Recent Frenchkiss signings Local Natives may just be starting to gear up for the stateside release of their impressive debut, Gorilla Manor, due to hit U.S. stores on February 16th, but the internets have been patiently waiting for a while. The record, which came out in Europe last month, has already landed the L.A. quintet comparisons to Grizzly Bear & Vampire Weekend, thanks in no small part to their lush harmonies & wide-eyed buoyant pop hooks.

I’ve been in love since I first listened, so decided to send some Qs to Ryan (guitar & vocals).

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Heads We Dance just released a brand new single titled “Take My Picture”, but you won’t find it on their debut album Love Technology which was released this summer. When I heard about the single’s release I did a bit of a double take. Didn’t they just release a new album, and why isn’t “Take My Picture” on it? I knew something was up so I decided to ask Yoni from HWD. Here’s the scoop I snap + some other cool deets.

001. “Take My Picture” was released on Sunday, is this single the beginning of something new? Maybe a new album?

Definitely! We’ve almost got all the songs for a new album written, and we’re actually just finishing off recording our next single this week. We’re really excited about it – I genuinely think it’s the strongest thing we’ve ever done! We’re really pushing Becky to the front on this next album; Pete will be doing a lot less singing, which is fine by him – he just wants to stand at the back looking moody and playing keyboards…

002. What can the fans expect from this new material? Any exciting collabs?

It’s going to be really out-and-out pop. We’re not going to be shy about this any more – we love pop music so that’s what we’re going to make! That said, we still want to take production ideas from more underground records – it’s just we want to strap them to massive pop songs… The next single has pretty much got a dancehall drum beat – but it’s also got a chorus that will put Britney to shame! As far as collaborations go, there’s nothing specific planned but we always leave the door open to that kind of thing; we love working with other people. A good example of this is that when we play Model 21 live now we actually play the Justin Faust remix version. We loved his remix so much that we got him to send us the rhythm section parts and me and Pete sussed out how to play the keyboard parts. It just fits brilliantly into our set.

003. Going back to “Take My Picture”, I noticed it’s included on the new Batidora Project from Buffetlibre. Are you excited to hear what people around the world do with your song?

Absolutely – I can’t wait! It’s really exciting seeing how people interpret your songs; there’s nothing better than getting a great remix back. We’ve been lucky enough to have some top talent remix some of our tunes – Don Diablo, Tepr, Sidechains, Russ Chimes and loads more. We recently ran our own remix competition and ended up including three of the entries on our remix album, Dance Technology. It’s a shame we couldn’t include more but there were dozens of entries. In fact you know all this because Welikeit.indie sent one of the remixers our way! We better thank you because the Artwork remix ended up making it on to the album and we love it!

Anyway, your question was about the Batidora project, and I’m glad you brought that up because I love what the Buffetlibre guys do. They’re responsible for the creation of so much new music – they deserve a lot of respect. We were first involved with them when we recorded our cover of Kraftwerk’s Computer Love for their Rewind project (which actually made it onto our album in the end), and we’ve stayed in touch since. We’re actually going to be writing a monthly post on a new blog they’ve got starting up called Continental Breakfast – so keep your eyes peeled for that! I think there are going to be contributions from Dragonette, Young Punx and Bonde Do Role as well so it should be interesting.

004. Is it just me or were remixes HUGE in 09? What trends do you think 2010 will bring about?

They were but this has just been building and building for the last three or four years hasn’t it? I remember when I was a kid in the 90s there was a big remix thing going on – by that I mean loads of bands were getting remixed as well as dance acts. The thing is, most of the remixes were complete shit – I don’t think most dance producers then really knew how to remix bands particularly well (there were some notable exceptions of course – people like Weatherall and Oakenfold and their Happy Mondays stuff). That’s all changed now though – the current generation of producers have all been listening to dance music, indie music, rock music and hip-hop since we were little kids. Everyone knows all of these styles inside out and that means that remixers from one genre can take a track from a completely different genre and do something amazing with it. We’ve actually just been involved in a fantastic remix project in our hometown of Leeds that sums this thing up. It was funded by the city council, which is amazing. I think they’ve recognised that music is our prime export! Obviously the Kaiser Chiefs are the biggest thing to come out of Leeds in recent times but there are loads of great bands, and great producers like Grum and Doorly that you’re probably familiar with. Anyway, 16 acts from genres as diverse as speed metal and jazzy house remixed each other and the city council put it out as a free album called Us And Them. We remixed JD73 – a producer that used to be in Morcheeba; it was great fun!

I’ve honestly got no idea what 2010 will bring. It seems like filter disco could be getting bigger and bigger and I’m hearing a lot of acts bringing an early 90s house vibe to their work. We love all that stuff so expect some Italian house piano from HWD in 2010!

