Latvia-born, Brooklyn-based indie glam rock duo, Astra the 22’s are getting ready to release their forthcoming EP, Paris Love, due out this summer. Mixed by Kato Khandwala (Blondie, The Pretty Reckless, Paramore, My Chemical Romance) and Mastered by Howie Weinberg (The White Stripes, The Cure, Aerosmith), Paris Love explores sex, narcissism, love, art and war on a global and personal level. The duo have done over a dozen interviews and performances on Latvian National TV/ Radio, and their songs are in regular rotation on radio stations in Latvia & Lithuania.
In this interview feature, we chat with Astra the 22’s about the new project, influences, the digital music age and more.
Full Q&A as well as links and streams below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
Astra the 22’s is ‘vampīru glamūrs’ from Riga, Latvia and New York City.…We are the band that everybody wants to be and wishes they could fuck.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
Music = Love
Love = Beauty
We want to be beautiful too
…If ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose..
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
Our first record was written and recorded while we were not living in the same hemisphere. We had two and a half weeks to to record and a 6 week deadline for its release … this record was recorded with us together, both in Riga and in Brooklyn. It’s sexier, moodier and edgier.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
- www.astrathe22s.com
- www.facebook.com/astrathe22s
- www.instagram.com/astrathe22s
- www.soundcloud.com/astrathe22s
- www.youtube.com/astrathe22s
- EP: Blue Venom
- Singles: Save Me | Catwoman
Anything else before we sign off?
Our next show is March 16th at Pianos , NYC
