CSS (band)

{{short description|Brazilian band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = CSS | image = Rock en Seine 2007, Cansei de Ser Sexy 1.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = CSS performing at the Rock en Seine 2007 | origin = São Paulo, Brazil | genre = {{flatlist| * Indie rock * new wave * electronic rock * electroclash * new rave * dance-punk * indietronica }} | years_active = {{flatlist| * 2003–2013 * 2019–present }} | label = SQE Music | current_members = * Lovefoxxx * Luiza Sá * Ana Rezende * Carolina Parra | past_members = * Maria Helena Zerba * Iracema Trevisan * Clara Ribeiro * Adriano Cintra }} thumb|150px|CSS logo

'''CSS''' (an initialism of '''Cansei de Ser Sexy''') ({{IPA|pt|kɐ̃ˈsej d(ʒi)seʁ ˈsɛksi|lang}}, English {{lit}} "[Got] tired of being sexy") is a Brazilian rock band from São Paulo. The band was labelled as part of the explosion of the new rave scene of the late 2000s. CSS releases songs in both Portuguese and English, something which allowed them to develop a significant audience in the anglosphere in their formative years. In 2011 founding member Adriano Cintra left the band, which indirectly led to CSS becoming inactive between 2013 and 2019. The band reformed without Cintra in 2019, at first planning to simply play one gig in São Paulo, but its success drove the members to return full-time.<ref name="Reilly 2021">{{cite news |last=Reilly |first=Nick |date=10 June 2021 |title=CSS tease full return and new material after eight years: "We have songs ready!" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/css-tease-full-return-and-new-material-after-eight-years-we-have-songs-ready-2965986 |work=NME |location= |access-date=30 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="Corcoran 2024">{{cite news |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=23 January 2024 |title=CSS Announce First North American Tour in 11 Years |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/css-announce-first-north-american-tour-in-11-years/ |work=Pitchfork |location= |access-date=30 January 2024}}</ref>

==History==

===2003–2006: Formation and ''Cansei de Ser Sexy'' (Brazilian album)=== CSS formed in September 2003, consisting of a group of friends.<ref name="gigwise">{{cite web |last=Gregory |first=Jason |url=http://www.gigwise.com/festivals/20647/CSS |title=CSS |publisher=Gigwise. Giant Digital |date=4 August 2006}}</ref> Their name was taken from a reported quote by Beyoncé, who allegedly declared that she was "tired of being sexy".<ref>{{cite web |last=Covert |first=Adrian |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/css/cansei-de-ser-sexy/15316/ |title=Album Review: CSS – Cansei de Ser Sexy |publisher=Prefix |date=6 March 2008}}</ref>

The band first garnered fame through the internet. Some of its members, like Adriano Cintra, had been previously known in São Paulo's underground club scene, but not outside of the local alternative subculture. Others, like Lovefoxxx, were the owners of popular Fotolog and Flickr pages. Their collective band fotolog also gained popularity and their songs were frequently downloaded from Trama Virtual's website. Several songs by CSS were featured in mainstream media, for example "Meeting Paris Hilton" was featured in the Latin American broadcasting of ''The Simple Life'', "Superafim" was used in the Brazilian version of ''Big Brother''. Still unsigned, they released two independent EPs—''Em Rotterdam Já É uma Febre'' in 2004, and ''A Onda Mortal / Uma Tarde com PJ'' in January 2005—and played at the TIM Festival in 2004.

In 2005, they signed with the Trama Virtual label, and in October their first album, ''Cansei de Ser Sexy'', was released in Brazil, along with the seven-track EP ''CSS Suxxx'', which was sold at concerts. A limited-edition version of the album had a blank CD-R included, so the buyer could burn a copy of the album to give away as a gift.<ref name="gigwise"/> In Brazil, the album has reportedly{{weasel inline|date=January 2011}} sold 5,000 copies to date, but neither the album nor the singles have charted. Two music videos were also released for "Off the Hook" and "Alala", their two big hits, and were directed by guitar player Ana Rezende, and filmed at the home of band members Carolina Parra and Cintra, where CSS recorded most of their songs.

