FREEZEPOP (left to right):
The Duke of Pannekoken, Liz Enthusiam, The Other Sean T. Drinkwater
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There comes a time in everyone’s life when a stand must be taken. In 1999 a quirky electronic trio from who called themselves ‘Freezepop’ set out to prove to the world that “pop music is not a crime” in the predominantly rock music scene of Boston, MA. Nine years and three albums later, the guys finally got the recognition they deserved and won the WFNX/Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll in 3 categories: Best Act, Best Album, and Best Live Act.
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Everything about Freezepop is unorthodox - they sing pop songs about rokk, don’t fight for record deals and get them anyway; even Liz Enthusiasm’s vocals are fabulously unenthusiastic! And like in most cases with genius involved, it just works. Freezepop’s latest offering ‘Future Future Future Perfect’ is a frozen, juicy, platick-y treat for all 80s obsessors and synthpop lovers. But what melts my heart is that the guys are not afraid to be foolish and don’t take themselves seriously for a minute. The singer Liz Enthusiasm took a minute to chat with me about music, being a girl in the band and 80s perfume.

DD: There is a rumors that pop music in the US is, indeed, punishable by law. Which countries that you’d visited on a tour had the most outlaws?
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Liz: Hm, that would be a toss-up between the UK and Sweden. :) They do love their electropop there.

One of the best things about Freezepop is your sense of humor. Who is the funniest person in the band?

We’re all pretty funny, but Sean is definitely the funniest. [That guy is hilarious to watch live! -DD]

On the CD, you proudly state that ‘no real instruments’ were used in the making the recording (haha). Does anyone in the band play an actual instrument (aside from keyboards)?
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Oh yes. Actually Sean has started playing guitar live on a couple of songs. I don’t play anything though.

Freezepop: Less Talk More Rokk

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Who writes what in the band?
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I write most of the lyrics, the Duke and Sean write most of the music, with varying degrees of collaboration. Most of the Freezepop “sound” is a result of the Duke, though.

Are there any couples in the band? If so, how do you balance your personal lives with that of a band?
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Yes, Sean and I were actually a couple even before the band started. And the Duke was looking for a female vocalist for his new synthpop band, and a mutual friend introduced us. He and Sean already kinda knew each other from just being in bands around Boston. It does get a bit tricky sometimes balancing out our private lives with the band, but at the same time, it makes it more fun being able to do these things with your significant other.

What is it like being the only girl in the band? Do you lug heavy equipment at shows too or let the boys exercise? ;)
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I like it just fine, although sometimes when the two of them start talking about keyboards and stuff my eyes start to glaze over. I do carry the light equipment but I leave the big road cases to them.

I guess all you really need to carry is your mic. How did you get into singing? Do you consider yourself a good singer?
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Heh, honestly I just thought it would be fun to be in a band, and since I don’t play any instruments, singing was the obvious choice. I am not a “great” singer, but I’ve definitely improved over the years and am still working at it.
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You’ve been around since 1999 - how have you and your music changed over the years?
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The whole thing has been a learning process, really, both in terms of writing the songs and running the business and organizational end of things. The music has gotten less minimal, there’s a lot more going on now. And lyrically, it’s evolved into something that’s still fun but less overtly jokey. I’ve learned a lot about songs standing the test of time, just in terms of material that I still enjoy performing live after a great many years.

Well, I happen to like the ‘jokey’ songs - it took me 2 years to figure out what ‘Drakkar’ was (Freezepop’s song Chess King features numerous 80s references)- until I recently saw it in a pharmacy, sitting quietly on a shelf… Was the perfume what you were referring to?
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Oh yes. That’s the smell of nostalgia right there. ;)

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I thought that ‘Boys On Film’ was going to be a cover of Duran Duran’s ‘Girls On Film’ - until I heard the actual song and it was an original, and a kick-ass one at that.
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Duran Duran is my favorite band of all time. I still have a massive crush on Simon LeBon.

Two songs in foreign languages, both awesome (bonus points to Liz for zero attempt at pronunciation!). Who crafted the lyrics for Parles-Vouz Freezepop and Tenisu No Boifurendo?
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I wrote them both. I speak a bit of French, and I took one semester of Japanese (which unfortunately I’ve since forgotten most of, except for the song lyrics).

Your cover of Jem’s theme song was ‘truly outrageous’! Whose idea was it?
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That was the Duke’s idea. Honestly, I did not like Jem at the time.  I think I was slightly outside of the age range. I definitely have more of an appreciation now.

Future Future Future Perfect is your first label-backed album. How did you get a record deal and what’s the difference between being fully independent and on a label?
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We weren’t actively seeking a label at the time, but we were contacted by Cordless Recordings, and liked their business model and the degree of freedom that we still had. Then Cordless got absorbed into Rykodisc, but that seems to have all worked out pretty well. We’re in a good position because we still have all the rights to our back catalog, but honestly it’s pretty nice being on a label just because we don’t have to do EVERYTHING ourselves anymore. we can concentrate more on doing what we actually do well.
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Was winning the Boston Phoenix Best Must Poll a complete surprise or did you guys sort of expect it?
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We historically have not gotten a lot of local press coverage, so it was definitely a kind of validation that our fans voted us in. It was funny since the article referred to us as “perennial underdogs”, which I guess is their way of saying “we’ve written about them exactly once in their 9-year existence”…

You all share the love for electronic music and the 80s. What are your favorite bands from the era?
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Duran Duran, Human League, Depeche Mode, A-ha, Giorgio Moroder, Gary Numan, OMD, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, ABC, Ultravox, Erasure, YMO, Information Society… I’m sure I’m forgetting some.

Is there anything specific you miss about the 80s (fashion, toys, games)?
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I would love to get in a time machine and go to the mall. That would be AMAZING. I also miss back when MTV used to play actual videos.

You juggle the band with your day jobs - what do you guys do for a living?
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Sean and I are both freelancers, I’m a graphic designer and he does audio composition. The Duke actually has a “real” job as a video game developer, which is why he can’t always come on tour with us.

If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be? (Don’t worry, you could still have unlimited freezepops! :))
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It’s really hard to narrow it down, but I guess it would be chocolate mousse. With a little raspberry garnish. Oh yeah.

Any funny first date experiences?
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Nothing truly disastrous. I guess the worst was finding out that the boy I’d had a crush on was a Phishhead. We worked at the same university, and I’d only seen him in “office casual” clothing, how was I to know?

What’s the best thing about being a girl?
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Clothing. Especially being able to find cute stuff at a thrift shop. Boys have a wayyy harder time in that department.

Speaking of girly things - you just got your very own signature lipstick by Camp Cosmetics! How did this come about and why did you choose hot pink?
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That was amazing! Michael from Camp had been introduced to our music and got in touch and offered to make us a custom lipstick! I was sooo happy about that since I’d been searching for my perfect hot pink, and now here’s somebody offering to make it for me! It’s based on the stripe in my hair.

Do you have any word magnets on your fridge? What do they spell out?
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No, but I have a Simon LeBon magnet my friend made me. [Figures! :) -DD]

Future Future Future Perfect: how do you envision the future 20 years from now?
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I’m going to live on a chihuahua farm.


Doe Deere rating: out of 5.

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