2010 has sheltered an unspoken soul revival. It’s been subtle and it’s been hushed, but everybody seems to be dropping a spoonful of baby-making soul in their musical tea. If you’re looking for a soulful rose who smells pretty damn sweet, electrofunk duo Chromeo doff thy name.
The twosome has enjoyed a significant swing in popularity this year, with a spot at Lollapalooza and two well-received showings at Coachella and Bonnaroo. Their 21st Century Hall and Oates shtick has resonated well with the funk junkies (funkies?) of 2010.
Above all, Chromeo swoons. “Don’t turn the lights on /’Cuz tonight I wanna see you in the dark,” guitarist/vocalist Dave 1 sings in their new single “Don’t Turn the Lights On.” The lyrics have the relatable sincerity to get lodged in your head, and the music has the funk to make them swim in there. In our indelible Age of Irony, Chromeo’s brand of self-assured candor is a rarity, but synth and talk box player Patrick Gemayel, known as P-.
Thugg, said it just comes naturally.
“You can’t really plan those things,” he said. “You don’t wake up and be like ‘Yo I’m gonna be sincere about what I do.’ You just are.”
But their (often sexual) sincerity has yielded an unexpected response from their fans. Though their crowds do house the predictably drunk club-hoppers who, to echo Kid Rock’s immortal words, attempt to “get in the pit and try to love someone,” P-Thugg has been perplexed by their youthfulness.
“We’re getting younger and younger kids coming to the shows and we’re like ‘Where does that come from? What the hell? Do they understand what we do?’ ” he said.
“I think that’s when you transcend generations, when your music doesn’t have to be understood with references,” he added. “… People just enjoy it for what it is.”
Something that’s particularly 2010 about Chromeo is their unabashed employment of auto-tune and talk box. Sure, Stevie Wonder stuffed the talk box down his throat four decades ago, but it’s undeniable that the robot tube will be a relic of our freakishly in-tune era.
“It’s my thing, man. It’s my favorite instrument to play,” P-Thugg said, defending the honor of the talk box. “I always wanted to be a singer, but I’m really bad at it. It allows me to sing in tune.”
Perhaps it’s their of-the-moment charisma, perhaps their ineradicable funk, but advertisers took note of the soul brothers years before the rest of America. The group has had their tunes dress up commercials from McDonald’s to Heineken to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
“Heineken and McDonald’s were really into our music before we even got popular,” P-Thugg said. “[Doing commercials] is more like kudos to them for knowing who we were.”
Besides releasing their highly anticipated album “Business Casual” and embarking on an international tour, Chromeo is just giddy to play in our Prince -made City of (groovy) Lakes.
“I love Minneapolis, man,” P-Thugg said. “City of Funk, ya know?”