===2006–2008: ''Cansei de Ser Sexy'' (international album)=== In early 2006, CSS signed with Sub Pop to release their international debut album, ''Cansei de Ser Sexy''. The first single was "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above", released on 6 June, with an accompanying video directed by Cat Solen. In July 2006, along with DJ Diplo and funk group Bonde do Rolê, they began their first international tour. By 2007, CSS had sold as many as 60,000 copies in Europe and the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ilustrada/ult90u69195.shtml |title=Leia os dois textos polêmicos do Folhateen sobre a banda CSS |language=pt |work=Folha |date=12 March 2007}}</ref>

They played at various festivals across Europe in the summer of 2007. The band were also scheduled to play at the American festival Lollapalooza on 4 August 2007, but were left stranded at LaGuardia Airport en route to Chicago after an overbooking error. They did arrive in time for their performance at Virgin Festival in Baltimore the next day.

CSS came to wider attention when their song "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex" was used in a worldwide television commercial by Apple Inc. for the iPod. Due to the song's exposure in the United States, it charted at number 63 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/css-mn0000450883/awards |title=CSS – Awards |publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation |access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> becoming the highest-charting single in the United States by a Brazilian band to date in XXI century.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} Coincidentally, the same song had been used in a promotion for the competing Zune media player a year prior.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kostas |last=Tzounopoulos |url=http://www.zune-online.com/news/zune/ipod-touch-ad-uses-music-from-a-zune-ad.html |title=iPod Touch ad uses music from a Zune ad! |publisher=Zune-Online.com |date=30 October 2007 |access-date=30 October 2007}}</ref>

Several of CSS's songs feature on the soundtracks of video games. Their singles "Alala" and "Off the Hook" were featured in the video game ''Forza Motorsport 2''. The video game ''FIFA 08'' also features "Off the Hook",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fifa2008.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/fifa-08-soundtrack-announced/ |title=FIFA 08 Soundtrack announced |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118134613/http://fifa2008.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/fifa-08-soundtrack-announced/ |archive-date=18 November 2007 }}</ref> while Need for Speed: ProStreet features their song "Odio Odio Odio Sorry C". In April 2008, Iracema Trevisan left the band; Cintra replaced her on bass guitar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/news/css/35861 |title=CSS split with bassist |work=NME |publisher=IPC Media |date=11 April 2008}}</ref> The band subsequently worked with a session drummer, Jon Harper of the Cooper Temple Clause.

===2008–2010: ''Donkey''=== "Rat Is Dead (Rage)", the first single to be taken from their second album, was made available as a free download from the CSS website in April 2008. The album, ''Donkey'', was released on 21 July 2008, with first single proper, "Left Behind", having been released earlier in the month. Their song "Jager Yoga" features in the soundtrack of video game ''FIFA 09'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fifa09.ea.com/us/readnews/entryid/25050 |title=EA's FIFA Soccer 09 soundtrack scores |publisher=EA Sports |date=14 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817032440/http://www.fifa09.ea.com/us/readnews/entryid/25050 |archive-date=17 August 2008 |access-date=23 April 2009}}</ref> and "Rat Is Dead (Rage)" appears in the video game ''Midnight Club: Los Angeles''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockstargames.com/midnightclubLA/music/tracklist.html | title=Midnight Club Los Angeles : Music : Tracklist |work=Rockstar Games |access-date=25 April 2009}}</ref>

===2010–2013: ''La Liberación'' and ''Planta''=== CSS recorded tracks for their third studio album, ''La Liberación'', while touring. They reportedly recorded a song in Spanish titled "¡Ay, Qué Horror!"<ref>{{cite web |last=Cintra |first=Adriano |url=http://csshurtssuxxx.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/portunhol-rules.html |title=Portunhol Rules |publisher=csshurtssuxxx |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=9 April 2011}}</ref>

