Interview with Stereo Total singer Francoise Cactus
April 1, 2010
I meant to put out this in a zine I started called Ach, Ach Liebling but that went out of the window when I started my PhD as I can only do one thing at once. So instead of wasting this lovely interview and other material I have, I thought I would publish it here… enjoy. The 1st question was related to the zine in case its confusing…
1. First of all, I ought to ask out of politeness, do you mind me naming this zine after one of your songs? It’s called Ach Ach Liebling..
fc: Not at all. that is a proof of your good taste! This means something like ouch! ouch darling!
2. I last saw you play at Indietracks festival in the UK and I got involved in the stage invasion. The security people didn’t look too pleased. Do you cause that much trouble at all of your gigs or did you just feel sorry for us getting wet in the rain?
fc: The stage invasion was fun. We like to invite people on stage, because we want to share our music with them. Sometimes it gets crazy! the security just hates it! we did it also in china, even if it is completely forbidden there. On this Indietracks festival, I just admired the British coolness. The people standing under this terrible rain and still smiling and having fun, you don’t see that in Berlin!
3. Will your latest album ‘No Controles Stereo Total’, out now on Elefant records, actually help me to learn Spanish as your website claims? Or will I just learn rude words in Spanish?
fc: oh no! the lyrics are not rude at all! They are romantic, funny and revolutionary! But what you will get after learning Spanish with Stereo Total is a strong French accent, I have got it in every language, except in French!
4. Why do you like singing in so many different languages and redoing your own songs in different languages?
fc: This is a good gymnastic for my tongue. And you know, as a more or less young dynamic woman, I like to try out all kinds of different things! I love this multicultural stuff and think all frontiers should disappear!
5. When can we next expect to see you play in the UK again? Your performance at Indietracks this summer was the most fun I’ve had at a gig all year!
fc: Inbetween we were playing once in London, 29th of October at the Luminaire. It was such a great show, the kids went crazy. We really love to play on your island, even if it is really badly paid, but the audience is the best. Lovely, good looking, funny and in good moods!
... it was raining hard and we all needed somewhere dry to dance
