CSS: “We're only doing CSS because it's fun.”

After Adriano Cintra’s acerbic departure from CSS in 2011, the electroclash/nu-rave act’s future was uncertain. After all, he was the chief composer.

In the months that followed the separation, he shot barbed words at the remaining members via interviews, claiming that they were divas who didn’t know how to play their instruments – however, this ultimately did little to perturb Lovefoxxx, Ana, Luiza and Carolina, who let it roll off their backs. Brusque words were shared, but the spat is largely in the dust. CSS was business as usual.

As the four-piece headed back into the studio, there was obviously going to be a noticeable loss. “Adriano used to produce everything, so for the first time the producer was outside the band,” says Ana Rezende (guitar), before noting the lack of pressure. “But it was good to have someone from the outside like Dave looking at what we were writing. It was a very nice, easygoing process, not like we felt we had to accomplish anything, it was just fun.” The element of fun is apparent throughout their fourth LP, Planta, which is far removed from the brazen club bangers from the enfants terribles. “It’s the most collaborative effort we’ve ever done, but I think the biggest thing was that our interaction grew in terms of songwriting. Adriano used to write a lot of the music, so we took on that role, which was great for us. Our interaction with each other, and as a band, grew immensely.”

Plantais a record that fizzes and bubbles, there’s twinges of their previous style, but there’s a major advancement in terms of sound. Instead of flippant jokes and brash synths there are tropical beats and tracks custom-built for cruising or sunbathing. “We went to L.A. to record. We hadn’t planned to do an album, just write a few songs, but we ended up staying for eight months because we loved it so much.” It turns out that the change of scenery was a vital part of Planta‘s creation. “It was so good there. One of the other great things about L.A. is that there’s so many people that either live there or are visiting. Tim Rancid, who collaborated on lead single ‘Hangover’] got in contact randomly asking if we wanted to write a song together. We were really up for it cause we’ve not ever done collaborations before and it seemed really exciting!”

The fact that they were so relaxed for the first time in a long time has been the driving force behind many of the tracks. Instead of forcing themselves into a mould, CSS have just let the record fall out of them. It’s laid back. “There was more collaborating between us, and it shows more that we all wrote it. I think the fact we were recording in L.A. was a major influence, and the weather comes out in the record. It shines in the music. We had a great studio with great people, I think it’s quite different in terms of sound, but its definitely still CSS.” It’s very obviously the product of a certain time in their lives. It’s a collection of songs, that regardless of subject matter, emit a contentedness. It’s a lot more chilled out. “I think that’s a reflection on our mood. We’re only doing CSS because it’s fun. So we wanted to make sure we were actually having fun. The studio we were recording in was in Dave’s house… we would cook together, jump in the pool and all watch TV together… it was always like playing. I think that’s rubbed off on the album.”

Mirroring their relaxed approach to recording and writing, Planta doesn’t really adhere to a stringent theme or set of rules. “We never sat down to think exactly what it should be or how it should sound. It’s the same for most of our records. They’re a reflection on how we feel at the time and what’s going on in our lives. We are very influenced by different music, we all have different tastes. We all aim to do happy songs, but we want also want to feel good about it. They always come out in different shapes.” And the different music that influences them? “Lots of different stuff. Old reggae. Mostly we listen to stuff that we grew up on from the ’80s and ’90s. We love pop. I’ve been listening to a lot of Beyoncé.”

“I love ‘Honey’,” says Ana, pondering her favourite moment on the record. “It was one of the first songs we wrote for the album. It was originally a rock song but it evolved into an ’80s pop song. I love the evolution. I love ‘Girlfriend’ too, its a bit reggae. ‘The Hand Out’ started as a joke, it’s very relaxing. We were in Dave’s living room and people just starting singing and it sort of happened. The sound of it reflects on the process.” ‘Hangover’ has preluded the LP’s release, a rhythmic barrage of synths and filthy guitars with Samba-inspired percussion and Latin brass punches. It’s a euphoric slice of summer-poised sound. “We were all talking with Tim and he made a hook and we started throwing in lyrics. It just sort of evolved. It started from a vision of doing a reggaeton song, which is supposed to be warm and tropical. It didn’t turn out anything like we intended, but it’s very happy and summery. We we think it sounds like Martians having an intergalactic summer BBQ!”

What’s plain to see in the album, despite the ruckus of Cintra leaving, and perhaps even more so in the wake of that, is that CSS get on with each other. “I think for CSS the most important thing is friendship. We do a lot of things together. We love eating and travelling and having fun. It’s very easy for us to be in a band because we love touring and being with each other.” When they do embark upon a tour, it’s more like a holiday for the four of them. “We try to always have a great meal. That makes us happy. We’re Brazilian so we like to eat well! We’ve perfected how to find amazing restaurants in places we’ve never been. Food is very important… also, watching TV is fun. We love RuPaul’s Drag Race. It’s amazing, very funny!” And when showtime is imminent, there’s still no urge to take things seriously. “We just chill out to music before going on stage, it helps us to get excited. Sometimes we just watch YouTube videos together ’cause it’s funny. Anything that lightens the mood!”

CSS are eager to get out on the road, after spending the last eighteen months cooped up crafting Planta. “We haven’t toured in ages. We played a few shows in the UK, but before that we were just recording. We love getting out there so we need to tour again and play the new album. The last album [La Liberación] was toured before it was released… that was rubbish cause we wanted people to actually know the songs and dance to them, so we’re excited this time that people will know the songs before we play them because the record is out!” The tour kicks off soon, and a lengthy summer of performances awaits them. “We’re starting a US tour on June 14 for five weeks, then we’re doing some Irish festivals. I think we’re touring Europe in the autumn. We’re gonna start rehearsing the show so something special might come out… Everytime we change something, it just sort of happens midway through the tour by accident. We’re bad at planning…”

So it turns out that CSS are doing just fine. There’s no grieving and there’s no mourning the passing of Cintra as a member. In the aftermath, they’ve bonded and strengthened ties to each other, becoming firmer friends in the process of creating their most mature record to date. Propelled into reshaping their sound, they’ve found themselves adept at grown-up electro-pop – Planta is still the same CSS we know and love, but they’ve escaped adolescence. They’ve shed the gimmicks and crawled out of the last two years a bigger, better and more rounded band; it’s like students graduating and acclimatising to adult life – gone are the wild bouts of technicolour chaos and intoxicated mayhem. Say hello to the CSS of the future.

Planta will be released through Sqe on 10 June.