“Bauhaus was practicing [in the studio] next door,” said Justin, “getting ready for their comeback. We got to listen through the wall; it was incredible.”

Fans of the dark synth-pop and brooding beats crafted by Los Angeles duo She Wants Revenge have Easy E to thank. The place: An L.A. backyard of a mutual friend. Adam 12 was asked to DJ the party; it was one of his first gigs with his own turntables. And he pulled out the Easy E.

“Justin [Warfield] came up to ask what I was playing,” explained Adam. But the duo wasn’t solidified yet. “We bounced ideas off each other through the years, but were always involved in other projects.” It took a second barbeque and a friend’s urging for the two to finally try creating music together.

“He came over to my house and I played him some songs that I had,” explained Justin. “And then a year later, I actually wasn’t involved in a project.” Within five months, they had the first She Wants Revenge songs.

Though their rapid rise to popularity seems almost predestined, initially the two had set their sights much lower. “We just wanted to play our beats in the clubs where we DJ’d,” said Adam. The two envisioned touring up and down the California coast, playing DJ gigs, mixing in their own beats and occasionally their own songs.

The band—which travels as a four-piece, with friends helping out on drums and guitar—will be unavoidable this year, slated for nearly all of the important festivals. Which one means the most to them? “Coachella,” Justin answered without hesitation, “because it’s the most memorable.” Two years ago at Coachella, he introduced Adam to their manager. At last year’s festival, the duo had just finished recording their demo—“Bauhaus was practicing [in the studio] next door,” said Justin, “getting ready for their comeback. We got to listen through the wall; it was incredible.”—and, with one gig under their belts, preparing to head out on tour for two weeks with Bloc Party. Since then, it’s been nonstop.

“We were telling people, ‘It’s better than anything you’ve ever heard,’” said Warfield simply. “We just really wanted to come together and make music.” And for those of us who worship at the dark alter of pulsating beats and mood music, we’re glad they did.

---