The Big Interview Kid Sister Bling out sister aturday night is kicking off in a chichi London hotel lobby, and a hen party has gathered in a squealing flurry of feathers and cocktails in one corner, but Melissa Young, aka Chicago rap whirlwind Kid Sister, is the loudest personality in the place. There are a lot of divas who are manufactured in a boardroom I am, like, the diametrically opposed, polar opposite of that, she declares. She whips out her mobile phone and shows me photos taken from her transatlantic flight earlier; in them, shes clearing US security wearing a spangled bathing costume (actually the outfit from her TV appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon). Due to her hard-core schedule, she hasnt yet removed her glittery eyeliner from the night before. Conjunctivitis is so not a good look, she frets. Until now, Kid Sister has been best known as a guest artist or protge; Kanye Wests contribution to her 2007 track Pro Nails raised her profile, and last year her breathy chatterbox vocals appeared on club hit Beeper with British duo The Count & Sinden. More recently, shes recorded with fellow Chicagoans Felix Da Housecat and Green Velvet, but her latest single, Right Hand Hi, and debut album, Ultraviolet (featuring Estelle, Cee-Lo and dubstep artist Rusko), really establish her character and transatlantic connections. I work hard but dont take myself too seriously. Indeed, the everyday references in her music (nail bars, house parties) make a refreshing contrast to the luxury aspirations of mainstream rap. Oh my God, if I hear one more song about gold chains, Ill go crazy! she exclaims. I like fancy things, but I wanted to showcase what makes my world go round and to be at the forefront of this new movement blending electronica and hip-hop. Artists like Black Eyed Peas are dipping their toes in the pool, but I jumped right in ever since S I came out with Pro Nails. As the lyrics of Pro Nails dictate, shes currently flaunting toenails painted in pristine two-tone, with her fingernails matching. These took four hours, she says, waggling her digits. Damn, Ive painted myself into a corner with that song now I have to manicure all the time. Kid Sisters punchy charisma and funky samples actually recall the first wave of female rap artists such as Roxanne Shante and MC Lyte; she had originally planned to cover a Queen Latifah track on Ultraviolet, yet she baulks at any retro suggestion: I hate the 1980s, she says. I only listened to classical music until I was 11 years old, then I discovered pop and house I come from a city that has such a rich tapestry of dance flavours. If shes so retro-phobic, how come her new track, Big N Bad, brilliantly samples Yazoos 1982 hit, Dont Go? Its actually the songs verse that fires me up, she grins. That bassline just reaches out and bitch-slaps you; its like being in a fight. You could put Kid Sisters high drama attitude down to her early experience in theatre and film school. I think about my music in terms of flamboyant production, she says. But my goal is to bring people together who might not hang out in normal circumstances I know that sounds cheesy, but when I see gay club guys, techno weirdos and young suburban kids at my shows, its a beautiful thing. If I was not a rapper, I would absolutely be a sociology professor. It might not be sociology but there is an entertainingly weird science at play Kid Sister is definitely in the house. Right Hand Hi (Downtown/WEA) is out Monday Damn, Ive painted myself into a corner with that song now I have to manicure all the time Kid Sister, whose debut LP has just been released, tells Arwa Haider why its nail bars and house parties that inspire her Storm From The Windy City Some of Chicagos recent musical movers and shakers Arctic Monkeys In Town Tonight Dont be thrown by the way Alex Turners voice has broken into a smooth croon on third album Humbug; it still exudes indie pheromones and rich observational detail Tonight, The O2, East Link Bridge, North Wall Quay D1, 8pm, 42.20. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.arcticmonkeys.com Dennis ODriscoll To celebrate the Edvard Munch exhibition at the National Gallery, Dennis ODriscoll and Norwegian poet Knut degrd will read from their work Tonight, National Gallery, Merrion Square West D2, 6.30pm, free. Tel: (01) 661 5133. www.nationalgallery.ie metro Arts & Entertainment life Book Now Abba The Show 14 metrolife Thursday, November 26, 2009 Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Stylishly playful and highly influential late-1960s avant-garde jazz outfit, originally featuring one-time husband-and-wife team trumpeter Lester Bowie and sublime vocalist Fontella Bass. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: This funky horn-playing band of brothers are the sons of virtuoso trumpeter Phil Cohran. Their self- titled 2009 album is worth checking but as their Electric Picnic performance this year proved theyre also a blast on the live festival scene, where their sets include brassy house music meltdowns. Frankie Knuckles: The famous godfather of house and gay icon was resident DJ at Chicagos 1980s Warehouse venue (where fellow Chicagoans Ron Hardy and Marshall Jefferson also played) and honed the soulful house music sound that revolutionised the world. Knuckles remains the DJ most likely to make grown clubbers cry. Steve Albini: Moody alternative rock star, who founded Chicagos Electric Audio studios, and who has worked on the production of numerous records including Pixies, Nirvana, PJ Harvey and The Jesus Lizard. Albinis own bands have included Shellac and the contentiously named Rapeman (which apparently namechecks a Japanese manga comic). Green Velvet: Crazy- haired club maverick Curtis Jones, aka Cajmere (pictured), specialises in urgently catchy and surreal electro-house tracks. Most recently, he has collaborated with Kid Given chances of the Swedish foursome reforming are somewhere been slim and none, we should be grateful Abba The Show is heading to Dublin. It follows the Abba story from the bands humble Eurovision beginnings to chart-topping success and relationship meltdowns, with a slew of chart- topping hits along the way Dec 7, The O2, North Wall Quay D1, 7.30pm, 42.50 to 45. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.abba-the-show.com The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have four pairs of tickets to see ABBA THE SHOW at The O2, Dec 7, 7.30pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the simple question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With the answer, please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Entrants must be over 18. Strictly one entry per person. Q. Complete the line from The Abba hit: Like a... A. Rolling Stone B. Super Trouper index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html