Talkin' on the phone with Kid Sister*

Back in 2005, Melisa Young was just another ambitious college grad working at Bath & Body Works in the mall by day. By night, however, she was crafting fun, electro-soaked rap jams as Kid Sister with her brother Josh, one half of Chicago DJ duo Flosstradamus.

After two whirlwind years of rocking parties and inspiring fawning blog-buzz, she was one of the first artists signed to DJ A-Trak’s burgeoning Fool’s Good label. When rap superstar Kanye West heard Kid Sister’s demo via A-Trak (at the time his touring DJ), he was impressed enough to add a verse to her second single “Pro Nails,” complete with a cameo in the song’s glossy video.

The promotional blitz around the rapidly rising single found Kid Sister doing everything from guest-spots on MTV’s Pete Wentz-hosted “F’NMTV” show to receiving a nomination for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist at the 2008 BET Awards. There was only one thing missing: an album.

Amid reports of her working furiously between shows with a series of producers, Kid Sister’s full-length debut went through one incarnation and track listing after another — its title was variously reported as Koko B. Ware and Dream Date — but never quite managed to see the light of day. Meanwhile, fans began to wonder if the record would ever come out. Thankfully, Kid Sis has finally put those fears to rest with Ultraviolet, a fresh batch of tracks that run the gamut from frothy club-bangers (“Right Hand Hi”) to sultry electro-pop that Lady Gaga would give her Gyroscope costume for (“Daydreaming”), to “You Ain’t Really Down,” a cover of the 1983 Status IV underground hit that she flips into an homage to ‘90s girl-groups like En Vogue.

Speaking to ShockHound on a cell phone from New York City, Kid Sister exuded a sassy cool amidst the chaotic blur of activity around her as she took a somewhat calamitous urban stroll.

SHOCKHOUND: It’s really early here, and I’m not much of a morning person. So please be kind.

KID SISTER: [Laughs] It’s okay, don’t trip. I went out last night, and I’m moving a little slow myself.

SHOCKHOUND: You’re really active in Twitter. You were recently talking about grueling rehearsals for your upcoming tour while you were in LA.

KID SISTER: Yeah, at the beautiful SIR Studios in Hollywood, California. I have a couple of dancers, Flosstradamus travel with me as DJs, and my brother Josh is also like my hype-man onstage. The sound guy, the lighting guy — a girl has got to keep her game together, you know? Hey, watch out!

SHOCKHOUND: What?

KID SISTER: Sorry. I’m walking in Manhattan with my friend and she almost stepped in what looks like a huge pile of horse poop. Sorry.

SHOCKHOUND: No problem. Friends don’t let friends step in horse poop. So, your album went through a number of false starts and name changes…

KID SISTER: Yeah, we did away with the first one and reconfigured the whole album. The biggest difference is that we took off some mid-tempo songs and added more up-tempo ones. Songs like [early leaked track] “Family Reunion” will always be around. But for the most part, those songs won’t ever come out. Unless someone leaks them!

[Sound of rushing wing, a crash and a distant scream.]

SHOCKHOUND: Are you okay?!

KID SISTER: I’m sorry, boo. It’s just like Armageddon weather here in New York today and it just tried to take my phone. [Laughs] Can I get a vanilla latté?

SHOCKHOUND: I’m going to assume you’re not talking to me?

KID SISTER:: [Laughs] No. Sorry. I really need this coffee right now.

SHOCKHOUND: So after all of the delays, how does it feel to finally have a finished album to share with your fans?

KID SISTER: It’s so crazy, I’m so excited. It’s nuts. I couldn’t have ever imagined it would turn out like this. We just did the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas, and it was complete bonkers. All of these kids knew the words to my songs; there were babies and old folks and everyone. It was just a nice mix of people and that’s exactly what I want to see at my shows. I want everyone to come and feel comfortable.

SHOCKHOUND: Is there any particular song on the album that’s your favorite? Maybe one with a special meaning for you?

KID SISTER: They all are, babe. I’m like the Octo-Mom over here. They’re all my babies. Everyone is special.

SHOCKHOUND: Be honest. I’m sure even Octo-Mom has favorites.

KID SISTER: Well, maybe. [Laughs] But like any parent, I care too much to ever say it out loud. I’m proud of every single one of them. I put so much work into everything that I do. I’m pretty exacting.

SHOCKHOUND:: Gnarls Barkley singer and former Goodie Mob rapper Cee-Lo sings on the song “Daydreaming.” How did that come about?

KID SISTER: He had called me, and mentioned he’d be interested in doing something on the record. I was like, “You can do whatever you want!” He was so cool. I love him. He’s the nicest guy and really supportive of my music.

SHOCKHOUND: I saw on Twitter that you were anxious about a meeting with a certain producer to listen to tracks he’d made for you. You didn’t name the person in case the music “turned out to be wack.” So how did it go?

KID SISTER: Oh, I still can’t name that person, because they were kind of wack! (Laughs). It wasn’t like Pharrell or anything. It was this super-Top 40 guy. It happens.

