The Wild Ones

Von Iva's new album showcases the trio's increasingly stripped-down and electronically juiced-up sound.

Calling local dance-punk outfit Von Iva a girl band is a bit like referring to Napoleon as that short French guy. It’s true, but not exactly the point. And while vocalist Jillian Iva (center), keyboardist Becky Kupersmith (left) and drummer Kelly Harris (right) are quick to cop to a weakness for fashion (a Von Iva clothing line is in the works for fall) and confirm their soul sisterhood (with a vocal emphasis on the soul), they’re too busy triggering spontaneous dance frenzies to ponder how gender fits into it. “I’m not gonna get up on stage and bend over and [then say], ‘Hey guys, make sure you read up on the latest in the women’s-lib movement,’” says Iva. “I’ll tell my opinions through my lyrics.” She does exactly that on the group’s new album, Our Own Island (Ruby Tower Records), due out next month. Their first release since the departure of bassist Elizabeth Davis-Simpson, the album showcases the trio’s increasingly stripped-down and electronically juiced-up sound (think Detroit Cobras–meets–Le Tigre–meets-MSTRKRFT). Their brand of must-move-this-moment music is only fully realized live, however. “It’s hard to stay relevant if you just depend on recording,” says Harris. “It’s cool that our band is an intense performance band because that’s the future of music: having something other than your songs.”

See Von Iva (voniva.com) at 12 Galaxies for their record release party on August 4.

Check out our exclusive behind-the-scenes video at the band's photo shoot.

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