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Standout Track: No. 1, “Sneaks,” the A-side of the debut single by D.C. sextet Coup Sauvage and the Snips. The surname-sharing Maegan (beats), Jason (keyboards), Elizabeth (bass), Kristina (voice), and Crysta and Rain (background vox, aka the Snips) pull from ’70s disco, early ’80s electro-boogie, and ’90s Eurodance for an instant pop classic with some bite. “This song is about a lady who seems like she’s gonna be as chill and supportive as a pair of shell toes, but surprise!” Sauvages write in an email. “She ends up leaving you feeling like you walked cobblestone streets in stilettos. Watch out!”
Musical Motivation: “Sneaks” is witty takedown of wolves in sheep’s clothing, but its inspiration comes from a more benign place. “This song is based on the classic [1991] commercial for Easy Spirit shoes, with its theme of things not always being what they seem,” the group writes. Playing on the “looks like a pump, feels like a sneaker” motif came from Elizabeth, but the whole group is behind the sentiment. “[We] are big believers in supporting other women, but we are also big believers in the saying, ‘Don’t say sister if you mean asshole.’”
Unhinged Retro: Despite forming in April 2011, Coup Sauvage sounds like it time traveled from a 1982 regional dance TV show. “We live and breathe these ‘vintage’ artists,” the group writes, citing the showmanship of disco stars Boney M. in particular. “What’s so great about them, and some of the early disco artists, is that they are a little unhinged. Who doesn’t want to watch that?”
Coup Sauvage and the Snips play Comet Ping Pong Feb. 5. Watch the video for “Sneaks” after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA1G-gc5T6k