Interview: Port Folio Weekly

Synth-pop duo Uh Huh Her hasn’t needed much time to gain popularity with teenaged girls and women in their 20s. The Los Angeles-based group features former Mellowdrone multi-instrumentalist Camila Grey (lead vocals/keyboards) and actress Leisha Hailey (vocals/keyboards) of the Showtime hit series The L Word. Their debut album, Common Reaction, is a hot item on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, powered by the infectious hit “Not a Love Song.”

Port Folio Weekly called Camila Grey on her cell phone just as she was finishing getting her hair cut in LA.

How does your hair look?

You know it looks better than it did. I can actually see. My bangs are a little crazy. It was just a little pre-tour trim.

While we’re on the subject, I read a recent interview you did with the Los Angeles Times and most of the questions focused on fashion. How important are image and style to you and Leisha?

For me, I think we shouldn’t have brought this heightened awareness to fashion. I tend to be the one that’s a little more focused on the music and never know what I’m wearing. I have a uniform that I always sort of wear, which is skinny jeans, heels and a T-shirt. But my favorite bands are Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie) and Bjork. They have their own unique sense of style that I really appreciate, and I’m trying to be a little more conscious of putting on a show and having more theatrics. So it is important, but mostly about the music.

What sort of theatrics are you incorporating in your show?

Oh, I don’t want to give too much away. This is our second tour ever. Our first tour was us just trying to figure it all out. This time we’re implementing a light show. We certainly thought about our live show this time around. We’re definitely having a few more theatrics involved.

Has success come fairly quickly for you?

It’s been attention more than anything. It has come uniquely fast for us because we’ve only been a band for a year and a half, and to be able to put a record out and be able to do these tours in such a short time has been kind of lucky. Everything has fallen into place. We’ve kind of had a built-in audience from our previous endeavors.

With Leisha being a known actress, has that been a source of conflict, whether creative or in terms of dedication to the band?

No. You could look at it as a glass half-full. It’s been a kind of blessing and curse. We do have a niche audience that we’re trying to grow. They may have come to see the actress but hopefully they leave being a fan of the band.

Are you ever concerned that at some point Leisha will get offers to appear in movies and have less time for music?

We call it an open marriage because we both have side projects we want to continue working on; her acting and my other musical side projects. I know how important acting is to her. We tour when we need to. We’re free to do whatever else on the side as long as it doesn’t horribly conflict with this. But she’s always going to do her acting I have a feeling.

How is this creative experience different from when you were in Mellowdrone?

It’s night and day. I was the hired gun and now I’m the boss. I’m having to show up in such a different way when we’re playing live, and controlling all aspects of the band. Every tiny detail is thought over. It’s different than being a session player.

Do you miss being a session player?

I do actually. I think I’m going to start a side project where I become that again so I can make some money. Just not to have to focus on everything would be kind of nice again.

The first track on Common Reaction is “Not a Love Song,” a phenomenally catchy synth-pop track. How did it come about?

It kind of came about by accident. I was messing around with a Vox pedal and I found this weird sound. I started playing that little riff while we were in the middle of another session. We just tracked that idea really quickly. People say it’s kind of a rock song, but it’s not. It’s kind of electronic, but it’s not. It’s a great crossover track. It’s not my favorite song on the record, but it’s catchy though.

Tell me about the synth-pop bands that have influenced you. I certainly hear a little Berlin in your sound.

I’ve always loved bands like Berlin and Tears for Fears, or Depeche Mode. I’ve always had a love for that kind of sound. I wish more women would get back into it. I would love to see a new Annie Lennox figure in a music role right now.

You have a number of mid-tempo songs on the album. How do you create your set list to maintain a good live flow?

It’s going help with the lighting. You just have to have a high energy song, and then you go down. You take them on a ride. If you have too many songs like that in a row it can get a little boring. It’s always a battle with just one album. We’ve written a couple of new songs for the road just to throw some more up tempo stuff in there.

(@Port Folio Weekly – 20/10/08)