Interviewed by: Jenny Francois
Date Published: 12.06.04

It is a regular night on the Lower East Side. You’re not buzzed yet and want to shake your shimmy. You head over to the Luna Lounge to check out one or two bands. You got your Brooklyn Lager in hand and tipped your bartender. You don’t wait too long cause out comes Death of Fashion. Wait is that you shimmy shaking to It’s All Ours? Did you just accomplish your night’s mission? Yes, you did! Give yourself a pat on the back.

Aeki Tuesday interviews Death of Fashion this month. They are Jessie Davis (vocals/keys), Jacob Bills (guitar), Darryl Specht (bass) and Daniel Boivin (drums).

Aeki Tuesday: How did this band come about and how long have you been playing together?

Death of Fashion: Well, we all met in college, we knew each other for awhile, and even though we weren’t necessarily experienced at our instruments, we decided, you know, we wanted to be together, because that’s what we liked. Because we wanted to be friends who were playing. (LAUGHS) So we borrowed equipment from people and started playing, and it was crazy. Yeah, that was pretty crazy. Wait, next question, wait, wait, wait, yeah, we got banned from campus.

Aeki Tuesday: We’re you all friends before starting this project?

Best friends.

Aeki Tuesday: You’ve recently gone through a name change from being known as The Fashion to Death of Fashion, can you tell us more about that?

Yeah, there was a band called The Fashion, from Scandinavia. And they were gonna have their lawyers contact us, so we changed it to Death of Fashion.

Aeki Tuesday: Do you anticipate another name change?

No, no way… no, no.

Aeki Tuesday: We’ve been listening to your five song EP, [lovely and guilt free], for the past two weeks. Our friend described your sound as a cross between Joy Division and The Strokes. Do you agree?

Who’s the Strokes? I don’t feel that’s appropriate, to say we’re a cross between anybody. We have our influences, but we draw them all together. It’s not a cross between anybody. But that’s from the inside looking out.

Aeki Tuesday: How would you describe your sound?

It’s a new thought on an old take. We don’t describe our sound, we just rock into the future…

Aeki Tuesday: Is there an album in the works?

We have a few albums in the works. We just signed to Canarsie Records, and we’re going to record a full length this summer.

Aeki Tuesday: Do you all contribute to writing the lyrics?

Yes. Yes, we do all things as a band, Death of Fashion is one person.

Aeki Tuesday: You’ve been playing at some great local venues such as CBGB’s, Sin-e, Pianos, Arlene’s Grocery, Luna Lounge and The Knitting Factory, are you planning on playing in other areas?

Scratch this, we’ve never played at CBGB’s. Actually, we’ve played there twice. 313, 313, yes, we are. We will be everywhere, tentatively speaking.

Aeki Tuesday: What is the song “It’s All Ours” about?

It’s just crazy, man, it’s got crazy, crazy, you know, mammah, she was old and crazy. Don’t forget, Annie Smith was crazy. It’s a good, like, yeah, let’s do this.

Aeki Tuesday: What is the most requested song when you play out?

People don’t request songs.

Aeki Tuesday: Who were your heroes growing up?

All of our dads, everybody’s dad. Thank you, dad. Let’s not forget Annie Smith and Uncle Jeff.

Aeki Tuesday: We are partial to NYC Palace and Rosario’s in the East Village for those 4AM cravings after a seeing a band or two, do you have any favorite pizza places you’d recommend?

Ray’s on Houston… no, wait, I don’t eat anything but fish and what a fish eats.

Aeki Tuesday: Where do you see Death of Fashion in one year?

In bed together. We’re doing it day by day.

Aeki Tuesday: Any upcoming gigs we should know about?

Yeah, we’re playing at Luna Lounge for New Year’s Eve.

Site: www.thefashiononline.com