Bloc Party's lead guitarist Russell Lissack and New York City’s singer and songwriter Milena Mepris are the visionary dance-rock project that is Pin me Down. Jasmin Houshmand joined them at their third ever gig at Proud Galleries in Camden, we get to find out a little more...

How did you guys first meet?

Milena: Well, I knew a few people that knew Russell, but I had never met him until Bloc Party toured New York in 2004. I was in another band at the time called Black Moustace. Bloc Party got an opening slot at the same gig as mine and their manager rang me and asked if I could provide an amp and guitar, and I was like sure and I had my pink guitar and Russell had pink in his outfit, so we were bound to talk to each other.

How did you get together as a band?

Milena: We kind of hit it off. He saw my set and I saw his. We started talking about music that we liked. We both liked Smashing Pumpkins, New Order and alot more of the 80’s stuff including Madonna and so we started trading songs, sending records back and forth and one day he had a guitar and started singing, that planted the idea in our heads that we should try make music together.

Where does the name Pin Me Down come from?

Milena: Well, we had a long list. I actually found it the other day. Some of them were funny - had one called kerisells. We were gonna be called that for a while and then one day he was in Europe there was a time difference and we kept missing each other. Then I called him and he texted me back, “Pin me down at 7”. I was like oh my God genius, a light went off in my head, and then I told Russell and he was cool with the name.

You both have solo projects. How do you fit in time to do everything?

Russell: Trying to fit everything in is hard work. But we do alot of stuff through the internet.

Your first single Cryptic is coming out this month, how is it being received so far?

Milena: Everybody hates it. No I’m kidding, umm, its been great. People write us letters on Myspace everyday.

Do you guys get a chance to respond to them?

Milena: I try to. If someone writes us a personal letter, I try write back. I used to write back to everybody, but its getting a little bit much now.

What is Cryptic all about?

Milena: I don’t really like to talk about my lyrics, because when I was a kid I used to read lyrics along with the song, and then I would realise what they were talking about, like oh they were talking about that!! Its me ranting and raving about my dissatisfaction with the celebrity world. I went to a funeral this morning, for real and I wrote a song about it on the way back on the tube.

Tell me a bit more about your writing process?

Russell: I’ll write from home or wherever I am and send her the idea, and then she will listen and we will re-arrange it together.

Milena: I do all the lyrics. Sometimes he’ll send me ideas.

What are your plans for 2008?

Milena: We are looking for a record deal and just putting the finishing touches on our album and trying to find the right home for it. Clearly Russell is very busy with his other band so we’re trying to co-ordinate enough time.

If you had only one item to take on tour, what would it be?

Milena: I have a bunch of stray cats that live in my back yard and I feed them and they are really adorable, but I can’t take them on tour. But I’m not a crazy cat lady!

Who feeds them when your not there?

Milena: There are a couple of people that feed them when I’m not there. We all use the yard. It brightens my day - I have my studio and the cats comes right up to my window.

Russell: It would have to be my laptop so I can write to people. Being away a lot it helps having a computer to stay in contact.

What music are you guys into at the moment?

Russell: Not listening to much. Music is not very good at the moment.

Any new or unsigned bands that you can recommend to the Don’t Panic reader?

Milena: I love the twin sisters Tegan and Sarah. They are really good song writers. They are identical twins, but different kind of writers. I think it's really interesting.

I recommend checking out Pin Me Down's first single, Cryptic hitting iTunes in the UK 19 May, arriving on a 12" on 26 May and dropping on CD on 2 June. There are a few remixes to watch out for including one by Paul "Phones" Epworth.