Let's get to know Owen Clarke; guitarist, percussionist and synth player for the UK's electro-balled band Hot Chip. When you are a member of a grammy-award winning, top-of-the-charts band and people all over the world freak out over you all the time, wouldn't you like to know which Prince song he might prefer? We sure as hell would.

In the studio or on stage?
Owen: For now, on stage I think...not fond of the studio. The answer to that question, in four months, time will be something like that.

Remix or original?
Owen: Generally, original. I like when a remix is just that, a remixing of a track. There's too many versions of things in the world. There's too much stuff in the world anyway.

It's true. And remixes, I mean, the good ones are good, but some just tend to get watered down.
Owen: Yeah. I think in the age before remixing you had to make something good from the outset and that caused you to try. And also, you know, the strong survive. You wouldn't need to beef it up with steroids.

Festival or Packed, maller venue?
Owen: Packed smaller venue. I like going to the festivals, but you don't know what's going to happen. It's a challenge. But going to a club where you don't know what's going to happen is more of a thrill.

Early in the morning or late at night?
Owen: Well, sometimes they overlap and that's the thing. I think, at the minute, late at night for the jet lag.

Ballad or club banger?
Owen: I think "club ballad" is probably appropriate.

Hip hop or dance pop?
Owen: For me, dance pop. I think that's just up my street. I don't look right dancing to hip hop.

You and me both.
Owen: I don't like dance pop, but at least I might get away with it.

The zoo or the circus?
Owen: I think circus. At least at the circus, there are some humans who are captive as well.

Europe or the States?
Owen: Wow. I think the states.
 

Really?
Owen: Yeah, I mean, technically I'm part of Europe. It doesn't often feel that way. Do I feel more a part of the States, I suppose? Maybe, yes.

"Purple Rain" or "Diamonds and Pearls?"
Owen: Well, "Purple Rain" obviously, but I think that "Diamonds and Pearls" has a  place in my heart, but maybe "Diamonds and Pearls" has a  place in my head, because I get that song stuck in my head.

Live percussion or drum machine?
Owen: I think live percussion because a drum machine is never going to look funny.

Debbie Harry or Pat Benatar?
Owen: Debbie Harry.

Going for the blonde?
Owen: Well, it's not a hair issue. [Debbie's] got a reggae or disco going on and she doesn't do terrible rapping, so it's got to be Debbie Harry. I like a bit of terrible rapping.

Comic books or tabloids?
Owen: Well, they're both the same. I think comic books, especially on a plane. You know, you don't have things going into your ears and it's like watching a film but pausing it without pushing a button.

Beard or mustache?
Owen: Mustaches are very now, but beards they're-

They're forever.
Owen: They're forever. They run free. They happen by themselves. Mustaches don't happen by themselves.

Collaboration or flying solo?
Owen: No solos. Well, I did a collaborative solo recently; that was pretty good. He played the keys and I turned the knobs.

British fans or U.S. fans?
Owen: That one's trouble. U.S. Fans. While I'm sitting on the fence, I may as well be devious rather than sit on the fence.

Vinyl or digital?
Owen: Vinyl, please. It just hurts my ears. I'd rather it skipping than doing whatever it does when it goes wrong in digital.

Piano or keyboard?
Owen: I've carried my keyboard upstairs; I've never carried a piano upstairs.

It's a portability issue then.
Owen: It's a portability issue and a course of entry issue.