005. When on Earth are you guys coming to the US? Maybe SXSW?

We were really seriously looking at SXSW this year but I don’t know if we can make it happen. So many of our friends from Leeds have been out and played there and had a great time, we really want to go! It’s just finding the money – we’re on a tiny label and we’re all skint. You live in Austin right? Can we all stay on your couch!? We’ve just got a new UK booking agent so we’re hoping for a load more shows and DJ sets next year over here at least.

006. I’ve been following HWD’s steps for a while now & I’ve never asked: Why Heads We Dance?

The name comes from a Kate Bush lyric. We don’t actually like Kate Bush that much though – we just liked that particular phrase. It seems to some up what we’re about.

WOW! you better stay tuned, I’m sure Heads We Dance will be dropping some new goodies to promote the new sounds. In the meantime, here’s a remix of “Take My Picture” by up & coming German producer Digitalglovefox & an exclusive HWD remix (the JD73 one)!

“Take My Picture (Digitalfoxglove Remix)” | download

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JD73 – “Ascension (Heads We Dance Remix)” | download

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HWD | Myspace | Shows | Buy

This Toronto-based synth/punk trio is one of the most exciting acts to emerge from Canada this year. Since I have them on my band-to-watch list, I decided to send them some Qs but before you get to them, watch the vid above of them playing “Pavement” live at Rolly’s Garage in Toronto.

001. Describe STYROFOAM ONES in 3 words

Clay Jones: hot sweaty party
Josh McGuirk: Pure, Raw, and Sweaty
Alexander The: JD Purple Drink

002. How many instruments to do you play?

CJ: 4
JM: 5
AT: 5

003. First record you ever bought and where did you buy it?

CJ: INXS – Kick, MusicWorld, Ottawa, ON
JM: White Hot Metal (Polytel) – mostly for the the David lee Roth song Paradise, and we built this city – Sam The Record Man at Eglinton Square
AT: Ginuwine – So Anxious [Play Da Record]

004. What are you listening to right now?

CJ: Kylessa – static tensions
JM: Dert, Fucked Up, Mayer Hawthorne, Os Mutantes
AT: Ulali – Mahk Jchi

005. What posters did you have on your wall as a kid?

CJ: So many, mostly 80’s rock bands like G’n'R and the Cult.
JM: Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Doug Gilmour.
AT: X-Factor & X-Men

006. Name one song you hate to have stuck in your head.

CJ: Life After Love (?) – Cher
JM: Easy Lover – Philip Bayley and Phil Collins
AT: Strong Enough – Cher

007. Name 3 things you need when you travel.

CJ: ipod,crossword puzzles,clean socks
JM: Phone, cash and my laptop
AT: Moleskin, pen & toothbrush

008. What is your favorite thing you own?

CJ: ‘61 reissue Gibson SG
JM: My life
AT: Kulintang, from Cotobato City, Mindanao, Philippines

009. Dead or alive, what 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?

CJ: Les Savy Fav, Metronomy, White Denim, Why?, Shellac
JM: Os Mutantes, Public Enemy, The Clash, Stereolab, Shuggie Otis
AT: Bob & Damien Marley, CAN, Freddie Aguilar, Wu-Tang, Daniel Johnston

010. Favorite city to play?

CJ & JM: Home aka Toronto
AT: Montreal

011. Which song do you think the audience reacts to/enjoys most?

CJ: Pavement
JM: Scar In A Minor (you’ll have to wait for that one)
AT: Hid In The Walls

012. Where in the world have you had your most memorable moments playing live?

CJ: Toronto
JM: Cornwall Ontario – At a giant Banquet Hall type place with a red Pentagram in the center of the floor. I’m glad we made it out of there – especially after the water gun fight in the middle of the set.
AT: Amsterdam. Live Open Mic at the Last Water Hole.

013. What does STYROFOAM ONES do right before a show? Any rituals?

CJ: A group huddle, if we get the chance.
JM: A Shot, A punch in the face, and A huddle
AT: Football Huddle, we do Frat Boy chants & shout out “now who’s da man? You da man!”

014. Stupidest thing you’ve done in the last 12 months?

CJ: Strapping a cargo-bag to the roof of the tour van.
JM: Stalling my roofless, doorless 1972 land rover on the plains of Ol Pejeta Reserve in Kenya, right beside a lion, at night. with a steak hanging from my gold rope chain.
AT: Sprain my Ankle after an after hours show. Don’t drink Gin @ 5 am

015. What’s next?

CJ: babies, remixes, winter tour
JM: Recording New Songs, Music Video, & Tour!
AT: Touring Motha Fucka!

End.

“O.T.T.A.P.” | download

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Styrofoam Ones | Buy

Watch Michael Angelakos & keyboard deliver “The Reeling” as never heard before (well at least by my ears)! Stunning, thanks Amsterdam Acoustics!

“The Reeling (Punky Fresh Remix)” | download

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Check out the exclusive interview the band did for CTRL after the jump!

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