10 x 4 Heart Streets

I stumbled over this two-girl band called Heart Streets while scanning the interwebs for new videos for my Videodrome column. The video on the bottom of this page was the first impression I got from these Montreal-based post-rappers, who are dropping hip-hop rhymes topped with some zeitgeisty R&B tunes. They’re self-describing their maneuvers as nothing but “2 girls on the mic doing what we love.” Hearts Streets, who consist of Budapest-born Emma Beko and Montreal-native Gabrielle Godon, are now working on their first proper album release which will be out sometime next year. Now, explore our 10 x 4 with Emma and Gabrielle and you’ll learn that there’s more to Montreal than Grimes, D’Eon and Doldrums.

1. Your most memorable show?
Gab: the first one we ever did as a band is one I’ll always remember. I can still remember the feeling, the stress was so intense.

2. If you were still in high school, which clique would you belong to?
Emma: When I was in high school I belonged to the clique you would more define as “reject” (stoners, skateboarders, etc all belonged) but the thing is we were so many that we were the actual popular clique.

3. What goes in your coffee?
Gab: only milk.
Emma: I don’t drink caffeine.

4. An album that changed the way you thought?
Emma: It changed the way I thought about music, but I was very young still so what I thought hadn’t fully grown: Etta James – Tell Mama

5. What defines your music-making process?
Emma: We try to live adventures as much as we can, because really that’s what then gives us a story or inspiration to write about.

6. Latest find on Soundcloud?
Emma: Russ – Vacation

7. Name three essential artists
Gab: Alicia Keys, Mary j Blidge, Biggie.

8. Indispensable outfit?
Gab: I need heals in my life, that’s all I can say.

9. Raging or chilling out?
Gab: chilling out.

10. Together, or alone?
Gab and Emma: Alone, but together.

Published December 12, 2012. Words by moritz.schmall.