Meet AVAN LAVA: You Need These Guys in Your Life

I went to a Little Boots gig the other week with hungover brains, bleary eyes, and mid-to-low expectations of how much fun I was going to have, no matter how good the show was. Turns out I was wrong. Sandwiched between Austin-based quartet Feathers (girls doing airy, 80s-influenced synth pop) and English disco princess Little Boots, was AVAN LAVA (caps only, partially due to enthusiasm and also because that's just how they write it). Here are eight reasons why AVAN LAVA is awesome:

1. They can sing in tune while jumping around like crazed aerobics instructors.

2. They can sing in tune while jumping around like crazed aerobics instructors doing on point, completely in sync dance routines.

3. They regularly wear matching white outfits made entirely of mesh.

4. Their music is super upbeat, 90s-influenced electro pop with an R&B twist. It's the kind of stuff you think you shouldn't like, but then you see them live and you LOVE IT.

5. They use confetti canons. Constantly.

6. They're not remotely phased when members of the audience jump onstage and mime sex acts on them. They just keep singing.

7. They've written music for campaigns for Nina Ricci, Victor & Rolf, and Mango. So fashion.

8. Singer TC has been known to crowd surf standing upright in a rubber dinghy.

AVAN LAVA perform "It's Never Over" live.

Noisey: I don't know how to say your name. Help please.
Le Chev: Well it's Avahn Lavahhh.

So not Ay-van Lava like I've been telling everyone?
Le Chev: No, but we're totally fine with everyone saying it wrong. We were in Turkey with Fischerspooner—who Ian and I also play with—and there was baklava and I thought that's a sexy, cool name, let's go with something like that. And it looks great when you write it out.

So who or what is AVAN LAVA?
TC: "Who" is us three, plus three others who make up the live show [Andrew Schneider, Drew Citron, and Jo Lampert]. And "what?" AVAN LAVA is a dance, a shameless celebration, and a good time.

Apparently your plan is to be the next Madonna…
TC: Yeah, they said put what you want on the website. So I just said, 'Fine, put that we're the next Madonna."

So if you were as rich and famous as Madge, what would you spend the money on?
TC: We would just become Madonna. And we'd all ride horses on to the stage. There would definitely be horses.
Le Chev: We are the KISS of dance pop music.
TC: We will never make a cent off the live show because we blow literally everything on the show. We're like, "Oh, we should probably get the lasers, we've gotta get the confetti, and we need the CO2 blasters. Everyone's gonna hate it unless we do that!"

How much confetti do you get through per show?
TC: We always get through eight confetti cannons. Eight are always planned, but the more the better.

The way you guys look on stage is pretty great. What's the inspiration there?
TC: We wear lots of white because of the light show. We're also inspired by Janet, Madonna—the pop greats.

What about Gaga, or does she take it too far?
Le Chev: No, we love her, she looks great. Her backing dancers—not so much. Get those jean jackets off them. I'm going to start some beef about that.

So who plans what you wear? Does that all come from you?
TC: Originally it was just based on dressing classic and white, but recently in Chicago, an amazing designer brought us outfits. This is a new, really cool thing that's happening: people starting to make stuff for us.

What if you could have a designer make absolutely whatever you want?
TC: It would be fun if someone could make some tearaway clothes. Like three looks that you could just take off between songs and there's another one underneath.

Like Velcro stripper pants?
Ian: Yes, definitely those. Or like weird stuff that looks normal, but then you blow them up with an air blower and they create crazy shapes. So next designer who wants to make us something: think that!

I have to ask about the mesh you were wearing in the show. Big question: is mesh making a comeback?
TC: Well it breathes well, it's comfortable. Ours was made by these designers in Bali called Lily Jean. Everything they've sent us has been awesome, so for us it's definitely coming back. Plus we look good in mesh.

Is this summer the summer of mesh?
TC: Yes, but you've got to be confident with it. No messing around.

No meshing around?
TC: Exactly.

What's the craziest thing you've ever worn on stage?
TC: Definitely the ballet stuff. We did a Nutcracker theme once for Halloween and we were all in tutus. All of our junk was on show.
Le Chev: My favorite look was actually unintentional. TC broke his leg and still played four shows with a cane, we had a military theme and he looked like a vet with a cane in one hand and a whiskey bottle in the other. He would limp out and kick the cane out like it was his thing. It really worked.

Are you still drinking bottles of whiskey onstage or are you more professional now you're touring?
Ian: We try to drink before the show, but sometimes we just don't have time and we forget which is annoying.
TC: Actually Lovefoxxx from CSS used to live here [in NY], and she was telling me how she stopped drinking before shows, which inspired me. She said, "You have more fun and you're actually more drunk, if you're not drunk." I didn't know what she was talking about, but it was coming from her so I guess it made sense.

And what's the big goal for AVAN LAVA?
TC: To work with Richard Branson where we're the attraction on the moon: when you arrive we're playing.

Like a cruise band, but on a spaceship?
TC: Yes, that's our dream. To be a space cruise band. Actually it's weird to think about how you'd have sex in space. Has anyone ever had sex in space? It's probably dangerous. So many things I need to talk to Richard about actually. We're gonna sit and have salads together and talk.

AVAN LAVA's Tour Dates:

06.07 – Washington D.C. – Wonder Bread Factory
06.10 – New York, NY – Webster Hall +
08.01 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *

+ w/ The Drums
* w/ Body Language

Georgie has already ordered a pair of white mesh pants. She hosts her own show, Pop Goes the Future, on EVR every Friday at noon. She's on Twitter - @GeorgieOkell.

Style Stage is an ongoing partnership between Noisey & Garnier Fructis celebrating music, hair, and style.