Gameranx Interviews Two Tribes: Courtney Fortune and Alex Nahai

Who are Two Tribes? Well, they're an electro/synthpop duo that combines the style of DJ/producer Alex Nahai and the smokey vocals of of Seattle-based singer/songwriter Courtney Fortune. They're currently at work on their first album.

Their single "Madly" will be featured as an exclusive game on Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz for the Xbox Live this year, and is a part of the Rock Band Relief charity campaign.

We got together with them to talk about how they were founded, their work on Rock Band, and what their plans are for the future.

You can listen to one of their songs, Manhattan Lights, at the end of the review. 

It's not that easy finding things about you. Tell me something about yourselves. Where do you come from, and how did you meet. How did Two Tribes become a thing?

Alex: I was born and raised in Los Angeles and Courtney hails from Seattle. She and I met while studying music industry at the University of Southern California, I had just come back to LA after having lived in New York for two years. We had both heard about each other because of our previous work.

Courtney, mostly as a jazz/pop artist, and me being in electronic music. She had heard some of the remixes I had done with my old electro group, Eurotrash, and we decided it would be really cool for us to work together. So I went over to her place one night and we just started messing around for a few hours and cranked something out. And to be honest, I wasn’t so sure about the way it turned out. But Courtney called me up about a week later and let me know that the demo had gone to #1 on thesixtyone.com and I guess thats when we decided to really make a go of it. We've just been working, perfecting our sound, ever since.

Courtney: I think over time we’ve really connected on our dream vision for Two Tribes. I’ve always been more of a crossover singer/songwriter and once we really dug in and started developing the writing, it was incredible how quickly it evolved. Alex and I have a very different sound on our own, but Two Tribes is a true collaboration of the two. Whether the first demo was rough or not, I think people could really hear the potential.

So, Two Tribes. Let me guess here, your band name is a reference to the Franky goes to Hollywood song, right? Or is that a homage to the funk-metal crossover band from the early 90s? Judging by your music, I'd bet on the former, but you never know.

Alex: Haha actually it’s neither, even though I wish I could say we were named after a Frankie Goes to Hollywood song. Its one of the hardest things to do, because that's your message, your image, your brand. Courtney just texted me one day "how bout 'Two Tribes'" and it just felt right.

Courtney: I just thought it worked for us because we come from two very different backgrounds musically, our music is like a combo of two totally different influences. But c’mon, that Frankie song is a great one.

What are your musical influences? And where do you come from, musically? What is your background?

Courtney: I grew up as an obsessive jazz geek, that was my whole musical education, singing in jazz clubs, listening to old recordings of Sarah Vaughn and Bill Evans, Itzhak Perlman - it wasn’t really until I moved to LA that I became more fascinated with pop music. And I think it all feeds into our sound because it’s kind of in our blood. I love The Cardigans, Neko Case, Telepopmusik, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Cornelius, I’m inspired by so much.

Alex: Oh man...that's a tough question. To be honest, I think we are influenced in some way, really by every piece of music we hear. But Courtney and I definitely come from much more classic musical backgrounds than anything else. My favorite bands are the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, etc. And, to be honest, I think that is what sets Two Tribes apart as a band, I feel like so many recording artists these days have absolutely no musical pedigree, they have no real connection as far as their influences to concepts like songwriting, performing and reinventing oneself as an artist. Courtney and I know that because we have spent so much time studying the greatest songwriters across so many genres that we will always be able to write songs that tons of people can really feel.

Is there anything you'd like to achieve with your music, transport a message, make the world a better place? Tell me something about the music of Two Tribes and what drives you when writing songs and making music.

Alex: Honestly, when we are writing, I think the only thing we really thing about is what sounds good to us. I think that setting out to achieve a certain goal with a song usually leads to writing something that isn’t so honest. But we are an extremely ambitious band, with big dreams. Stadium-type dreams. And I think we know how to get there.

Courtney: We’re setting out to make music that we’re into and connect with as many people as we can through our songs. We’re getting our live show together right now in collaboration with some really cool technology and multi-media artists, we’re working with Rock Band and Rock Band Blitz which has been an incredible opportunity. These kind of off-the-grid experiences for ourselves and our fans is exactly what drives us.

You're quite late to the big Rock Band party. The big time of the music / rythm game genre seems to be passe already. None the less, what do you think about that, as musicians? Do you think that games like this are good because they let people have a good time with (your) music, or are you more critical of those games, since people might be better off learning to play real music instead of this?

Alex: That is such a great question. I really think that video games like Rock Band are a great thing, and I really hope more and more of them come out. I think today's music consumer is so removed from the music itself that games like this can be a really good way to restore people's connection with music. For most people, music is just something you put on in the background while you're doing your work. I honestly cannot think of that many people who just listen to music for the sake of listening to it. If games like this can get people excited about music, than that excitement will lead them to wanting to pick up an instrument and write songs.

I had the opportunity to produce and co-write and album with Elena Siegman, who is huge in the video game community because of her vocal work on Call of Duty. And I learned through that experience that gamers are actually extremely sophisticated and loyal music fans, and I am really grateful for the opportunity to be able to interact with some of those fans.

Since this is a video game site, I'm obligated to ask. Do you play video games? And if so, which are your favorites.

Alex: I love video games...but I am the worst video game player of all time. I am always the first to die in any type of shoot 'em up game. But I am soccer fanatic, so I would have to say that my favorite video game is probably FIFA Soccer 12.