Being raised by a classically trained pianist grandmother, who was “homies” with Liberace, cutting her teeth at Italo disco with Giorgio Moroder’s protégé Dave Darling, to invading the Indie 103 airwaves with a Sam Sparro produced dance track, the Love Grenades’ front woman, Elizabeth Wight, is the type of well rounded, uber talented and utterly cool musician type that leaves you wanting more. This month we give you the lowdown stat style…
Name: Lizzzzzz
Born: “LA Ese!!!! What?!”
Night Gig: Love Grenades
Sounds Like: A hot skillet of candy
Looks Like: The love child of Sophia Loren & Jean-Luc Godard
Voted: Most likely to steal your heart…and maybe your wallet
Obsessed With: Gloves & Love
Weakness: Boys
Reminds You Of: A refreshing, dirty, shaken martini after great sex
JNF: You seem to be a downtown kind of girl. You name check the DT in “Young Lovers,” your “Drink & Drive” video was shot at Senor Fish on First Street, and we can often see the Love Grenades performing at La Cita or the Bordello. What’s the scoop on your love affair with downtown?
EW: For the past few years I’ve been a regular at Punky Reggae and Mucho Wednesday at La Cita, and Transistor at Grand Star Jazz Club. The nightlife here is booming and I often end up in these cathartic, drunken and delirious conversations at 4 AM with friends about how we are at the forefront of something very exciting that will be a marker on a timeline in L.A. history. Who knows with the upcoming election and being that we are in a time of war might be telling of something revolutionary in the arts. And somehow I know Los Angeles will play a significant part in it.
JNF: Let’s talk fashion; it’s what we do best. You’ve got such a great stage wardrobe. Do your musical influences have an impact on what you wear?
EW: I think cinema has more of an impact on my style than music does. I grew up watching a lot of old movies with my grandmother and I thought every man was like Ramon Navarro, my uncle’s godfather, and every woman aspired to be Louise Brooks. It was very traumatic to start school and realize I was trapped in a time warp.
JNF: We definitely see very strong fashion statements in your videos. How important do you think making some sort of fashion statement, whether big or small, is for the success of musician?
EW: I don’t necessarily think a fashion statement is important. That’s just superficial. I think your art is your statement and as you become more and more wrapped up in what you create you essentially become a living breathing art form that people will either be fascinated by or not.
JNF: Like your music and videos, your personal look is very stylized. Give us 3 words to describe your look.
EW: Oi Oi Oi! Just kidding…
JNF: Does your stage style differ from your day-to-day wear?
EW: I have been taking a burlesque dance class taught by Lux LaCroix and Vixen Violette so I have been getting more and more into rhinestones and anything shimmery…. I guess I’m more interested in putting on a show now.
JNF: You’ve been quoted as saying that Love Grenades “was founded on the principle of giving the working class girl a voice.” Well, you’ve also succeeded in giving her a new look. How do you feel about being a style icon for your generation?
EW: I’d rather have me as an icon than some anorexic trust fund baby! I accept that crown graciously…I guess I’m pretty self- righteous. Ha Ha.
JNF: I happened upon finding out that you make your own clothes. Have you always been a self-made fashionista?
EW: I started making my own clothes cuz I wasn’t finding in stores what I wanted to wear. I’m shaped like an hourglass and it seems like everything is made for a 12-year-old boy. I like what I got, as all girls should feel no matter what size. Most of the time I like my ideas more than the display window at Macy’s.
JNF: Is there any one piece of clothing that you think no girl or boy should live without?
EW: Gloves and a scarf. Sooooo sexy on men and women.
JNF: If you could raid anyone’s closet – dead or alive – who would it be?
EW: Sophia Loren in the 60’s.
JNF: Let’s say we gave you a substantial sum of money to spend on anything to wear – what would you buy?
EW: If I was feeling selfish I’d say a strand of pearls, a Burberry pea coat and a pair of Prada heels. Honestly though, I’d probably ask you to take that money and donate it to a program to help protect the women of Juarez, Mexico.
JNF: Tell us, what’s next for Love Grenades?
EW: Finish a record to make my grandmother proud, tour Mexico City in November, then take over the world. Nothing too extraordinary…all very feasible.
Pick up a copy of “Accidental Rhythm Compilation,” featuring the Love Grenades, available only at Ron Herman, Urban Outfitters and Hear Music stores, and show your love at www.myspace.com/lovegrenades.
For more on this interview, and our past ones, visit www.citizenla.com or shoot us an email at jones@citizenla.com