In an interview with MTV Brasil,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mtv.uol.com.br/musica/css-faz-show-em-sp-e-conta-ao-portal-mtv-detalhes-sobre-novo-cd |title=CSS faz show em SP e conta ao Portal MTV detalhes sobre novo CD |language=pt |publisher=MTV Brasil |date=4 April 2011 |access-date=12 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724154727/http://mtv.uol.com.br/musica/css-faz-show-em-sp-e-conta-ao-portal-mtv-detalhes-sobre-novo-cd |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> lead singer Lovefoxxx stated that the first single of the new album would be released in May 2011. The album, also according to her, would be released in August 2011, with eleven tracks. The title would also be in Spanish.<ref name="folha2011">{{cite web |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folhateen/898024-css-mostra-influencia-espanhola-do-novo-disco-em-sao-paulo.shtml |title=CSS mostra influência espanhola do novo disco em São Paulo |work=Folha |language=pt |date=4 April 2011 |access-date=9 April 2011}}</ref>

In an April 2011 interview with ''Folha de S.Paulo'', Adriano Cintra said that the band's third album "is not a themed album. It has influences from clubs, reggae and punk." Ana Rezende, however, stated that "we sometimes do a reggae that nobody thinks is actually reggae. But in our head is very reggae."<ref name="folha2011"/> The single "Hits Me Like a Rock" from the band's third album featured on the soundtrack of the video game ''FIFA 12''.

====Departure of Adriano Cintra==== On 11 November 2011, Adriano Cintra announced that he had left CSS and declared that he did not authorize any of the band members to use his songs in any of their forthcoming concerts.<ref name="Blitz-Adriano">{{cite web |url=http://blitz.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&m=5&fokey=bz.stories/77660 |title=Cansei de Ser Sexy: autor das músicas sai da banda e "bloqueia" uso das mesmas |language=pt |work=Blitz |date=11 November 2011 |access-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126094639/http://blitz.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&m=5&fokey=bz.stories%2F77660 |archive-date=26 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also stated that the reason behind his departure was due to attitude problems from other band members, claiming that they had let fame go to their heads.<ref name="Blitz-Adriano"/> It was also reported that the band members' musical incompetence was also a factor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://palcoprincipal.sapo.pt/noticias/Noticia/cansei_de_ser_sexy_compositor_abandona_banda_e_proibe_utilizacao_das_suas_cancoes_em_palco/0006356 |title=Cansei de Ser Sexy: compositor abandona banda e proíbe utilização das suas canções em palco |language=pt |publisher=Palco Principal |date=11 November 2011 |access-date=28 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501235747/http://palcoprincipal.sapo.pt/noticias/Noticia/cansei_de_ser_sexy_compositor_abandona_banda_e_proibe_utilizacao_das_suas_cancoes_em_palco/0006356 |archive-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In an interview with ''Rolling Stone Brazil'', Cintra said that his bandmates' unwillingness and inability to collaborate on the recording of the band's third album led him to leave the band, a decision which the band's manager was able to revert by asking him to stay. Then, during the European tour Cintra was diagnosed with a repetitive strain injury in his hand, which made him unable to continue with the tour. Nevertheless, as over half of the band's songs include backing tracks of Cintra playing, he expected to get paid for their use, which was agreed by the band's manager. In spite of this agreement, on the eve of the payday Cintra received an email from the band's manager informing him that the remaining members of the band thought that he did not need to be paid his share, as he did not tour and he had other forms of income. That, according to Cintra, was the last straw.<ref>{{cite web |last=Toledo |first=Carina |url=http://omelete.uol.com.br/musica/cansei-de-ser-sexy-adriano-cintra-explica-sua-decisao-de-deixar-banda/ |title=Cansei de Ser Sexy | Adriano Cintra explica sua decisão de deixar a banda |language=pt |publisher=Omelete |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=20 June 2012}}</ref>

