Oct 27, 2010

Get on your ‘Hands & Knees’ this Halloween

BY LACY MATSUMOTO / Special to the Star-Advertiser

If you’re preparing your plans for Halloween weekend, you may want to take a look at Hands and Knees performing at NextDoor on Saturday as part of the Hallowballoo Music & Art Festival.

Hands & Knees is comprised of DJs JHNRDN and Ian St. Laurent — both are strikingly handsome, and both have made waves across the country with fans and supporters.

The name “Hands & Knees” comes from the most provocative dance party in Philadelphia; what began in 2004 as a experimental event quickly became recognized by music magazines and bloggers as one of the best indie dance parties in the country. After becoming a staple in Philadelphia nightlife, the party expanded to Miami and New York.

Collectively, JHNRDN and St. Laurent have also played major indie-electro parties all around the country, such as “Misshapes” in New York City, “The Blow Up” in San Francisico and LA, and the Debonair Club in Chicago. The duo has also shared the stage with artists such as The Cure, Iggy Pop, De La Soul, Busy P, Peaches, MSTRKRFT, and more.

Much to the surprise of Philly party-goers, in May 2007, JHNRDN and St. Laurent announced the end of “Hands & Knees.” They then shocked all of Philadelphia by purchasing a three-story nightclub called The Barbary, which during the next two years became the most popular dance venue in town, hosting virtually every indie event in the city — including the rebirth of “Hands & Knees.”

St. Laurent and JHNRDN also focused on solo projects in their spare time, including small tours with Designer Drugs, a nationwide tour with Club Lyfestile, new weekly parties in Philadelphia and recording music.

With all that on their plates — from promoting, performing and producing to being overall entrepreneurs — it’s exciting to see what they will bring to share with a Hawaii audience.

We got a few minutes out of the tag-team duo’s busy schedule for a brief interview:

QUESTION: As a duo, how do you perform together? Is one person more production heavy vs. performing?

ANSWER: We like to tag-team DJ throughout the night. So we’ll go back and forth and both play our own remixes and edits in our set.

Q: How did you two meet and start collaborating together?

A: We met about eight years ago. Up to that point, both of us were doing parties individually. We honestly only were acquaintances at the time. We would see each other out and about around the city, but we never DJed together.

After a couple years, we decided to join forces and do a completely different type of party for the Philly scene. We knew that we needed a space that that we could completely transform, so we looked at pretty much every club in the city. We eventually found the perfect place to transform. It was called the “M Room”. No one ever went there, and everyone thought we were totally insane.

We installed a whole new sound system, brought in all of our own lighting, and even built the DJ booth. By doing all of this together, we both realized that we worked really well together. We both have a lot of crazy ideas that most people would brush off as impossible, but we were always able to convince each other that our ideas were amazing … even if they weren’t.

Q: Tell me about your Hands & Knees parties. How did they become such a success? Do you have a particular formula or marketing for these events?

A: Going over the top in virtually every aspect. Lighting, sound, photos, videos, and music. And making the party as debaucherous as possible.

We primarily play music for girls and gays. Everything else is irrelevant. The party really has become its own animal since it started. Its the party that people buy new outfits for. It’s not uncommon for people to even wear costumes year-round. Marketing-wise, we focus on photos and videos.

Everyone pretty much loses their minds at ‘Hands & Knees,’ and we really focus on capturing that moment.”

Q: Have you ever been to Hawaii? Or is this your first time?

A: No, haven’t been there yet. But everyone keeps telling us that we’re never going to want to leave.

Q: What are some of the things you guys are excited to do while in Hawaii?

A: We definitely want to check out the scene and hit up a bunch of the other parties. We also want to do some sight-seeing and go to the beach. Are the beaches open all night?

Q: Are you familiar with the indie electro scene in Hawaii at all? Have any favorite acts or DJs?

A: Not really. But we are stoked to check them out while we’re there.

Q: What are some of the new upcoming projects you’re working on? Are you touring? Producing?

A: We always have various music projects that we are involved in and running the club and our parties.

But we are both super excited about our latest endeavor; a late-night talk radio show. It starts when everyone gets home from the club. We’re going to be the Regis and Kathy Lee of late night drunk radio.

We’ll be giving advice on numerous topics, from sex, dating, girls, guys,etc. We’ll take callers, the whole nine. Between the two of we feel like we have a wealth of knowledge in said areas and can really help people with there problems, or maybe we don’t know anything and we’ll just help insure that everyone screws up there lives.

Either way, it’ll be funny.

Q: What kind of set can the Hawaii audience expect? Any exclusives or new hits?

A: A lot of electro stuff, new indie dance stuff. It’s fun, sexy and maybe some weird stuff for Halloween.

Q: What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?

A: Not sure yet, we are winging it.

Q: Have any advice to your audience? How should they prepare for your performance?

A: (Laughs) Prepare! I don’t know, dress up, look great, get your nails done, get yer hair did. Call up your gays, call up your girls. Be prepared for an amazing Halloween. We are getting prepared for it ourselves.

Q: What is the best way to hear your stuff?

A: You can go to my blog, www.iansaintlaurent.blogspot.com. JHNRDN doesn’t like to put his music online.