I do not promote
violence, though. One thing you can do is hair flicking. Flick your
hair at them, if someone gets in your space. Hair flicking is the
trendy headbanging.

Is hair flicking donkey?

Very donkey.