Q&A: Sleek Teeth Dive Deep with Darkwave Sounds on Debut EP
Photos By Holy Smoke Photography
LOS ANGELES-BASED SYNTHPOP MEETS DARKWAVE DUO SLEEK TEETH have released their highly anticipated self-titled debut EP and ready to make waves. Known for blending haunting vocals with pulse-pounding beats, their music creates a dynamic, cathartic experience that feels tailor-made for the dancefloors of shadowy underground nightclubs. With their debut single "Gone," accompanied by a dystopian music video, and recent releases like the anthemic "Endless" and the menacing "Operating," Sleek Teeth have quickly made a name for themselves in the LA music scene.
With their debut EP set to deliver a collection of moody and melodic electronic tracks, Sleek Teeth is poised to carve out a distinctive space in the world of darkwave and electro-pop.Fresh off their live debut at Das Bunker, and with a performance at Substance festival coming up, the duo dives into their journey, sharing insights into the chaotic energy that fuels their sound and how their live shows reflect the intensity of their studio recordings.
Read on to learn more about the duo's creative vision and what fans can expect from their upcoming release and performances.
LUNA: Your upcoming self-titled debut EP carries a sense of mystery, with themes of undefined surroundings and unknown destinations. Can you share how these concepts emerged in the songwriting process and what inspired them?
SLEEK TEETH: The themes emerged pretty naturally as a product of just letting ourselves be free in the creative process. These concepts sort of revealed themselves to us. It's clearly something that was resonating in us, the idea of not knowing what's around the corner, and wondering if you're on the right path and how to move forward.
LUNA: Your music blends darkwave, synthpop, and EBM into a unique, dancefloor-ready sound. How do you balance these darker, moody elements with the more upbeat, hook-driven qualities in your tracks?
SLEEK TEETH: When we started this project, we knew we wanted to create something that would work well in the context of a live performance or on the dancefloor. We didn't necessarily create super strict rules about it, but it gave us a general trajectory. And we love a good hook, so if we can work in some of those, all the better.
LUNA: Your debut single "Gone" introduced listeners to a dystopian world through both sound and visuals. What was the creative vision behind the music video, and how important is the visual element in shaping Sleek Teeth’s overall aesthetic?
SLEEK TEETH: With "Gone" we set out to create a video that was visually impactful, and since we have a shared love of dystopian/sci-fi aesthetics, we felt like that was a natural jumping off point stylistically. The visual presentation of the band has been important to us from the start, so it's something we always consider in the creative process.
LUNA: The track "Operating" seems to explore the idea that "what you see isn’t always what you get." Can you dive deeper into the meaning behind this song and how it reflects the themes of dissociation and isolation that run throughout the EP?
SLEEK TEETH: The song started with the bass line, which feels kind of ominous and foreboding. So the lyrics were a product of that feeling, and the idea of unseen hands pulling the strings in the shadows was a natural fit.
LUNA: Your music has been described as having haunting, melodramatic vocals over pulse-pounding beats. Can you walk us through your vocal and production process? How do you work together to achieve that dynamic, cathartic sound?
SLEEK TEETH: Sometimes we'll just have a small nugget of an idea, but if it feels like it has a life to it we'll pursue it. Once it's a little more fleshed out, we'll introduce vocal ideas, which sometimes start as meandering improvisations, just phonetics that feel right with the music. Usually there are words that start to emerge, often with a particular word or phrase that clicks as the "face" of the song, and we'll just chase that idea.
LUNA: You recently made your live debut at the legendary Das Bunker and are scheduled to perform at the Substance festival in November. How has the live performance experience shaped your music, and what can audiences expect from your upcoming shows?
SLEEK TEETH: Das Bunker was amazing, there's a real sense of community there, so we feel fortunate that it was our debut show and to have gotten such a positive response from the crowd. We always want the live performance to reflect what we capture in the studio and make sure the energy translates on any stage we play. We're really looking forward to Substance, we'll be performing all the songs from our EP plus some unreleased tunes.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this fall season?
SLEEK TEETH: More shows and more music on the way soon.
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