Proper Rhythm

[reliarobot]

I: Well, it's very nice to meet you all. Let's go ahead and start. You're in a pretty unique situation - not many like you end up in the music industry. How'd that happen?

D: Well, the better question is, why doesn't it happen more often? People hear clockwork and assume it's all 'tick tock tick tock ho hum', but the truth is that it's just another way to keep the beat. Humans do it too, they just call it something else.

I: You mean, a heartbeat?

D: Exactly! You even call it a 'beat'! Ours are the same, we just have more control over it. Well, to be fair to others, we've got far more control over our internal tick rate than most. Just built different, you know? Easy to change the tempo.

B: Sure and we can't do odd beats, though. 16/8, 4/4, that's all fine, but we couldn' waltz if we wanted to.

I: That feels like it'd be limiting.

D: Limitations breed creativity! If you're up against a wall, you gotta figure out if you're gonna go around it, climb it-

B: -break through it-

D: -break through it, yeah. That's what we've done, break through.

I: But you think others like you could do it too?

D: Absolutely! Break down those walls! It'd be nice to think that some of the work we've done might help others get in here too.

I: You're not worried about competition?

B: Nah, girl. We do our thing, and nobody does it like us. No competition, just solidarity.

M: Dollidarity!

(General laughter)

I: I wanted to ask about your costumes.

M: They're cute, aren't they?!

I: They seem a little stereotypical, perhaps?

D: For things like us? Maybe. For the scene we're in? When was the last time you saw one of our wave in frills?

B: Frills are punk.

D: Frills are punk!

M: And Miss likes them!

I: Who's "Miss"?

D: Our manager. We wouldn't be here without her, we really owe her.

I: Ah, yes, your elusive manager. Is there any truth to the rumors that-

D: No comment

B: No comment, girl.

M: No! Uh, no comment. That is.

I: Okay. Well, let's talk about your music. You use a lot of samples, particularly from the local transit line. Here, let me play a sample.

(Music: a clip of "Run on Time": "Mind the gap. Mind the gap. Don't- don't- don't- don't- Mind the gap.")

I: What inspired that?

D: Well, we had the idea of using samples since we started, but we really have Kay to thank for that.

M: Kay was the announcer before it Became-

D: became a part of the band, yeah. So it's the same voice! We're real lucky to have it.

B: Lucky Miss found 'er, more like.

I: Oh? Your manager found it?

D: Maybe Kay can answer that one best.

K: Don't talk much. Voice is... complicated.

I: I understand that.

K: But Miss... found the parts we needed. You know? Needed each other. The band. Her. Glad to be here.

I: I think it's safe to say we're all glad you're here, too.

(Proper Rhythm's newest album, Lovelace Engine, will be available later this month)