Interview: CSS
Published on September 1st, 2011 | Jonny Abrams
Last week, Sao Paulo sensations CSS released La Liberación, their third long-playing instalment of delirious, synth-filled party punk and quite possibly their most eccentric to date.
To celebrate, Rocksucker fired over some questions to the band’s guitar/harmonica player Ana Rezende…
Congratulations on the release of your third album La Liberación. Does it sound like you wanted it to sound?
Yes. We actually had a lot of time to do it, which was a big luxury, so we could make it sound like we wanted it to sound.
I read that you recorded La Liberación while you were touring. How did you do this?
No, we were on a break when we did La Liberación. We did Donkey while touring, and had only three months to have it ready. It was chaotic but this was what made the record sound like it is and we are very proud of it.
The album has quite a strange ending, what with all the weird sounds followed by Lovefoxxx’s rather peculiar message. What inspired you to do this?
It was inspired by one of the characters from an 80’s Brazilian cult soap opera called Vale Tudo. Her name is Maria de Fátima. She was a drunk child.
What was it like working with Bobby Gillespie on “Hits Me Like a Rock”? And how did that come to happen?
We’ve been friends for quite a while, and we thought his voice on “Hits Me Like a Rock” would fit perfectly. He agreed to do it and recorded his vocals in London and emailed it to us.
In an interview earlier this year, you said: “We sometimes do a reggae that nobody thinks is actually reggae. But in our head it’s very reggae.” Which songs on La Liberación do you consider to be this kind of reggae?
This applies to many other styles. The reggae in this one is obviously “Hits Me Like a Rock”. This time we actually made it sound like reggae. “Red Alert” for example is our west coast rap.
Is the animal on the ‘Fuck Everything’ posters a panther? If so, why did you choose a panther? And what is its third eye for?
Because it came as a panther and the third eye is the power eye when we have enough budget to get a laser on our shows.
We haven’t really got a logo here at Rocksucker. Can you design us one?
We’ll get back to you on that.
In the past, you’ve remixed songs by some very well-known artists. Would you like to start doing remixes again?
Yes. There is a new one for a band called Faker.
In 2009, Lovefoxxx said that too much touring was “sucking her soul”. Have you been enjoying your touring more recently? How was Japan? And are you looking forward to America?
We love touring again. The thing is that touring is a very energy consuming thing, and if you don’t do it right with the proper breaks and for a long time, it fucks you up. We toured heavily for four years and we just need a break to recharge. Now we will do it bigger and better. Japan and America were great and the current European tour has been great as well.
Does media/fan attention make life difficult for you in Brazil sometimes?
We are not that famous in Brazil. But when we get recognized it’s always great because our fans are really nice people.
Do you know of the Meninos do Morumbi music school? I went to visit them and spent a month in Sao Paulo in 2003.
Yes. Brazil has so many amazing voluntary programs for needy kids that involves music. This is a great one.
Do you like football? If so, are you fans of Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians or Santos?
Palmeiras, of course.
Are there any new and/or little-known artists that you’d like to recommend or give a shout out to?
Wampire from Portland.
Going by the way you’re feeling right now, could you name your three favourite albums ever?
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours. L7 – Bricks Are Heavy. The Breeders – Last Splash. Pixies – Doolittle.
Four’s good too! Ana, thank you.
La Liberación is out now on Cooperative Music. For more information, please visit www.canseidesersexy.com or the band’s own blog at csshurtssuxxx.blogspot.com
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About the Author
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