On 3 July 2012, Adriano Cintra gave an interview on Madrid, his latest musical project, where he stated regarding his CSS departure that he was fed up with his bandmates, who were frustrating to work with as they couldn't even play their own instruments.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Globo |url=http://g1.globo.com/musica/noticia/2012/07/nao-aguentava-mais-aquelas-meninas-do-css-diz-adriano-cintra.html | title='Não aguentava mais aquelas meninas' do CSS, diz Adriano Cintra | date=3 July 2012 | access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref>

====Post–Cintra==== CSS was not deterred by Cintra's departure, playing the SOS Festival in Murcia, Spain on 5 May 2012 and the Ballroom Marfa 2012 Benefit Weekend in Marfa, Texas on 27 May 2012, performing several of their old songs.

J.R. Kurtz became the band's touring drummer in 2010 with the addition of Nate Perry as touring bassist beginning in late 2011. Bassist Inge Johansson also toured with the band.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/10/css_men_ema_web.html |title=CSS, MEN & EMA @ Webster Hall (CMJ pics) |publisher=BrooklynVegan |date=27 October 2011 |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Joshua T. |url=http://blowthescene.com/bands/ema/css-men-ema-at-union-transfer.html |title=CSS, MEN, EMA at Union Transfer |publisher=Blow The Scene |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beat.com.au/music/css |title=CSS |publisher=Beat Magazine |date=6 December 2011 |access-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209074346/http://www.beat.com.au/music/css |archive-date=9 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

CSS' fourth album, named ''Planta'', was released on 5 June 2013 in Japan, 10 June in the UK and 11 June in the US. The record is their first album since the departure of Cintra. The first single to be released was "Hangover".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2013/04/css-hangover-planta-dave-sitek-new-song-premiere/ |title=CSS Preview New LP 'Planta' With Dubby Heartbreak Cure 'Hangover' |publisher= SPIN |date=8 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>

===2013–2019: Hiatus=== Following the release of ''Planta'', CSS went on a 6-year hiatus.<ref name="Reilly 2021"/><ref name="Corcoran 2024"/>

===2019–present=== Following what was planned to be a once-off gig in their hometown of São Paulo, CSS reformed in 2019.<ref name="Reilly 2021"/><ref name="Corcoran 2024"/> They toured North America and the UK in 2024 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their formation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2024 |title=CSS Announce First North American Tour in 11 Years |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/css-announce-first-north-american-tour-in-11-years/ |access-date=9 May 2024 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Beaumont |first1=Mark |title=Indie sleaze icons CSS: 'It makes me so happy to see all the guys with lipstick' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/css-lovefoxxx-reunion-tour-b2561405.html |website=The Independent |access-date=29 June 2024 |language=en |date=20 June 2024}}</ref> In 2024, they performed at the annual Kilby Block Party in Utah.

==Discography== {{Main|CSS discography}}

* ''Cansei de Ser Sexy'' (2005) * ''Donkey'' (2008) * ''La Liberación'' (2011) * ''Planta'' (2013)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Cansei de Ser Sexy}} * {{AllMusic|id=css-mn0000450883|label=CSS}} * {{YouTube|user=csstv|CSS}} * [http://www.songkick.com/artists/187575-css CSS] at Songkick

{{DEFAULTSORT:Css (Band)}} Category:Brazilian indie rock groups Category:Brazilian musical quartets Category:English-language Brazilian musical groups Category:Brazilian new wave musical groups Category:Dance-punk musical groups Category:Brazilian electronic rock musical groups Category:Brazilian electronic music groups Category:Musical groups established in 2003 Category:Musical groups from São Paulo Category:Sub Pop artists Category:Remixers Category:2003 establishments in Brazil Category:Female-fronted musical groups