Sure, we’re always curious to know about an artist’s upcoming release, most recent tour, or arsenal of analog gear, but XLR8R’s also got a curiosity for quirk. Thus, each week, we email a different artist and find out what makes them tick, in the studio and in life. Today, we discuss salsa (the condiment), an indispensable subwoofer, and current economic recession with the boys of Lemonade.

What are you listening to right now?

Callan Clendedin: Crazi Cousinz, Shackleton, lots of doo-wop and Hawaiian slack-key guitar music.

Alex Pasternak: Kode 9, lots of funky and cumbia nueva.

Ben Stiedel: Omar-S, Omni Trio, Sparklehorse.

What’s the weirdest story you ever heard about yourself?

For some reason people think that we’re ecstasy dealers.

What band did you want to be in when you were 15?

CC: Nation Of Ulysses

AP: Portraits Of Past

BS: Smashing Pumpkins

Worst live show experience?

[At] one of our first shows in New York, we rented a subwoofer and it blew before we even played. The speakers were also blown to hell and couldn’t even handle vocals, let alone the electronics. Our sound was so bad we had to stop our set after one song, which was total crap because a surprisingly large number of people came specifically to see us, including Callan’s ex-girlfriend. That combination bummed him so hard that he may have cried in a parking lot near the venue. To this day, people are occasionally saying to us, “I thought it was sounding pretty cool,” which makes us think that we might have just been babies, or just that they had low expectations.

Favorite city to play in?

San Francisco. They have always “got it” since the first sloppy, chaotic shows.

When you are out on the town, what is your drink of choice?

Spicy Margaritas.

What is your favorite thing you own?

Our Mackie 2”x18″ powered subwoofer. It is huge and takes all three of us to lift, but is essential. It turns a normal room into an extreme bass zone, and has saved many parties. We have carried it down some extremely steep and narrow staircases, to our near peril.

Name one item of clothing you can’t live without.

CC: ’90s Calvin Klein sharkskin bomber jacket

AP: Flip flops

BS: Zubaz, for maximum comfort

You identify your music most closely with which condiment: ketchup, salsa, mustard, relish, or barbeque sauce.

Too easy. Salsa. If we were food, we would be tacos.

What did you always get in trouble for when you were little?

CC: I got away with everything. I was a sneaky genius.

BS: I was a really, really good kid. Never got in trouble.

AP: Not sweeping the deck.

What other artist would you most like to work with?

Kode 9, JME, Father Yod.

What’s the last thing you read?

CC:Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End Of The World by Haruki Murakami.

AP: Letters To A Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke.

BS: The Man In The High Castle by Phillip K. Dick.

Complete this sentence: In the future…

The true faces of our rulers will be revealed, and they might not be human.

Stupidest thing you’ve done in the last 12 months?

This question is too hard because we have done so many stupid things in the last year. Moved to New York during a brutal recession?

What’s next?

2009 will be filled with new Lemonade records, remixes, tours, hopefully a reality TV show. If we can get in touch with the “right people,” an energy drink.

Sunchips – Lemonade

MP3: “Sunchips”

Last Week: Telefon Tel Aviv