Introducing: Le Corps Mince de Françoise

The Finnish duo featuring sisters Emma & Mia Kemppainen (and a friend) are making waves across Europe with their fun style of pop. Think of a Scandinavian New Young Pony Club but much much better.

Describe your sound?
We make fresh edgy pop hooks. We experiment a lot with sounds and beats. We’ve been very inspired by the 90s lately (stuff like the Orb, Neneh Cherry, Happy Mondays), but also modern bands [like] Metronomy and Late of the Pier have played a part in our sound.

For the uninitiated and non-French speakers, what does your name translate as?
LCMDF stands for Le Corps Mince de Françoise, which stands for “The Skinny Body of Francoise” in English. There’s many stories moving around about that name, and we’d like to keep it that way.

How does your relationship as sisters affect the way you work together? Who makes the decisions?
We’re like in a symbiosis, we’ve grown up together, we hang out, we work together night and day. I think it’s the sisterhood that actually makes it possible, it’s such a unique relationship. We only have two years between us, so we have always been quite equal. Emma’s the older one, so obviously she runs ahead in the decision making, but it’s all built on trust and the similar taste in style. I always know she gets it right.

What is it like in Finland for emerging bands? Is there a movement you feel a part of?
The finnish music scene is very very small. There’s a lot of talent and creativity there, but not really that much ambition, which is a shame.

When we started out I [felt] we were doing something totally new and fresh, something totally unseen before in Finland. Therefore there wasn’t really any competition, but I have to say that the reception was anything than low key, people either hated us or loved us, and they weren’t holding back with their opinions. Now there’s a lot of new bands emerging from Helsinki, trying to push abroad without [a] label like we did in the beginning. A lot has happened in the past 4 years. I certainly feel that we started something.

You’re now signed to Heavenly, played a sold out show in Helsinki, and have been picked up on by press worldwide. Have you been surprised by the early enthusiasm?
I hadn’t even finished school yet, and suddenly I was on the cover of all the biggest Finnish music and lifestyle magazines. It totally went over our expectations back then. But it always took a lot of hard work, and you start to understand the consequences of your actions.. Success doesn’t happen on its own.

What are you looking forward to this year, and what are your plans for the future?
The Album “LOVE & NATURE” is out in february, so we’re very exited to just get it out there, share it with the world. We are also looking forward to taking the new [album] live on the road, play as much gigs as possible and reach as many people as possible with our music. So next year is hopefully gonna be a lot of travel, and also getting started on the second album…

Le Corps Mince de Françoise debut album ‘Love & Nature’ is out February 21st.

Words: Lizzie Simner
http://www.myspace.com/lecorpsmincedefrancoise