Home Video
Putting together art and music is powerful alchemy. It's like sorcery capable of setting a scene and sound that transforms those who experience it. That is the dynamism of Brooklyn's Home Video, an electro rock duo of former art classmates David Gross and Collin Ruffino.
Meeting in high school, the goth-clad Ruffino introduced Gross, a classically trained pianist, to the dark side that was Nine Inch Nails, the Cure and Massive Attack. After time in college studying music, film and philosophy they met up in Brooklyn and drew upon their solicitude in the new city to create their first music together.
After two EPs and a tour supporting Blonde Redhead they released 2006's No Certain Night or Morning, their first full-length album. Its musical paintings are darkly cinematic and infused with style while their live shows have visual projections that would make their former art teacher proud.
No Certain Night or Morning
Answers by David and Collin
How did you approach your Rock The Rabbit T-Shirt Design? David: Our design features a Polaroid photo of the bunny logo on a wall. We feel like we have some sort of connection to Polaroid, the company, because their product line helps people capture moments of their lives. For example: the Polavision an early consumer video/film camera.
Do you have a favorite article of clothing?
David: No I hate my clothes.
Collin: I have a stripey tie that I love. Otherwise, I hate mine as well.
Where did you pick up ideas about style and design? Is it related at all to your music? Collin: We went to high school together and took art class and art history together. The teacher we had was an amazing painter. He had a lot to do with our mutual ideas of style and design. We tend to focus on the darker side of life, which comes out in our music as well as our style.
Do you have a favorite musician whose style you really like? Has that musician influenced your style? Collin: The Cure created a cool dark look. There was something cool about Billy Corgan's "Zero" shirt and silver pants phase. I don't think we are very influenced by bands when it comes to style. I take my cues more from movies.
What does Playboy mean to you? When do you recall discovering Playboy? David: I remember hanging out with some friends in my back yard when I was about seven years-old. One of them asked me if I had ever seen a Playboy, and I said I had, that we got them regularly at the house, thinking that Playboy was the name of the kid's toy catalog my mom ordered stuff from.
Beatles or Stones?
David: Neither.
Collin: Nino Rota or Ennio Morricone?
Were there bands you heard at a certain point in your lives that made a huge difference in how you thought about music?
David: Definitely, for me, it all hit my senior year of high school, taking me from the classical realm into the pop realm with albums like OK Computer, Mezzanine, and Dummy.
Collin: Smashing Pumpkins really helped me survive early adolescence, as did Nine Inch Nails. Boards of Canada, Brian Eno and The Cocteau Twins, later, really blew my mind in a more sublime way.
Who put on the best live show you ever saw, and why was it so good? David: Massive Attack live at the Avalon in Boston on their Mezzanine tour. I was a freshman in college, and I went to the show without a ticket. When I got there the show was totally sold out and they had not yet opened the doors. As I walked along the line a stranger waved me over. He said he had won tickets on the radio and had an extra. I asked how much he wanted for it and he said nothing. I objected, but he would not take any money. And then the show was unbelievable.
Do you guys have a pre-game ritual or a superstition before or during shows? David: We try to drink several bourbons quickly before going on stage.
What was the best show you ever played? Why? What makes a good show from your perspective? David: I would say playing Toronto with Blonde Redhead. It was a beautiful venue and we had an amazing crowd. For us to have a great time performing we need really good sound on stage, otherwise it's frustrating no matter how supportive the audience is.
At what point do you know a song is good? Do you ever have an idea you just know is going to kill on the dance floor or live or whatever? David: Yeah that's the good part of making music, when you realize what you're working on is good and it motivates you to finish it. I know when it's happening because I'll turn the headphones louder and louder while I'm playing it back and it still won't be loud enough.
What's the most exciting thing you've done in the past year as a result of your music career? David: We just recently had a great time on our first Australian tour.
What's your favorite place on earth? Collin: Paris.
Best song you've been listening to lately?
David: "Ankle Injuries" by Fujiya & Miyagi
Collin: "Looking from a Hilltop" by Section 25
Favorite new band?
David: Not that new, but new to us: Mew
Collin: Also, Hot Chip and The Knife
Favorite driving album? Collin: Mezzanine by Massive Attack
Favorite bedroom album? David: Bjork's Vespertine
Do you think the album format is dead? David: Sometimes, but then an amazing album will come out that you have to listen to from start to finish. That's rare though.
How have the technology boom and the internet affected the way you approach promoting your music? David: At first we were reluctant to put a MySpace profile up, but now that we have I wish we had done it sooner. Aside from that, we made a stop motion video for the opening song off of our album and posted it on YouTube. And we have our own site.
