It takes two Issue #39

VZ asks the ladies behind Brooklyn’s Telepathe to list their top five duets

By Katerina Herodotou
Published: March 1st, 2009 | 3:57pm

Melissa Livaudais and Busy Gagnes are the two women at the core of Telepathe, a genre-evading avant-creature that is constantly morphing, expanding with additional members, or contracting to exude sparse spiritual sounds. Telepathe’s music exists in a synthesizer whirlpool, reaching spiritual highs with dirty-south drum machines and earthly rhythms. Their entrancing shared vocals, showcased expertly on the band’s new record Dance Mother, inspired us to ask them about their favorite duets; both real and imagined.

Ying Yang Twins, “Wait (The Whisper Song)”
“We love their “whispering” song, those tuned toms sound so good.”

David Bowie and Freddy Mercury, “Under Pressure”
“Two of our favorite male singers!”

Method Man and Mary J. Blige, “You’re All I Need”
“Tight, emo love for real-type shit.”

Ghostface and Missy Elliot, “Tush”
“All about F*^%#ing. No wasting time with this joint, and I know that it’s a minute old, but it’s perfect!”

Suicide, the entirety of Suicide
“Alan Vega’s ranting vocals, Martin Revs beautiful keyboard melodies — amazing combination. Love how they played with the idea of being a band, their performances pissed off their audiences. I got to see them live once.”

Dream Duet: Lil Wayne and Kate Bush.
“Someone should sample Kate Bush’s opening vocals in the beginning of ‘This Women’s Work.’ It has a really emo, hip-hop vibe, put a sick MPC beat on top of it, and have Weezy F. Baby freestyle over it. That counts right?”