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He's self-made, he's all on his own and he's bringing the party your way! We caught up with the pop-punk-dance sensation Luis Dubuc of The Secret Handshake earlier this year on his tour with The Rocket Summer.

OS: You recently held a 'National Wear Your Secret Handshake shirt' day. So, how did that idea come about?
Luis Dubuc: It was kind of just a neat way, we thought, for everyone who had a Secret Handshake shirt to just wear them, especially if they were at school because it was on a Monday, just to see all the other people. The response was actually really insane. All these people said that they met loads of other people, just because they were wearing Secret Handshake shirts, that they didn't know beforehand. It was really cool because it was just this weird thing!

OS: Rumour has it that you can "turn any rock show into a party". True or false?
Luis: I'd say truee... I can try! I try really hard. It depends. If there's a lot of young people there, I think I could do it, but if they're all hardened metal dudes... other than that, I can do it, so I'd say true!

OS: How have these recent UK shows been?
Luis: Yeah, they've been really good! I've been really sick though. I've been taking Day Nurse and Night Nurse. I dunno what I got! I think it must be some sort of British flu. It's so weird, like, I get sick in the States and stuff, but I've never felt like this. I can just totally tell though.
OS: Plus, the weather here won't help.
Luis: Yeah, yeah! Like, in Texas, there's no snow ever, but over here, it's super winter, so I'm so sick! But, hopefully, everything will come out tonight okay. Last night, I was really sick though..

OS: So, what's it like to be in a one man band?
Luis: It's cool. It's really easy to make decisions, and there's no arguing! You can be like, 'Does this song need this? Yeah, I think it does' and there's no one to be all, 'No, it doesn't!' or 'You can't do that!' You just make up your own rules. But, then it sucks because you're the only person with responsibility, you know? You can't say, 'Oh, it's your fault!' because it's my fault, any of the problems. So, it's great, and then it sucks at the same time.

OS: Is it strange when it comes to touring on your own too?
Luis: Dude, no doubt! When I came here, I just flew here by myself, and just hired a driver, a van, a drummer and bass player.

OS: You're not onstage alone, are you?
Luis: No, I'm not. I have a drummer and a bass player.
OS: But, how does it feel representing yourself on your own?
Luis: It's cool because I just get to be myself. I don't ever take it that seriously, it's like, "pft, whatever, I'm just gonna have fun". I mean, I love what I do and I love my job, but my songs are all about fun stuff, you know what I mean? It's not so serious all the time. So, it's not hard - I don't have to pretend to be someone else. I just go out there, I'm myself and people like it.

OS: It must be cool to meet so many different people, hiring new ones each time.
Luis: Yeah, it's always interesting. Last time, I had a different driver and different people playing with me. So, whoever you get, it's very interesting.

OS: How was it working with Cory Kildruff on your new record?
Luis: It was cool. There was actually another guy who worked on it too, called Jimmy, who was from Leeds. So, we spent a lot of money flying him over, and he's in a band over here called Boys With Beaks. It's funny though, because all the British people have reacted well to my music and I think a lot of it is that Jimmy really brought that feel of great European music.

OS: Do you find it much different touring in the UK, compared to the US?
Luis: Yeah, yeah. For example, in the States, if you're in Texas, and you wanna play in Austen, that's three hours away. That's a short drive, but here, it's the longest drive ever. It's like, driving from here to Glasgow or something. But, if you wanna drive from Dallas to El Paso - which is in the same state - it's twelve hours. That's like, the length of your entire... thing! So, touring here is on much more of a micro level. Like, "Oh, well tomorrow is a twenty minute drive. Okay!" A twenty minute drive in the States means you're in the same city. It's like driving to Walmart or something!

OS: What would be your ideal Secret Handshake show?
Luis: I think I'm really gonna do it one day; my ideal Secret Handshake show. I think, when I do a headlining tour, I'm gonna have a DJ open, just playing cool stuff, and then I'm gonna play for an hour. Then, have the DJ close. So, there's no, like, 'bands' or any standing and paying attention, everyone's just enjoying and having fun. It'd be more like a dance club, but without that kind of 'are you on the list?' bullshit. Just kinda come and hang out, it's cool. I actually wanna do it one day, for sure.

OS: Do you find it strange touring with pop-punk bands, rather than other acts and Djs that are similar to you?
Luis: No, it's cool. I like being the exception. Sometimes, in the States, I've toured with other bands that are similar to me, and it's been weird. I prefer to play with a bunch of bands that sound nothing like me, because then I get to be the one different guy.

OS: What impression would you like the UK kids to get from your shows this tour?
Luis: I don't know. I mean, I think they get a pretty good idea because the show I'm playing here is definitely a good one. I don't think it's that different to the American one. I think, as long as everyone gets a good impression, and when the record comes out in March, as long as everyone likes it and buys it, then that's pretty much it.

OS: Do you think your music has a particular message, or it all just about having fun?
Luis: There's no real message. I mean, this might sound silly, but so many bands have a religious undertone, or a political undertone, and mine just doesn't really have that. The songs aren't ever about that. It's just stuff that's happened in my life, or is going on; it's quite general. My songs aren't ever about one main theme. But, they're definitely about having a good time and having fun. Some of the songs are kinda downer, but they're still dancey enough to have fun with.

OS: If you were able to pick one artist to collaborate with, who would it be and why?
Luis: One artist? That's a hard one! I think it'd be dope to do something with Madonna or something?! She's legendary, so why not, you know? Or, maybe Kylie Minogue? I don't know, just something really dancey that would appeal to lots of people. I mean, who does songs with Madonna? No one!

OS: What inspired you whilst writing the latest album 'One Full Year'?
Luis: When I made the record, I was still living at home with my mom. I just graduated high school and I was living in the same town, so I was so ready to get out and I was so sick, so that's what it's all about. Just wanting to get out of my town and have a real life.

OS: Are there artists that inspire you?
Luis: I've always loved Kanye West. Like, any time I hear any of his stuff, there's such a feel; you know that it's real. So, I like him, and stuff like Alicia Keys - stuff that, when you hear it, you know it's real.

OS: What are your plans for the rest of 2008?
Luis: Well, the album comes out here in the UK in March. So, lots of touring: I'll be over here probably a hundred million times. That's about it!

OS: You're releasing 'Gamegirl' as your first single from the new album. Can you tell us a little about it?
Luis: Yeah! 'Gamegirl'... What do you want to know? What's it about, kind of thing?
OS: Yeah!
Luis: Well, I was kinda going through this weird break up, getting back together thing with my girlfriend. It was just on and off every day and it was really weird for about three months, just a kind of... funk, of 'ughh' then 'oh, cool' type thing. Well, I wrote that song during that time, so, it's really back and forth. When you hear it, you're like, "What is it about? What's going on?" It's just a mess, but that's how I was feeling at the time.

OS: Do you have a final message for the UK?
Luis: Come to my shows and buy my record! Or... a lot of records, or I won't come here anymore.

OS: Finally, is there a secret handshake behind the name?
Luis: Uhhhh..... Yes? Maybe! I don't know!

The Secret Handshake will be supporting Cartel on tour this June. Check it out!