INTERVIEW: H. Kink bask in being hard to pin down
Photo: H. Kink’s new album is called Wish I Were Here. Photo courtesy of the band / Provided by Seth Cohen PR with permission.
The Los Angeles duo H. Kink, made up of Lisa Rieffel and Timm Sharp, are unique to their retro-chic core. Their songs have gathered dedicated fans, and their infectious beats have left people dancing and time traveling.
Their newest album is Wish I Were Here, featuring such songs as “No Whammys,” “No Brainer,” “I’m Nice Like That” and “Hit the Road.” The 12 songs on the recording represent a diverse journey through a motley variety of genres and styles. There’s some rock, some singer-songwriter, some country, some alternative, some pure H. Kink.
A press release defines their sound as art-rock with a theatrical, funhouse lean, and that seems about right.
Rieffel and Sharp are both actors, in addition to their duties with H. Kink. Rieffel’s credits include NCIS, The King of Queens and Women of the House, among others. Sharp is known for Casual, One Mississippi, Threadbare and Blunt Talk.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Rieffel about her career and H. Kink’s latest project. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How would you describe H. Kink to someone looking to check out the band’s music?
H. Kink is a music project, wherein Timm and I express ourselves in whatever way we’re feeling at the moment. I’d probably avoid trying to describe it to someone, because music is like a painting, and it means different stuff to different people. Depends on what song you pick. Some are rhythmic, some have guitars, some are synth, some are country. I’d say ‘check it out, hypothetical person!’
What can fans expect on your debut album, Wish I Were Here?
They can expect 12 quality top-notch songs! Perhaps a music video here and there.
What was the recording process like for this album?
Henson Studios is a haunted place. But it’s a great type of haunted. Wendy & Lisa have a bungalow studio there; they call it The Treehouse, and boy oh boy is that place fantastic. Aside from all the wild equipment there … Prince’s Grammy for Purple Rain was just chilling on the shelf above the couch where we sat during sessions. Just … watching us. Like Elf of the f*ckin’ shelf. And that was about as surreal as it gets.
What’s it like to work with Timm Sharp?
I love Timm so much — we have an undeniable chemistry. He has great taste, he’s super smart, and we are like siblings at this point. We had another band together a million years ago, and it was fun then, too! Also he tells great stories.
When did you first fall in love with music?
As far back as I can remember. I used to lock myself in my aunt’s bathroom in Belleville, New Jersey — and I had this toy machine called ‘Star Studio,’ and it had two places for two different cassettes … one side could play a song from a tape, and the other side would record your voice over the music from the other tape. I would stay down there for hours, just making songs. Not much has changed! I still really enjoy the process of creating songs and putting together the pieces.
What’s the future hold for H. Kink?
Music and love!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
H. Kink’s new album is called Wish I Were Here. Click here for more information.
