A lot of us are trekking up to Ladyfest Bellingham this weekend, but whether you are or you aren't, you have a chance to catch RAD PONY, a Brooklyn dance pop duo currently touring the Northwest. Comprised of percussionist Sarah Strauss and Curve covergirl/former BoySkout guitarist Ingrid Dahl on synth, bass and vocals, Rad Pony seems custom made for fans of New Young Pony Club and DIY. They answered a few questions for me this morning via email from their van.

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Seattle has a popular local band named Mad Rad. Seattle has a popular local bar (where you're playing) called Pony. Is your band name a strategic combination of the two, calculated to manipulate Seattle's fickle little hearts?
The name came from the fact that Ingrid is a pony. She rode horses for years and thought she was a horse as a kid. And Sarah is simply rad.

When I was living in New York, even though it was supposedly the height of the "electroclash" moment or whatever, nobody danced. It seemed like most of the musicians were still playing in guitar/guitar/drum/bass combos and most audiences were still standing with arms folded, only moving one knee. Has New York finally caught dance fever or what? Seattle's been on that wavelength for a while.
Actually, starting Rad Pony, both of us were playing guitar as a way of songwriting. But [then] we began exploring what was more fundamental to us both. When we wrote our first song—"PLAY"—it was so different than the [other] bands that we were both in. It was liberating. We both just smiled alot and knew that this was the fever we wanted.

Who do you think is making the most vital queer music right now? Do you have a few favorite currently recording/touring acts who you think define current queer music?
The queer music scene is really eclectic and diverse. We like what MEN and CSS and MKNG FRNZ are doing a lot. We recommend checking out [the Brooklyn-based publication about female drummers,]Tom Tom Magazine.

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As hot babes in the music scene, do you find more often that people in the industry are dismissive and/or sexist about your work, or do you find that they're more enthusiastic and fawning because of objectification and fetishization?
Sexism is a constant battle in the world we live in. We are doing what is in our power to expand perspectives within and outside the queer community. We wear costumes and play with gender and sexuality and our bodies and tights and electrical tape and face/body paint, etc. We aren't trying to sexualize our performance but we feel really free to use our bodies and playfulness as power and uninhibited feminism. 90% of the time we play to a queer audience who often get it/are enthused.

RAD PONY play Seattle on Saturday June 19th (at Pony with Secret Shoppers and DJ Jodi Bon Jodi) and Bellingham on Sunday June 20th (at Jinx as part of Ladyfest Bellingham).