The Standard

Robert and David Perlick-Molinari

Next Wednesday night at 10pm, brothers Robert and David Perlick-Molinari of French Horn Rebellion will be spinning at Le Bain. We caught up with the Wisconsin-born, Brooklyn-based recovering band nerds for a chat about dance music and their time in the orchestra pit …

You’re brothers, obviously—when did you start making music together?

Robert: In 2009 I was playing French horn in a semi-pro orchestra and thought it would be much more fun to make dance music. We’re kind of like band geeks gone wild.

David: We’ve been brothers forever, but didn’t start the band until shortly after the first hot beat was dropped in 2008. Since then, we’ve been trying to convert our classical knowledge into groovy jams.

How did you come up with the name? French Horns aren’t too common in dance music.

Robert: It’s true! The name comes from why we started the band—being bored while sitting in an orchestra, and having cell phone games that didn’t quite keep us amused during extended rests. We do incorporate the horn into our recordings, but people don’t always pick it up. Usually we’ll put it through some filters to make it sound like it was lifted off an old disco record.

When did you decide to start making dance music, Robert?

Robert: Shortly after I saw Digitalism play live in 2008. They were so amazing. My mind was completely blown and I danced my face off.

What’s the first dance music track that impressed you?

David: Probably Glen Miller’s Pennsylvania 6 5000. Our parents only listened to music from pre-1960.

And the latest?

Robert: I’m loving all the tracks by Viceroy, especially “Chase us Around ft. Madi Diaz.” That guy knows how to make sunny jams.

You’ve done some really amazing remixes (I Can Talk, Beaches & Friends). What’s your approach to those? If you had to draft a dream team of remixers for your own stuff, who would be on it?

Robert: Wow, thanks. So glad you’re digging! Right now or goal is to mainly keep the integrity of the song given to us, and just change the instrumental so that it reflects our unique style. We approach it as if we were the backing band, and the original band’s vocalist was in the studio. What would we play behind them? Lately, we’ve been developing a new style of music called ‘Next Jack Swing.’ All of our remixes coming up will be in this style while keeping the lead vocal mostly intact.

David: I’m super digging Jupiter, Le Youth and Oliver. They’ve got some great tracks out right now. Would love to get some remixes from them.

Have you guys always DJ’d or did that evolve after you started the band?

Robert: I started DJing in college at parties I would throw in my basement. Campus used to call my house “The Red Dragon,” and we would have bands play behind a cage I installed. DJing has been apart of what we do from the beginning.

You’ve already toured with Hot Chip, Yelle, Sleigh Bells, Cut Copy, MGMT, and SebastiAn. Who are some other artists you’d like to tour with in the future?

Robert: We are always up for touring with new artists. Hopefully coming up we can start to do some smaller headlining tours. But that will only come if our next album jams!

Whats next for FHR? Is there a new record on the way?

David: Yes indeed! Right now we’re developing our next album. We’ve got a a handful of really fun stuff already done, just figuring out how we’re going to release it. As I said before, we’re developing a new genre called ‘Next Jack Swing.’ We’ve decided it’s time for the swing beat to come back!

Robert: Also, the moment we’re keeping busy scoring for a new indie rom-com film about a skinny white guy who wants to be the greatest R&B song writer ever. We’re going to be providing the sexy R&B back jams for Keith Sweat to seduce over (seriously, Keith Sweat is in the film).

What are your plans for the summer? What would be the perfect summer track for FHR?

Robert: This summer we’re just working in the studio getting new material together, and plotting a worldwide takeover of hammer pants.

David: Summer jam? Check this out.