03/30/09
Text: Kee Chang
If you’re looking to fill the psychedelic niche carved out by MGMT with a truly special band, School of Seven Bells ticks all the right boxes. Ethereal twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza along with Benjamin Curtis (formerly of the space rock outfit Secret Machines) create transcending tracks that play on the strengths of the sisters’ honeyed vocals and soaring harmonies.
The Brooklynites will embark on the European leg of their tour next month supporting Bat for Lashes and White Lies. You can get the full run down of their tour dates over here. The trio’s debut LP, Alpinisms, is available now on Ghostly International.
BAND NAME: School of Seven Bells
HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND?: It’s music that’s easier to visualize than it’s to verbalize ―Benjamin
FAVORITE NIGHTSPOT IN THE CITY YOU CALL HOME: Enid’s in Brooklyn. I live two blocks away and I’m there every night that I’m home. ―Benjamin
THREE BANDS OTHER THAN YOUR OWN THAT YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: New Order, Can, My Bloody Valentine ―Benjamin
MOST MEMORABLE SHOW YOU’VE PLAYED: When I was in my last band [Secret Machines] we opened for U2 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. A close tie would be New Year’s Eve in Tokyo last year. We played at this techno club, which was really bizarre. We thought it was going to be horrible, but it turned out to be a room packed with people screaming our lyrics at the top of their lungs. ―Benjamin
DO YOU FEEL VULNERABLE OR INVINCIBLE ON STAGE?: I think very vulnerable; definitely not invincible. It’s a bunch of people staring at you. I mean, physically, it’s a direct shot if you wanted to take it. [laughs] ―Benjamin
DESCRIBE YOUR MOST HORRIFIC CONCERT ACCIDENT: Luckily, nothing really horrible has happened. I think I smashed a couple of guitars that I wish I hadn’t. ―Benjamin
HOTTEST POP STAR: Beyonce. ―Benjamin & Alejandra
HOTTEST DEAD ROCKER: Probably Freddie Mercury. Maybe Kurt Cobain... he was hot to me when I was 14. That [poster] looked hot on my wall. [laughs] I hadn’t really explored my sexuality yet... ―Benjamin
FAVORITE NOW DEFUNCT LABEL: That’s a good one. I bet everyone you asked said Factory Records. Well, I’m not going to say Factory. I would probably say Brain Records from Germany. They put out a lot of awesome music like Harmonia. ―Benjamin
WHO IS MORE CREATIVE, AN EARLY BIRD OR A NIGHT OWL?: I’m a bit of a night owl, so I’m going to have to say night owl. But I heard that David Bowie shows up at the studio every day at like 8 AM or something like that and he’s a pretty creative guy. You know what, though? He might have been up from the night before... I’m going to stick with night owl. ―Benjamin
WACKIEST HOBBY: When I was working on the new record my favorite thing to do was to put Alejandra’s voice through one of those pitch-shifters that make you sound like a man. I like to do mixes where it sounds like a large transvestite is singing the School of Seven Bells songs. ―Benjamin
SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS IN YOUR POCKET/PURSE/WALLET: Probably like five expired Metro cards. I never throw those things away. I could be in Austria looking through one of my bags and find dozens of Metro cards. ―Benjamin
BEST RECENT PURCHASE: I bought a pair of really cool gold sneakers in London. ―Benjamin
TOUR NECESSITIES YOU NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT: It’s different every time. I’m really bad with keeping up with things. I think if there were a necessity that I would never travel without, I would always forget it. I always lose stuff that I need the most. ―Benjamin
MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF RECORDING: Mixing. It’s really hard. It drove me absolutely insane trying to mix Alpinisms. It’s completely subjective and there is no right or wrong answer. If you get it wrong, it’s just ruined. There’s just no point in even having made a record at all. ―Benjamin
LYRIC YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF: "I am the prince of peace." ―Alejandra
YOUR FAVORITE HEADLINER AT COACHELLA THIS YEAR: The Cure. I can’t lie. ―Alejandra
