MISS KITTIN, THE continental chanteuse of the electro scene, has brought a sassy sexuality to a musical movement better known for being cold and clinical.
With a deadpan vocal delivery over lo-fi electronic beats, the Frenchwoman also known as Caroline Herve emerged as one of the leading lights of the electroclash scene. But although the novelty of a genre that referenced 1980s synth-pop in a modern dance context soon wore off, Herve has carved a niche of her own with an attitude a mile wide, and a catchy selection of minimal, robotic grooves.
After making her mark with releases on Germany's International Deejay Gigolos label, Herve is now on the road showing off her DJ skills. Tomorrow's gig at Volar will be another treat for Hong Kong electro fans, coming a week after an invitation-only appearance by Herve collaborators Chicks on Speed.
Even though she's known mainly for her ice-cool vocals, Herve says she's always considered herself a DJ first and a recording artist second (although she stands out from other DJs by dropping vocals over her tracks).
'I started as a DJ, and even today, it's what I'm best at,' she says. 'I know why I'm here - because I'm good. I'm good because I'm more enthusiastic, focused and concerned with details than most DJs. To me, to be that professional is fun, and to keep it fun is a lot of work and organisation. I don't take drugs, don't f*** around, don't party with promoters. Maybe I'm too serious about it, but it's my business - that's why I'm respected and what I'm paid for.'
And respected she is. With her recording partner, the Hacker (aka Michael Amato), Herve has bucked the trend of electro artists remaining in the shadows and provided the soundtrack to electroclash and beyond with singles such as Frank Sinatra and 1982.
'We met in our local new wave - then techno - club in 1990,' Herve says of Amato. 'When someone asked me to contribute a track for a compilation, he was the only one I knew who had the machines to help me do it. Our relationship is like brother and sister. We're very proud to say we're about the only electronic duo who are not a couple. Our freedom and independence saves us. We can't work together often, because of the distance - he still lives in our French home town, Grenoble, I live in Berlin - and, mostly, we need to miss each other, to have things to tell each other.