The Hundred In The Hands are a Brooklyn duo who not only defy the When Harry met Sally theory (men and women can’t be friends without one of them wanting romance) but are also breaking the band mould with their upbeat, high-tempo tracks set to sweet, yet haunting vocals. While their sound is ultra modern-pop oozing multi-rhythmic notes, their look is retro-chic with male half, Jason Friedman, pulling off a 70s Lennon-esque vibe and Eleanore Everdell, projecting sexy glam reminiscent of Jane Birkin. Young, cool and good-looking, yet relatively unknown. Is their shunning of the paparazzi light a marketing ploy to focus solely on their music or extreme shyness? Who knows, and who really cares when their first musical offspring Dressed in Dresden was a huge success. A debut single offering a delectable banquet for the ears with angular guitars, a cyclic bass and a twee chorus. The B-side, Undressed in Dresden, is a reworked version by the renowned Jacques Renault who twists and tweeks to disco-electric effect. It’s no wonder they’ve been snapped up by Warp Records. Here is all you need to know about THITH…

Dazed Digital: What allured you to the music biz?
Jason Friedman: I was a typical crate-digging indie-punk kid while Eleanore grew up singing into a brush along to Cindy Lauper…
Eleanore Everdell: No I didn’t… it was Irene Cara actually. I also danced around my kitchen every time the radio blasted out Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark.

DD: That’s a beautiful insight into your life Eleanore. Now that you’re part of the so-called “scene” have you gone all nonchalant about it?
JF: No way, we still get excited about the idea of seeing our music on a record. We want to make music and get the best chance to be heard by as many people as possible.

DD: Jason, you recruited Eleanore for your band The Boggs why decide to branch off as a duo?
JF: Not long after she joined we got thinking about working together and building something that could develop.

DD: What, like a relationship…?
JF: Yes, but a professional one. We bring things to the table that the other wouldn’t.

DD: Surely there must be the occasional spouts?
EE: We’re both used to being in charge so at times we’ll think of the other as just an unruly and uncontrollable bit of our own brain and it’s a fiery process guaranteed to dissolve into bickering before we get to where we want to be.

DD: Your sound has been described as disco-punk and electro-rock. How would you describe it?
JF: Dancey but not full out dance music. There’s a confrontation between the noisy live guitars, the stoically sweet sound of Eleanore’s voice and the austere electronic elements.

DD: That’s all very poetic but not much help. What would you name it?
EE: Summertime-Gothic.

DD: How do you keep your energy raw when surrounded by so much New York talent?
EE: Other great artists challenge us to do better. The bar is constantly raised and you’re always made to work hard and prove you’re good enough.
JF: I lived in Berlin for a few years and found the city to have a very different kind of energy. The bar is set really low there and as a result a lot of bands react lazily. That’s not possible in New York, you need the challenge of a place like this.

DD: How does your music reflect your personalities?
JF: The 60s pop charm in our music is perfectly in line with Eleanore’s personality. I like things loud and a bit abrasive. We just need each other’s help crossing over.

DD: From which fountain do you source your inspiration: real-life or fantasy?
JF: Mostly real-life with bits of fiction. I used to work as a walking tour guide in Berlin and that history definitely played a roll in our debut single, Dressed In Dresden. There are also many stories about the teenagers in Berlin having sex in the bunkers while the bombs fell. That kind of hedonistic response to an apocalyptic reality seems really telling about human nature.

DD: How are you finding your fans?
EE: Any interaction with total strangers is a little weird and awkward. How could it not be? But that direct connection with people is the most genuine and rewarding kind of affirmation of what you’re doing as an artist.

DD: What has been the hardest part of your musical journey?
EE: Nothing about it is easy and it never really gets that much better. The “industry” is the hardest part of the whole affair, especially for us sensitive artist types.

DD: Future plans?
JF: Writing, gigging, writing, touring and writing. We’ve an EP due out in spring with a full-length to follow later in the year.