3OH!3

Boulder’s most famous alternative rap duo offers something for everyone  

“Our live show is less a musical performance than a social happening,” says Nathaniel Motte, one-half of the electropop duo 3OH!3. He and fellow member Sean Foreman have made a concerted effort to engage a diverse audience. “We’ve always tried to have our live shows be inclusive,” Motte continues. “We don’t want to close any doors.” At times, that means digging into the back catalog. “We’ll even play songs from our self-released record from 2007. The show is dynamic—and there’s a lot of participation. We want the fans to feel a great ownership in the show.”

3OH!3 originally recorded more than 20 tracks for their new album, Omens. “The songs are all very personal,” says Motte. “The majority are written by us. There’s no real trick to the process. When I’m creating an instrumental or doing production work, it’s almost procedural. You definitely get into a habit. At this stage, we’ve been very clear and concise about what we want the music to be.”

The Boulder, Colo., natives (area code 303 inspired the band’s name) first drew inspiration to perform from their parents, who played old records around the house. As teens, both Motte and Foreman were immersed in the region’s underground hip-hop scene. “It goes back to the way we were raised,” Motte says. “We trust our friends and family and their reactions to our music. It was listening to local music that fueled us. Lots of acts would come to town and perform. From there blossomed an appreciation for hip-hop and electronic music. We were involved in our college radio station, and that’s where we really bonded.”

Near the end of a long, grueling touring schedule, the duo looks homeward for motivation. “We’ve been all over the Middle East and the other side of the world,” says Motte. “It’s nice to come back to Boulder and just relax.”

3OH!3 began drawing international crowds after “My First Kiss,” their collaboration with Ke$ha, became a Top 10 hit in 2010. As the song’s success propelled them to a new level, the duo made a commitment to remain involved in all aspects of their career. “As a musician, sometimes you have to remind yourself there are people who handle the business side,” Motte says. “We’ve always been proactive in terms of the management. Any art form involves some form of patronage. The label’s been really good so far. There’s a lot of expectation for us, of course. But it’s great to feel like we’re more autonomous.”

–Blake Boldt