photo by Brandon Sparling
Finesse & Runway
The Miami duo talks about stuff that gets their juices flowing
By Amber Drea
Published: March 11th, 2005 | 2:15pm
With spunky vocals, catchy songs, and a female member, Finesse & Runway aren’t exactly the kind of band Miami-based label Schematic usually puts out. Though they may come across as another gimmicky electro act, Melba Libia and Dino Felipe (Finesse and Runway, respectively) make some serious electronic music. But it didn’t begin that way.
The longtime friends started their first band together in junior high school. Initially, Libia wanted to be a drummer, but her mother thought drums were for boys. “Then when I found out [Dino] played drums, I was like, ‘Awesome! I’m wanna play guitar!’” she says.
With her rambunctious personality and ear for melody, it’s surprising to learn that Libia was almost deaf as a child, which caused her to be held back in kindergarten because she didn’t talk. When the doctors discovered her hearing problem, she got an operation, and 20 years later, it’s apparent that Libia has recovered, socially and musically. “I’m not a quiet little girl anymore,” she says. “No, no, no.”
Post high school, the two friends were separated for six years, during which Felipe moved to Georgia and discovered samplers while Libia, who was married at the time, stopped playing music at all. Upon Felipe’s return in 2002, the duo reunited and created alter egos Finesse & Runway. Their booty bass-influenced IDM at times references Madonna and Exposé and at other times sounds dark, dissonant, and distorted. But it’s always fun, with dueling vocals and sexy lyrics like “Running all around me / All I see is boys / Boys in the locker room / Bubbles sliding down their thighs, yeah.” In Miami, Finesse & Runway are known for their intense live shows, enhanced with the use of make-up, wigs, outrageous clothes, and a mysterious black liquid that spews out of their mouths.
Movies
Dino Felipe: Probably A Christmas Story because it was on last night.
Melba Libia: Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind.
Boob tube
DF: I used to like The Anna Nicole Show, but I don’t watch that anymore. I saw the new ones of her skinny now but still slurring. But other than that I try to avoid TV.
ML: Roseanne. He wanted me to say Laguna Beach! (laughs)
Mags
DF: I just saw this magazine yesterday called Stay Free [stayfreemagazine.org]. They were talking about the dyes in stuff, like Blue No. 7 and how toxic they are. But I love Adbusters.
ML:There’s not really a magazine that I read. It’s usually when I’m sitting down in the bathroom. The magazine that’s right there in front. Male porn. Is that what you want me to say?
Reads
DF: I haven’t read in almost 10 years. Because I read all of William Burroughs’ books and I was, like, how can I read anything else? The last one I’ve been reading is The Tibetan Book Of the Dead.
ML: I was reading Word Virus: [The William S. Burroughs Reader]. I don’t really read that many books, but I got interested in that one.
Listens
DF: Right now, mostly Jamie Lidell’s live recordings. And before that Niobe from Sonig. It’s just like the past and the future mixed together.
ML: Basically Jamie Lidell. I come here [to Dino’s] a lot.
Eats
ML: We really don’t go out to eat.
DF: I like to cook, but I usually make different kinds and variations of pasta. I just like [pasta] a lot.
ML: I like tofu. I’m a pescatarian. I love salmon.
Hobbies
DF: Drawing, that’s what I like to do mostly.
ML: I like dancing a lot. When I was little, I used to spend hours dancing in front of the radio.
Hangouts
ML: Here. I work and then I come over here.
DF: We don’t like to go out a lot.
Shops
ML: Oh my god, Goodwill.
DF: Salvation Army. I’ve been wearing the same clothes since I was 14.
Browses
DF: I just check CD order sites to see if there’s new stuff mostly. Forcedexposure.com usually carries most of the stuff I like, to a degree.
ML: Myspace.com. I don’t really go online a lot.
To hear Finesse & Runway’s music, go to myspace.com/finesseandrunway.
Issue #25
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