Brazilian new wave band Cansei de Ser Sexy — or CSS — released four albums from 2005 to 2013, and then essentially went on hiatus.
Although CSS haven’t recorded new music since then, the band reunites for a USA tour of their extraordinary electroclash catalog, beginning at Black Cat in DC on Friday, May 3.
When the members of CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy) slowly started drifting away from the project in 2014, it wasn’t due to a lack of passion. Rather, they decided to pursue other projects because the band had become a job—an ironic twist considering its members started the group to get out of the monotony of day jobs. When the gang of friends decided to pursue music in 2003, they did so as a way to leave work early and perform at clubs.
When the band of Lovefoxxx, Luiza Sá, Ana Rezende, and Carolina Parra started pursuing other projects, there wasn’t any traditional resentment between members — no animosity at the way things ended, because they didn’t really end. The band was simply on hold. Lovefoxxx wanted more time to work on her visual art, and Ana, Luiza, and Carolina moved around the world and pursued other passions. After all, they derived most of their joy from live performances, which always suggested they had a much bigger audience than record sales did.
“Our shows we’re always bigger than our records,” Lovefoxxx said. “The kinds of venues we were playing at were so much bigger than our album sales. We were a touring band and we loved it.”
Watch the official music video for “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above” by CSS on YouTube:
Part of the band’s decision to do this tour now as opposed to at any other moment came from promoters gauging interest for a new tour from the group. They found this interest touching. A validation that the project was worthwhile. “The fact that we are still resonating is surprising to me. It shows that we truly touched a generation. We were never meant to be role models or inspire. We just wanted to enjoy ourselves. There’s immense power in it,” Lovefoxxx said.
The endeavor never would have been worth doing, though, if the women in CSS didn’t lovespending time with one another. From long recording sessions to endless travel days in between tours with Klaxons, Diplo, Gwen Stefani, Ssion, Metronomy, and more, the heart and soul of CSS was always the bond the band members shared. Perhaps it’s because they started as friends first and then became CSS that the feelings of them as people before musicians was always paramount. Regardless, CSS 2.0 would have been a worthless pursuit if everyone wasn’t 100% on board.
“I can’t believe I get to travel the world and try new foods with my best friends,” Lovefoxxx said. “No matter how many sold out shows, album sales, or label bids friendship remained at the core of the band. Now, it’s what’s inspiring them to come together once again.”
For those who don’t know, cansei de ser sexy roughly translates into “tired of being sexy,” taken from an early ’00s quote by Beyoncé. Here’s to 20 years of being sexy — and tired of it!
CSS
Black Cat
Friday, May 3
Doors @ 8pm
$30/$35
All ages
