2004-05 Spin

Kitsch and Tell

If you skipped the beer line and took your seats early for the Strokes' U.S. tour last fal, you might already be aware of precocious singer/ pianist Regina Spektor. Perhaps you've turned over the Strokes' last sin- gle "Reptilia" and heard Spektor's duet with Julian Casablancas on the art-wavey B-side "Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men." (It's probably a CD, so don't realy turn it over, okay? It totally won't play.) After watching Spektor perform the smart, minimalist story-songs "Poor Litle Rich Boy" and "Your Honor" from her indie album Soviet Kitsch in a tiny Lower East Side club, Casablancas was smiten and invited her on the road. But you probably know nothing about Spektor aside from her connection (one that is also rumored to be romantic) to New York City's favorite rock boy. "It's so ridiculous," Spektor says about the gossip. "The music gets lost in weird speculation. Why can't somebody bring some- one on tour because they like their music?" Okay, here are the facts: Spektor, 24, was born in Moscow, where she studied classical piano. She moved to New York City at age nine, attended SUNY Purchase, and performed in the same anti-folk scene that spawned the Moldy Peaches. She's an Aquarius. She talks like a baby and sings like a teenage Patti Smith. A major label wil be re-releasing Soviet Kitsch by the time you read this. "People think 'girl and a piano,' but I do open for rock'n'roll bands."