SHOCKHOUND: So even though your debut album is just coming out, you’re already working on the next one?

KID SISTER: Yeah, for sure. You can’t ever rest. It’s always about on to the next thing.

SHOCKHOUND: On “Pro Nails,” you represented Chicago hip-hop with Kanye West. Now you’ve just recorded, “Everybody Wants,” a single with Chicago house music hero Green Velvet for the re-launch of his legendary Relief Records label.

KID SISTER: Listening to house is just part of growing up in Chicago. I used to go to this club called the Warehouse in Chicago where it all started. It was a laser tag place during the day. Do you remember laser tag? [Laughs]. But at night it was a club and we would sneak in to listen to all of the new dance music. So working with Green Velvet was like a dream come true. He’s like one of my biggest heroes growing up in that scene. I’m also kind of working with another Chicago house legend, Felix Da Housecat.

SHOCKHOUND: Given the great music he made with Miss Kitten, that should be an inspired collaboration.

KID SISTER: It’s something we’ve been talking about for a while now. It’s the craziest thing. I was born in this small town in Illinois called Markham. Oddly enough, Green Velvet also lived in that town. We lived like a couple of streets away from each other. Then my parents moved to a place called Richton Park. Felix Da Housecat lived across the major street from me. I was like, “Are you fucking kidding me?” How crazy is that? But that’s Chicago for you.

SHOCKHOUND: You earned a degree in film at Columbia College Chicago. Do you have any aspirations to get into acting?

KID SISTER: Oh, you know that I do. I started out in musical theater. I’ve studied acting for many years. It was definitely a bigger interest then than it is now. I just kind of let whatever happens, happen. I take it day by day. As long as it’s something I enjoy, I’ll do it the best that I can.

(I think you can figure out where the edit of this one was originally published. The pics are by Jeremiah Garcia. When I was working @ Metromix, I sent him to shoot her w/DJ A-Trak when they performed as part of "First Fridays" at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Good times...)

The Dirty Show came to L.A.* (NSFW)

Once upon a time, there was a guy in Detroit called Jerry Vile. He was in a band called the Boners. He went on to start a newspaper called Fun. Fun was like the original Vice, only much better and not as nearly as annoying. Fun eventually evolved into Orbit, which I'd term as the original alternative alt-weekly. Instead of covering local politics, Orbit covered local porn stars, drug fiends and night-crawlers. Orbit was amazing. Orbit is also where I scored my first writing job after college.

It would take forever to explain the Orbit Years, so I'll just tell you that it was way more fun than should be allowed by law. No one partied harder than the boss (and many tried). Sex, drugs and punk fucking rock were the order of the day in that office.

But what made Orbit special was the insane amounts of talent that graced the masthead. Guys like Paul Zimmerman and Glenn Barr and Tristan Eaton and Doug Coombe and David Keeps and Brenna Sanchez and I could go on. You probably don't recognize any of those names, but they're all fantastic artists that have influenced me in ways I'll probably never be able to fully comprehend. And it's all good.

Post-Orbit, Jerry Vile (AKA Jerry Peterson) went on to found "The Dirty Show," a wild erotic art show that's now been in existence for more than a decade. This past weekend, Jerry brought The Dirty Show to L.A. for the first time.

It has held in a truly seedy hotel in downtown, with each room decked out with art. A (pretty wasted!) Suicide Girl named Chloe played hostess. And there were so many Detroiters in the house I couldn't tell if I was at home or in heaven.

Cat People, Pt. 2

I laugh out loud every single time I watch this. It's seriously the best medicine. After a couple more viewings I'm gonna be soooo healthy, y'all. Danny DeVito, I love you forever for this show*

PS: Dude's face at the end after he shows the commercial is priceless. It's like he's just invented the cure for cancer. OMG, I love these guys so much. I'm still laughing over here! Wooooo. Love it.

Cat People

Best tweet ever

It's too bad this is fake. Britney was about to get a whole lot more interesting to me!

I am such a dork for Kid Sister

Like, the biggest dork ever. Kid Sister just makes me happy. She's like every girl I was hopelessly in love with all throughout college.

Unfortunately, I got stuck with an 8AM call-time to interview her this morning. I mean, it was all good. But Lord knows I'm far from my usual witty, charming self at that hour and without even a scent of coffee.

But being super-sweet and a true professional, she was very patient with me as I stumbled through my questions.

And then, it happened: I made her laugh. For real. And it make my whole week.

Thanks, Melisa. I really, REALLY needed that. Rock on*

PS: If you can watch the entire above video without falling in love with Kid Sister...well, that's just really unfortunate for you.

Tonight in L.A.: Buraka Som Sistema

Tickets, man. Concert tickets, to be exact. 

I’ve been collecting these things since I was 9 years old and I somehow convinced my older brother to take me to see KISS in Detroit (I’m pretty sure tears were involved).

