Photo by Mark Squires / Styled by Courtney Lynne Garvin
LA sister-duo Puro Instinct just released “Lake Como,” a shimmering electronic track featuring artist/producer/DJ Christian Rich. Hypnotizing vocal harmonies coalesce atop layers of swirling synths and a steady backbeat, giving way to an expansive, irresistible chorus. They’ve clearly got lush ambiance down to a science, and we can’t wait for more details on their next release.
Listen below, then check out our interview with the duo, exclusively from issue #3.
Have you ever woken up from a dream, found yourself disoriented by a massive headache, and wished you could return right to the point where you left off? Puro Instinct’s music feels just like that: between daze and consciousness, sleep and waking. Their electronic expertise is hypnotizing, with swirling synth lines and pop melodies that hook you in.
After earning heaps of praise for their debut album Headbangers in Ecstasy (which featured a collaboration with none other than Ariel Pink), the LA sister-duo, made up of Piper and Skylar, is now working on their next musical dreamscape. And judging from their track “6 of Swords,” this upcoming journey will take us to a mystical, Studio 45-esque headspace.
Older sister Piper provides us with a pretty accurate description of what their live performance would look like if it were a painting (hint: there’s glitter involved). That little bit of insight was straightforward, but it turns out talking to the girls can leave you just as confused as listening to their music. Like, what is a “skeche leche?”
What is it like being in a band with your sister? Is sibling harmony a real thing?
It’s great! I can’t really speak for other sibling bands out there, but it’s really nice to have someone I can push around when things don’t go my way in the band setting.
Heard there is a new album in the works! Tell us about it! How will it be different from Headbangers in Ecstacy?
A lot about this record is different than Headbangers, technically speaking and otherwise. We didn’t have conveniences like a budget, studio, engineer with this one like we had with Headbangers, so we had to learn a few tricks along the way to make it happen and I would say we’re better off for it, if only because we learned a lot about our strengths and limitations as songwriters and producers. Sonically it’s pretty all over the place, with a lot of inspiration drawn from early L.A. mysticism, John Keats, love, having a good time while having a bad time, etc. We also were lucky enough to work with Franco Falsini (Sensation’s Fix), Ariel Pink, Richard Sax Ross, Courtney Garvin, Ale Cohen (Pharaohs), and Nicky Sparkles on various tracks, and the whole thing was mixed by Sam Mehran.
You’ve recently performed in Brooklyn at one of Glasslands last shows. How is the experience as a band different in NYC vs LA?
Way more bad hair days in NYC… and less naps.
Would you ever consider leaving LA? If so, what other city could you see yourself vibing in?
Germany would be chill… Sky and I have also talked about living in the Netherlands… on the water… alone. I think we’d be happy anywhere with a nice coast and a couple of cats and not a lot of humans harshing our zone.
You guys are frequent collaborators with Ariel Pink. What is it like working with him?
It’s sick! Usually just roll a few spliffs and jam til we get tired… Sometimes we’ll take a break to grab food and watch him chase chili-cheese burgers with soda while he gives us advice on boys and business and making bucks.
What wisdom has he passed on to you?
“You Can’t Stop the Press!”
Read that you have a pretty impressive album collection. Name five albums you couldn’t live without.
[laughs] That’s a messed up question to ask a vinyl hoarder. Actually though, I sold a lot of my records a couple of years ago so we could buy a laptop to make more music with, but…1. Woo –Whichever Way You Are Going, You Are Going Wrong
2. Giorgio Moroder –Einzelganger
3. Baffo Banfi –The Sound of Southern Sunsets
4. Moodymann –Silent Introduction
5. Rexy –Running Out of Time
6. Everything Longmont Potion Castle has ever released
If you could describe your sound and energy on stage as a painting, what would it look like?
Probably a sloppy, glitter-splattered rendition of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, but Venus is me and Sky and the cherubs are wailing on synths and guitars and stuff and maybe one of them is Franco Falsini, depending on the night.
What life advice would you share with the young ones?
Stay hydrated, diversify your bonds, hold onto your love, never trust a “skeche leche.”
Interview by Kim Proschka
Photographed by Cheryl Georgette Arent
MUA Samantha Jozic
Copies of issue #3 are still available. Pick up yours online or at Alt Space (41 Montrose Avenue, Brooklyn).
