Party Rockin' with Grammy Nominees LMFAO!

“We LMFAO, rock the beat and rock the show!” the Los Angeles based Electro Hip-Hop duo LMFAO belts out on the opening track of their July 2009 debut album “Party Rock”. Party Rock isn’t just the name of their album; it’s the name of the LMFAO clothing line, and the title of their headlining tour. “Party Rock” also represents the LMFAO overall lifestyle.

LMFAO combines the talents of DJ/rappers Redfoo and his nephew Sky Blu. Foo is actually the son of legendary founder of Motown, Berry Gordy. The duo made a name for themselves in Hollywood as DJ’s and producers, doing remixes for Kanye West, Katy Perry, Fergie, Black Eyed Peas, and many more. When Foo and Sky decided to put out a mix of their own, it started a movement that has captured the attention of old- and new-school music lovers alike. LMFAO is recognized most for their chart-topping single, “I’m in Miami Trick”.

Social The Magazine caught up with RedFoo and LMFAO publicist Elle Galerman while they were in Portland, OR at the beginning of their national tour.

SM: It’s great to see the LMFAO style and groove finally gain some mainstream awareness. Congrats on the tour. You were just in Hollywood, your hometown. What was that like?

Foo: It was amazing ‘cause it was in our hometown and our first 2 shows were practice for that show. But we were so excited, me and Sky, to be in our hometown with all our family there and selling it out. I think they had to ask for another 600 people permit for that show.

SM: Is this your first “bus” tour? What kind of entourage do you have?

Foo: We have the DJ, DJ Air. We got Paparazzi Pete who’s the cameraman but now he jumps on stage and plays keys, Elle, our in-house publicist. We have Q, the dancer, Nikole, the new Polka-dot bikinigirl, tech people, lighting, security…all in the same bus. It’s full, but we’re having a blast.

SM: Elle, how did you hook up with LMFAOand become a part of the Party Rock crew?

Elle: I moved to LA from New York prior to getting on the bus. As far as my role with LMFAO, I’m the PR girl. Foo named me the LMFAO in-house publicist, but I wear a lot of different hats. I’m their writer and write everything from material for our clothing line’s press kit to our tour blog. Foo’s mom says I’m like the Almost Famous journalist, but inside. I also help out with contests, stuff at shows, do some media relations, act as a sort of fan liaison, etc. I’m really living the dream–we all are. It’s like the song “Yes.” We are seeing our dream everyday on the road.

SM: Speaking of the song “Yes”, we posed a question to our Twitter followers and chose the following from Social the Magazine reader, Jessica Dunn. Jessica asks: Would you say you are living the dream as you describe in the song, Yes”?

Foo: That’s so funny because I just talked to Paparazzi Pete about this…I said I think we need to build our own house. We’re getting close, but we aren’t there 100%. We’re well in line…you know it’s like climbing a mountain. I feel like we’re halfway up the mountain and the top is getting near, but we have a ways to go to get to our dream, and will that dream ever be fulfilled? It will probably continue to grow.

SM: What can we expect in the future from LMFAO? More tours, new music?

Foo: We keep dreaming and updating and something I’ve been saying a lot is that the clothing represents a lifestyle. I really want a store in every major city around the world because everywhere we go, people are asking if we have a store. I’d like to model it after the Apple store, make it an interactive experience. Creatively we are going to start working on the next album….but we’re also slated to go on the Black Eyed Peas tour in the states in the middle of February, and that’s a 2 month tour, so we have a lot in the making. Everything we’re doing on this tour is for something else. For instance, when we sound check, that’s like our practice. We’re constantly building. We want LMFAO to be an experience. It’s a huge project, but it’s something we want to do. I see this as an act, like a circus.

SM: I know everyone in music hopes for the level of success you guys are enjoying right now, but did you really expect it?

Foo: We really wanted this. Our goal was to be the biggest band in the world. We want to do what we do to be the biggest. We want to wear our clothes and be us, and give 100%. So yeah, we did expect this.

SM: I know there’s an LMFAO social networking site, which is an interactive experience with your fans. Tell me about Party Rock People.

Foo: Yeah, we’ve got www.partyrockpeople.com that all our fans should join. We post our status which links to Twitter, party pics, tour info, we have contests, etc. It’s just like a party over there. Every night we take pictures of the show and we post those pretty much daily. Also, you can find the clothing line and Party Rock gear at www.partyrocklife.com.

SM: Thanks so much, guys. We look forward to seeing you in the Carolinas next month. I’ll be there, in my Party Rock gear, of course!

LMFAO is currently on their first nationwide US tour supporting their debut release “Party Rock”, along with Schwayze & special guests Far East Movement, Paradiso Girls, Space Cowboy (Lady Gaga’s DJ) and DJ sets by Million $ Mano. You can catch them live at The Fillmore in Charlotte, NC on December 10, 2009 and at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC on Friday, December 11, 2009. You can be sure I’ll be at both!