Cansei de Ser Sexy: "The Gayer the Better!"

By Jon Wilks

There are people out there who still think CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet. Hard to believe, isn't it? Squares! If you're under 30 and own an iPod, chances are you're in the know. So, what does CSS stand for?

Altogether now: Cansei de Ser Sexy!

And what's that when it's at home?

Only the biggest act to come out of South America, ever!

CSS had already been in action for 5 years when Apple began using 'Music is My Hot Hot Sex' to promote the iPod Touch, 2007. Overnight, their debut album Cansei de Ser Sexy went from being an indie album with respectable sales to an international megahit. Formed in 2003, the band have become the complete modern rock band; the most-viewed video in YouTube history, a lead singer engaged to one of The Klaxons, and the ability to take questionable, homemade fashions onto the covers of elite magazines worldwide. Brazil has never been at the apex of rock hierachy, but things have a tendency to change.

On the eve of their 2nd full-length album release (it's called Donkey, in case you didn't know), and an eagerly anticipated appearance at Fuji Rock, we managed to track down Adriano Cintra - songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and mustache-grower extraordinaire - for a chat about gay karaoke, The Beatles and the best damned sushi in São Paulo.

Hi Adriano. Where are you right now? What can you see out of the window?

I'm in a hotel in Glasgow, and through the window I can see a really old building that looks like a castle.

Scotland, eh? Must be raining. If you could be anywhere else, where would it be?

I'd be home playing my Wii and eating watermelon.

Scrummy! How's the new album sounding? Is it very different to the debut?

Yes, it's a very different album. The first one I consider to be a producer's album. This one is a band album.

Which tracks are you looking forward to doing live?

We are already playing some new songs: 'Rat is Dead', 'Left Behind', 'Let's Reggae All Night', 'Give Up', 'How I Became Paranoid', 'Move'. I'm looking forward to playing 'Air Painter', which is my favorite track.

Most bands we interview have some moment that we like to call "whacked out J-madness". What's yours?

Gosh! What is that? Should I be scared?

Be afraid, Adriano. Be very afraid.

Our whackiest moment is probably when we go out DJ-ing. Now we have the Crazy CSS 5 Piece Back to Back, and we go really crazy - especially if we have our champagne bottles chilled and ready.

What's your favourite karaoke number?

We love duetos. The gayer, the better! 'I Got You Babe'!

Do you listen to much Japanese stuff?

I really love The Boredoms. They are my favorite Japanese band. When I was younger I loved Shonen Knife. And I love Guitar Wolf and Teengenerate.

Where can I get the best sushi in São Paulo?

In São Paulo we have a Japanese neighborhood called Liberdade. My favorite Japanese restaurant there is called Yamaga. I started going to this restaurant with my parents when I was really young, and whenever I go to São Paulo it's the first restaurant I want to go to. The chef is still the same guy, and he is awesome. They serve the sake in those square cups, and you have it with salt. I can't wait to go back there!

Presumably you'll be getting pretty good sushi when you come to Fuji Rock this summer. Can we expect a more extensive tour of Japan this year?

Actually, we really wanted to spend at least six months in Japan, so we could start writing the new songs for the new album.

Anywhere you're looking forward to performing?

Is it too much to ask to play a show in every city across Japan?

Probably...

I'd so wanted to go to Okinawa and Hokkaido. If that means that we have to move to Japan, we wouldn't mind.

Well, how much Japanese does Lovefoxxx speak?

She can't speak much. Just things she learned when she was a child.

Hmm. Does she have relatives out here? Perhaps she could homestay. I know a few million people who'd probably put her up.

Her grandparents are Japanese. Her middle name is Hanae and her mean cousins would call her Hanakuso!

Vile! Being a Japanese publication, our native readers are dying to know, what's your favourite Beatles song?

She Said, from Revolver!

A classic! And for my next pointless, music-related question... Sepultura or Darvin?

What is Darvin?

Eh? According to the ever-reliable interweb, they're the number 1 band in Brazil.

Well, Sepultura! I was a really crazy Sepultura fan. I went to every show they played in São Paulo. They were amazing!

And on that dubious note, Adriano makes his way across rainy Glasgow to rock it up with Hanakuso and his other buddies. Haggis sushi, anyone?

The new CSS album, Donkey, is released in Japan on July 9th via the KSR label. For more information, www.csshurts.com.

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