I had a chance to correspond with Jimmy from the up and coming electro dance group Pretty Good Dance Moves (PGDM) about the beginnings of his band their ties to Bjorn from Peter Bjorn and John and what’s in store for their future.
We are old friends. Aaron had a ton of old vintage synthesizer and keyboards and actually lived below a recording studio. I picked up a few drum machines and learned how to use them. Together we started making music. I really wanted to get some female vocals on our tracks so I called my friend Genevieve and she brought it.
How did the name “Pretty Good Dance Moves” come about?
We started making music just for kicks and wanted a name that was “Pretty Good”. So we came up with Pretty Good Dance Moves. Originally I think our intentions were to make basement thumping, electro screaming, punk anthems…. It didn’t exactly end up quite there.
Why not name yourselves “Really Good Dance Moves”? Do you feel that there is value in being modest about your fancy footwork?
To be honest i dont think either of us can really dance with out trampling those around us. However, i think… I think… Aaron thinks he is a good dancer.
Your sound is a great combination between beats, pleasing melodies and heartfelt lyrics that’s on par with fine work by artists like Dntel and Sally Shapiro, who inspires you to make beautiful music?
We are huge fans of Kraftwerk, Album Leaf and bands like that. Aaron and I both have a pretty thick collection of deep cuts that we enjoy regularly. I do like Jimmy Tamborello and what he does with Dntel. I watched this youtube clip of him showing off his gear in his home studio, pretty fresh.
Bjorn from PB&J appears on your newest track “Leave Me Alone” how did you get him in on the track? Is it true that he also plays keyboards in the band?
Ha ha, no he does not play keyboards in the band but he has a bunch of his bands gear stashed at my place here in Brooklyn and I did do a little tracking with his Casiotone MT-68. I ended buying one off of eBay for 50 bucks! I met Bjorn a few years back in some basement bar in the east village. We liked each others music i guess, we talked about collaborating together. About 6 months later I sent him some tracks and “Leave Me alone” was cut.
Your video for “Demons Dancing” looks like it was a blast to put together, what was the process of making that video like?
Do you guys get out and DJ at clubs? If so, what’s the most enjoyable aspect of doing that?
We do actually. People pay us to play tunes we like, its amazing! We have DJ’d opening for bands that we dig like Crystal Castles and Raveonettes. It’s definitely a perk, getting to spin at rad clubs.
Your live show on KEXP was compelling with all kinds of electronic and organic (Flute!) eclectic bells and whistles, are you planning a tour anytime soon?
Oh man! I flew in to Chicago a few nights before we did that and we had never performed live before, never even practiced really. The flute was a little joke between all of us, kind of like “lets see if we can pull this off”! Our live set is a lot different now but that was really fun and nerve wrecking! We plan on touring in the near future, we love playing for boys and girls.
