Music A family affair

wilting soprano, plus a background filled out with sounds from children’s toys as well as guitar, piano, harp, drums and various electronics. It’s a dark and dirge-fuelled ride through the women’s own little world, touching on folk, hip-hop and cabaret – they often get lumped into the rather loose genre of ‘freak-folk’. ‘Childhood is just one of the colours we like to paint with,’ says Bianca. Perhaps it’s the influence of their nomadic childhood, but the sisters like to record all over the world (parts of Ghosthorse were recorded in Buenos Aires). They can now be found between and Williamsburg – or wherever the wind takes them. ‘We love being on the road and leaving our things behind, wind in our hair, the smell of the sea,’ explains Bianca. And their first trip to China (along with Beijing, they’ve got stops scheduled in Shanghai and the I should CocoRosie! The sisters are doing it for themselves InMusic Festival) should provide fresh Bohemian sister act ‘They are very special and so is their descriptions inspiration. ‘We’re looking music.’ From there, an indie-rock such as ‘dreamy’, forward to the newness, the CocoRosie put the freak in sleeper hit was born. ‘childlike’ and possibility of a new audience, Music folk. Jennifer Conrad dips The newfound artistic direction ‘otherworldly’. Whether some great food and magical into their surreal world ahead came at just the right time. Sierra had you like it or not depends on herbs,’ Bianca says. ‘Also perhaps been studying in Paris, while your threshold for the experimental finding a new Chinese flute or two.’ of their Beijing show Bianca, before a fit of wanderlust took and ‘out there’ – and perhaps how you Their elaborate costumes – you her from to her sister’s feel about a certain neighbourhood in might see them in Victorian dresses, According to CocoRosie’s creation doorstep, had been making art – but called Williamsburg. face paint or oversized tracksuits – are myth, which slightly strains credulity neither sister felt fulfilled. ‘Most of my cool Chinese friends are part of the package. ‘This recent tour at times, sisters Sierra and Bianca They followed La Maison de Mon obsessed with CocoRosie,’ says Al Di, was inspired by Cinderella, meaning Casady were raised in the US by Rêve (which can be translated as The “cinder”, so there’s a kind of chimney- hippie parents, who encouraged the House of My Dream) with two more sweep look,’ Bianca explains. girls to take up creative pursuits on Touch And Go, Noah’s ‘Childhood is just ‘We love all forms of transformation rather than go to school. Ark (2005) and The Adventures of and look to many different flowers The sisters drifted apart, then Ghosthorse and Stillborn (2007). This one of the colours for that,’ she continues. Among their reunited in 2003, when both were in spring, they released their fourth full- influences, they cite drag queens, their early twenties. The reunion took length, , on . we like to paint with’ and Bianca often appears in drag on place at Sierra’s place in Paris, and They’ve honed a signature stage and in photos. ‘It’s all a part of it was there that Bianca and Sierra sound that evokes a personal fantasy, personal romance (whose band name comes from the excitable local promoter bringing and freedom,’ she says. their childhood nicknames ‘Coco’ the band to town. ‘My friend Tian They’ve collaborated with the and ‘Rosie’) recorded their first Yuan, who is a very famous Chinese likes of Antony Hegarty (of Antony , La Maison de Mon actress and TV host, is also excited to and the Johnsons) and Devendra Rêve, in Sierra’s bathtub. be the special guest for CocoRosie! For Banhart. And on this tour, they’ll bring Although the recording everyone else who isn’t passionate, they Tez (a beatboxer from Paris), Gaël was initially intended for can stay home or go to a nightclub to Rakotondrabe (a pianist from Réunion friends, indie label Touch listen to Lady Gaga, Pussycat Dolls Island) and Marc Lacaille (Gaël’s And Go somehow received and Kanye “Stupid” West!’ cousin and a drummer/percussionist). the album and convinced So what should you expect? ‘You can expect to see some very CocoRosie to sign on. There’s Bianca’s babyish moans psychedelic images involving blood, ‘I was immediately (that sometimes earn her feathers, clowns, mushrooms and the drawn to their music from comparisons to Billie Holiday, ocean,’ Bianca reveals. We can’t wait. the first note I heard,’ although those with shorter says Corey Rusk, who memories might compare her CocoRosie play Yugong Yishan on first signed the act. to Macy Gray) and Sierra’s Thursday 5. See listings for details.

August 2010 www.timeout.com/beijing 63