My collection of ticket stubs now numbers somewhere in the thousands. I have a lot of them, but not all, sadly. But there are some real winners in here, like a 2nd row seat to see Journey on the “Escape” tour as a wee lad. Ah, the perks of attending private school and having a best friend whose dad was some auto industry honcho with mad pull. Now that was a f*cking concert, yo!

Anyway, I’m always on the hunt for tickets. Ideally, free ones. I’ve paid for so many of those tickets over the years, that any opportunity to set the balance closer to my favor is eagerly undertaken.

Like on Twitter. I follow a gang of fools, including L.A. promoter Gary Richards, best known as the guy behind the insane HARD party series. Yesterday on Twitter, he announced that he was giving away tickets to see Buraka Som Sistema at the Mayan in downtown L.A. at a certain time to the first people to show up.

The map point was on Melrose, not far from my place. I hopped in the car and high-tailed it over there. When I walked into the spot at exactly 4:31PM, I was the first person to show up and ask for a ticket, which Gary so kindly hooked me up with. Win.

I saw BSS at Coachella this year, and they killed. It was easily one of the most fun dance parties of the weekend. Just lots of energy and South American beats and it was on. See for yourself in the above clip from the set.

The Mayan is one of my favorite spots to see a show in L.A. Catching these kids there tonight (for free, mind you) should be all kinds of awesome.

Yay for tickets, y’all*

Them Knowles girls are at it again

Since it is almost Thankgiving, the time has come to start thinking about year-end lists. You know, what is the crap that will always remind you of just how stupid and useless 2009 turned out to be.

(Sorry about that. I had to wake up waaaaay too early this AM to holla at my girl Kid Sister in New York. It took me almost 10 minutes, but I made her laugh. She even had to tell her friend what I said. SCORE!).

For me, of course, that means music. Sifting through the piles of CDs and MP3 produced in 2009, a few obvious favorites immediately stand out. Like "Bitte Orca" by the Dirty Projectors. Dexterous Brooklyn indie rawk gone deep R&B. Heavy, man. They also put on one of the most entertaining and musically satisfying shows of the year. It's so good to see a young indie band that can really PLAY.

So I clicked like a fiend when I saw that Solangé Knowles recorded a cover of the fantastic DPs single "Stillness in the Move." The song already had mad groove. This version makes it sound even more like a classic D'Angelo track. Hear (and download) it here.

Now if only she would shave her head again, we'd be in business...

Oh snap: Little Dragon and Smirnoff make it interesting

OK, L.A. I get it. But hey, take it easy.

I was all set to let the whiskey be my guide this evening on the east side with Blockhead at the Echo.

Ah, but the inbox has decided to present me with options. Namely, a private Smirnoff event in downtown L.A. featuring the band Little Dragon. They're from Sweden, pretty rad and feature the comely Yukimi Nagano on lead vocals. It's gonna be hot no doubt.

Two events, one night. Bulletproof helmet on. Whiskey by my side. On a steel horse I ride, y'all. See you on the mean streets tonight...

Going to a go-go

Ugh. I seriously cannot believe that any of this is happening. But it is. Oh, but it is.

So. That leaves us little choice but to dust off the ol' Daft Punk helmet with the special bullet-proof glass shield. Bring it. I'll be ready. Believe that.

"Smoke another cigarette and let yourself go..."

PS: If you'd like to see what happens when a grown man allows whiskey to handle his discourse for an evening, swing by the Echo tonight for the Blockhead show. I'll be the handsome one yelling for Van Halen's "Panama."

My favorite picture in the world today (starring Princess Leia)

Thanks to the lovely Olivia Munn, geeks around the world can now double their illicit fantasies of Princess Leia as a slave-girl. I love this amazing candid of Carrie Fisher and her stunt double catching some rays during downtime on the set of "Return of the Jedi." Those buckskin boots are too hot.

My favorite picture in the world today

My good friend Ali Miller and her bf went skydiving. They took a bunch of pictures. This one makes me smile every time I look at it. Stay golden, y'all.

Julian Casablancas is my homeboy

I saw Julian Casablancas perform solo at the Palace Theater in L.A. on Friday night. Not to get all hyperbolic, but it was kind of awesome. I love his new album, and he rocked the songs right. His band is a wild collection of fabulous freaks, and they even indulged us in a full-on group costume change at intermission.

I've always loved the Strokes (definitely in my Top 3 bands of the '00 decade), with a particular affinity for Mr. Casablancas. Dude is just the personification of rock n roll cool (in my book, anyway).

I was just reading an interview with him on Bitchfork, and found this brilliant passage that pretty much sums up why I love me some Julian Casablancas:

Bitchfork: Are the over-the-top shows the type of thing you'd be able to do with the Strokes?

JC: No, I would never get those four dudes to agree on something like that. You'd have one guy say, "Let's go out and have some Persian rugs and done!" And you'd have another guy say, "Let's dress like robots," and then nothing would get done.

Bitchfork: I like the robot idea, I'd go with that person.

JC: That person is me. [Laughs]

(Photo: Julian @ the Palace, Nov. 6, 2009. Credit: Timothy Norris).