Lo-Fi-Fnk are August and Leo from Stockholm, Sweden. They make dance-pop to dance gently to and their debut full-length album Boylife (a nice little collection of gentle dance-pop) came out on Moshi Moshi Records at the end of last summer. Right now they are working getting their visas together so they can tour North America; if that goes well, then you'll probably have a chance to see them play. Luckily for us, Leo and August found the time to answer a bunch of questions for ChalkedUp--some serious, some totally ridiculous--while they prepared for tour. On top of the obligatory 'what are you up to?' Q&A questions, we talked to Lo-Fi-Fnk about Swedish pop stars, Swedish hockey players, Swedish metal and even Jim Henson's famous portrayal of a Swedish culinary legend. Read on.

It's been noted that 'Boylife' is supposed to represent your "farewell" to the irresponsibility of your highschool and post-high school lifestyle. Has the release of Boylife been a watershed moment for you two? Have you actually been able to say "farewell" to that lifestyle?

August: NO! Not at all, after the release it has been loads of touring and that's irresponsibilities father and mother together. All you have to think about is the gig (and drink and have fun)--everything else is the tour managers deal. Kind of being back at the kindergarten.

Leo: The only way to change it would be to dissolve the band and it wouldn't be right for the moment.

What parts of boy-life do you hope to hang on to?

August:

-the parts that make you funny
-not getting married
-not get fat
-not be tired
-never stop drinking redbull
-and never stop messing around with all kinds of music

Leo: Never be a "professional" in any way.

What city are you looking most forward to playing on this tour?

August: Somewhere in Canada! Because we are devoted Southpark fans we're so much looking forward to meet all Canadian people (and of course to see if they are lying about the heads are in two halves and if all Canadian cars have square wheels).

Leo: L.A.

What song do you most enjoy playing live?

Heartache!

What is your most treasured piece of equipment and why?

We're not a high tech band, the most treasured thing is our bodies.

How do you account for Sweden's prolific output of electronically centered music, from the Swedish House Mafia to the Knife, to, and more pop-oriented groups like yourself? What are some of the key cultural factors that you attribute to that?

Leo: Sweden is a quite organized (and maybe you can say boring) country. The people who make music here is often from a really comfortable middle class and instead of telling stories about our messy environment or problems we focus on sophisticating productions and on melodies!

Do you follow Swedish/Scandanavian metal at all? We quite like Meshuggah.

August: Well, we know one funny thing about Meshuggah--if you know about Refused. On the inlay of Refused debut album they were sending bigups to an up-and-coming band but they spelled it wrong and wrote "Meskugga". Well, Refused were really big in the HC-scene in Sweden... maybe not metal but...

Agnetha Faltskog or Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad (the two babes from ABBA)?

August: AGNETHA FALTSKOG!!!!!

Leo: Agnetha, but sometimes when I'm depressed on tour I feel like Anni-frid.

I think you have played in Philly and New York before, but what preconceived notions (if any) did you have about extensively touring North America before you came over here? Has North America met those expectations?

August: I think we have to wait until after this tour with this question. We probably have millions of things to say afterwards.. The only thing I can say right now is that New York felt a lot like Europe!!

Your remix of Softlightes' "GirlKillsBear" is a favourite of ours? How did that come about? Are you working on any more remixes right now?

August: Kind of just happened, our record company asked us if we wanted to do it and we did it.. it is also one of my favourites! But now when we touring we don't have so much time to do stuff like that.

Leo: I think it turned out the way it did because we did it in the hottest part of the Swedish summer. Maybe that made it warm.

Who made your favorite Lo-Fi-Fnk remix?

The Teenagers remix of "City," it's just so well done! You should check them out if you have missed 'em!

Who is your favorite Swedish artist that nobody knows about yet?

Kocky, The Field and The Embassy if you don't know about those guys.

Tell us was the best show/festival you ever played?

August: It's an impossible question! Don't remember anything of the best gig--they like are in a trance or something.

A lot of people say that Ice Hockey is Sweden's national sport. Do you follow ice hockey? Who is your favorite player? Ours is Markus Naslund.

Hmm, I think that is true. We love world championship and the Olympic Games but just to watch a Swedish hockey-game is boring. Our favourite player is Henrik Zetterberg!!

What did you guys do for Valentine's Day?

Did a gig somewhere I guess. What date was Valentine's Day again?

Do you prefer to DJ or play live sets?

Live. But it's cool to DJ as well, but to be honest, we're not so good DJ's.

The Swedish chef was this character in the Muppets who just talked a bunch of Swedish/English nonsense. Was he totally huge in Sweden? Because we think he is super hilarious and we envision him as a Swedish national hero, bigger than Bergman even.

We have never seen him! But we know he exists at least!