want an ear?

I had the chance to listen to you for the first time thanks to a photographer friend.  We had seen your music videos and I remember we were dancing recklessly. Tiffany, of course we weren’t as charismatic as you are. Can you tell us about the production stage of your music videos? How do you get the ideas, where did you shoot them?

The “Let Them Dance” video was shot in Glamis sand dunes in California near the Mexican border. The concept was put together by the director. Tiffany came up with the style of it. “Omar K” was shot in my brother’s supermarket. The director had came up with different ideas at first, but when we told him about using the supermarket the whole werewolves lets loose concept came up between him and Tiff. Luckily for us, these two videos were all shot at the director’s expense and their resources. They kept it very professional. Now the “Holiday in Congo” was shot spontaneously. We were in Rio de Janerio for a couple shows and came up with the concept from the “They don’t care about us”, Michael Jackson video. Within one day, we found a kid with a camera and a posse to volunteer their Michael Jackson skills.

Is there a significant message that you wanted to transfer to the audience with your ‘Let Them Dance’ video, or you guys were having fun?

That video was all fun. We did know that the guns and Middle East look would draw some attention but there was never a message in it.

Will you continue working with Hideyuki Katsumata? I think he is doing a great job and you guys make a good team.  Everything looks like an outcome of a solid team work; vivid and soulful. How did this “emotional exchange” started between you?

Hideyuki is awesome. He originally sent us the drawing of the two monsters just as a fan. We asked him if we could use the art for our t-shirts and myspace. We then had him do artwork for our Merok 7” and the Kabukimono EP. He finished the cover to Kabukimono before we had finished the songs.  Seeing his work inspired us to musically create what he visually created and later named it “Kabukimono”.

You guys were making music in different bands before, and then you formed your own band and started to do “your” music.  It seems to me that you both got bored from some things that made you form this band?

Actually, it was the struggle of dealing with different personalities and lifestyles in the other bands. We never planned on actually started a new band. We were just trying to create on our own without any distractions.

If you were to associate yourself with any other “thing” what would it be? Sangria? Ipanema Beach?

A traveling Gypsy Muppet Rave.

Fifteen years ago, electronic music was something that nobody speaks about, right now it is being consumed rapidly. Rock’n roll is a part of classics, alternative rock is old fashioned, the audience of indie rock is disappearing and some of the sub-genres of electronic music are considered to be boring. Maybe you are making a good investment for the future by using ethnic sounds? What do you think about that?

Yes, we are hearing more and more types of music that are being combined together. The world is becoming a smaller place and influence spreads fast. Lately, we have been incorporating the ethnic sounds used in 80’s new wave and pop.

Do you make money out of music?

Not yet. But we have been breaking even, which is better than losing money.

Who do you think that people should explore? Who are you listening from other continents?

There are so many musicians from around the world that it is endless. It’s a lifelong accomplishment to hear all the music of the world. There no one in particular to explore, just putting the effort into finding music and you’ll be rewarded with great treasures.

Different sounds from different cultures attract you. When you consider the music, the nature and the people; is there a place that you thought: “this is it” ?

Brazil was pretty awesome. There are still many places to see and cultures to experience. But I feel there will be that “this is it” place.
 
In which beaches around the world you would like to hear your song “Holiday in Congo” playing?

Any beach will do. If it’s sandy, rocky, sunny, rainy, calm or rough. It fits all settings.

In most of your pictures you look different from what we have seen in your music videos. You are more like Bohemians.

Tiffany definitely sets the style for both of us. She is her own type of Bohemian and I’m her Boho.

What do you have in Preston’s refrigerator right now?

We cook a lot. So, its filled with basic ingredients. Milk and almond milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, fresh herbs, cheeses. Nothing fancy.

How was the weather in LA today? What have you done?

The weather has been beautiful lately. Sunny and around 75 degress F. We are expected out first cold rainy storm to roll in tonight. We don’t go outside and enjoy our weather much; we take the weather for granted here.

And that elephant in the bathtub???

No, it’s a cardboard cutout that we painted dots on.

How did you guys meet? Was it like “I really like this album, can you see how many common grounds we share”?

We meet at a party I had at my house. She fell in love with my basset hound and wanted to know who his owner was. We became goods friends and then fell in love.

What will we be hearing from Rainbow Arabia in near future?

We just finished our debut full length this month. It is called “Boys and Diamonds” and is coming out on Kompakt at the end of Feb 01’. We made a video while were in Serbia for our first single.