Even the heterosexuals in Futon aren't straight!"

Bangkok chick / boy combo Futon met in Rehab... this actually being a club night run by guitarist Bee at the Bed Super Club in Thailand's capital. Now the venue plays host to regular gigs from the rock band it spawned.
But the four-piece, completed by glamorous vocalist Gene, female bassist Oh and ex-Suede drummer Simon, have visited these shores, too garnering much attention from the industry and fans alike.
And it's no surprise really. Describing their sound as a "mind blowing one night stand" and releasing latest single 'Strap It On' through a label called DirtE Records Music News just had to ask Gene...

MN: Are you using sex as a weapon in your musical assault?

Gene: I guess we’re all driven by these mysterious forces of nature called lust. We’re not trying to use it as a weapon or anything, it just comes out, like when you’re having good sex and you are about to come.

MN: But you started singing in temples. How did you end up a total rock sleaze?

Gene: Rock sleaze? Wow, what a compliment! I guess it’s because of the fact I like to move on if I ever get bored of doing something. Singing in the temples was more like a Buddhist-chant actually. Those times gave me some sort of peace of mind but I often fucked up the words because there were so many different episodes of them to remember! Singing in Futon is something completely different and it’s got rules.

MN: What's the chemistry like in the band? Are you an ego to be reckoned with?

Gene: The band has a really comfortable vibe. I love the fact that every time before we play a gig, we would say things like, 'let’s just have fun between us, forget about the crowd!'. That really helps us relax and enjoy whatever comes out. Ego and me don’t get along except that the stage is my little playground.

MN: You all live in Bangkok. How influential is it on your sound?

Gene: I love Bangkok so much and I can’t be away more than two weeks. It has this enormous energy in every corner you happen to be. It’s still very unpredictable for me. Everyday you come across some sort of mental characters or stories that could become sources of ideas and soon become our songs. Bangkok is a like a perfect set up for our music.

MN: What's the music scene like there? Do you fit right in or are you total deviants?

Gene: There’s a lot to offer; a lot to avoid as well. We never really get to fit in though. Not that we’re different or anything, it seems like we’re just doing what we’re doing to enjoy ourselves and let people take it themselves. We still can’t find the definition of our sound.

MN: Are you trying to alienate or entice with your choice of songs and titles: 'Gay Boy (I don't wanna be straight)', 'Strap It On' and The Stooges' 'I Wanna Be Your Dog'?

Gene: Not at all. It depends on how you take it. All the drag queens here love 'Strap It On'. It’s a new trend now to have a strap-on as a party-accessory. No, I’m kidding!

MN: What should be expected from your live shows and when will you be back in the UK?

Gene: I can’t wait to play more shows in the UK. We hope to be back in summer and you can expect sweat, chaos and loads of smiles.

You may expect loads of feathers, too. The band’s most riotous gig to date, attended by Placebo’s Brian Molko, came at the height of the bird flu scare when a pillow fight between two rebellious dancers resulted in a feather-covered audience. Futon responded with a: "no one died, so we weren’t sued and it wasn’t a 'cheap' publicity stunt" but it’s fair to assume they loved the notoriety. Expect more bad behaviour returning to the UK soon.

www.xfuton.com