Know Your LA Bands: Love Grenades Interview

BeatCrave brings you sizzling artist, Love Grenades, as part of our Know Your LA Bands series. Created by vocalist Elizabeth Wight, Love Grenades is a band that is sultry as it is explosive. Unlike the transparent female voices that often dominate the electronica pop genre, Wight’s rich vocals melt over those evocative beats like chocolate drizzles down a sundae. If that weren’t enough, it doesn’t hurt that she could pass for a 50s pinup girl yet stuns you with classic beauty.

Often teaming up with long time pal, Sam Sparro (who is known for his hit “Black and Gold”), Wight brings a chic essence to dropping beats and seductive jazz. No matter what venue, her fans often start the party as they worship her ability to exude sexy confidence on stage.

See for yourself on any Friday of this month as Love Grenades continues their Echo Residency. That’s right, October Fridays belong to Love Grenades. Go and get your dose of pure ecstasy through dance mania. Until then, learn a little more about Lady Love Grenades in the interview she was kind enough to give BeatCrave. Check out her video for “Young Lovers” too!

You’ve listed LA as one of your musical influences. What are some of the things about LA that inspire you and your music?

It’s not so much things about LA that inspire me as much as this is the environment that I grew up in. So it’s only natural that it is a huge influence on what I do. From LA gang and punk culture and its history to the sunny beaches to my disdain of plastic Hollywood transplants, all of it is relevant. Everything I do is just a result or reaction.

You sound like you grew up in a very musical family. What do they think of their little girl all grown up and singing sultry tunes to hot beats?

My mother is most enthusiastic. She comes to all my shows and insists on selling merch. She also loves dancing, so it’s great to see her get down. I think it makes my family really nostalgic because they used to perform all the time in LA during the 70s.

Why did you choose the name Love Grenades?

It just fit what I wanted to call my project. I wanted so bad to call my previous bands Love Grenades but everyone said no and that’s when I decided to just do my own thing.

You’ve gotten rave reviews for your live performances. In addition to your vocals, you also have a live band. How did you go about recruiting?

Corey has been with me since the beginning and I consider him a permanent Love Grenades member. As far as everyone else, it’s just been friends of mine who happen to be really into what I’m doing. The back-up singers are people I chose because not only are they talented but they are also these hardworking artists, which adds the most important element. For instance, one of them is Sterling Andrews, an amazing photographer who is putting out a book right now on Eenie Meenie records. Having a strong woman like that who is doing something really innovative on her own is something wonderful to watch. That’s the kind of person I want to watch sing her heart out. Not some shitty pop star created by Disney.

How did you meet Sam Sparro?

We met at a cafe we worked at together. The first time we met, he told me I looked very classic but should have a beauty mark. I told him I’d let him put a beauty mark on my face if I could do that to him. So we exchanged beauty marks with a sharpie over a coffee shop counter.

Your original video for “Young Lovers” has won a few awards. How did you come up with the brilliant concept?

Steve Lee is the one who came up with the whole idea because he knew I was watching a lot of Godard and other 60s foreign films. Vivre Sa Vie fit perfectly with what I was feeling when I wrote “Young Lovers.” The other day we watched Vivre Sa Vie at the Nuart. It was a great moment to realize we had successfully pulled off something with no budget – just lots of passion to create something unique with a nod to the past.

You have great style. Where do you often shop in LA?

Mostly vintage stores Like Play Clothes in Studio City.

What are you most excited for during your Echo residency?

I think I’m mostly excited about putting on a show that people feel a part of. I want everyone to feel proud that one of their own is creating something. When I play a show and look around and see my friends on stage with me and kids dancing in the audience, I feel completely connected to the city streets and trees and everything that makes up my town. It’s a lovely feeling and a little bit addictive. It’s a great sense of community.

What album are you currently listening to?

Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ride 2

Quick-Fire Round
Which is better: Vinyl or CDs?

Vinyl but iPods are convenient.

What’s the greatest piece of art you’ve ever seen?

Two years ago, I took a trip to Coyoacan to visit Frida Kahlo’s house. Casa Azul, itself, was the greatest piece of art. We got to see Frida’s bed with the mirror above and her work-shop. Everything. My friend and I just sat in the courtyard sipping coffee in a euphoric daze.

Lipstick or lip gloss?

Lip Liner. Cholas taught me how to do my make-up.

Which three songs must everyone have on a dance party mix?

1. Rapture by Blondie
2. Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang
3. Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club

Tell us one thing about yourself we probably don’t already know.

I just did my first burlesque performance the other night at Bordello’s in Downtown LA.

Photography by Nathan Reagle and Steve Lee