"I can't pay my rent but I'm f***ing gorgeous," Justin Tranter sings on "Semi Precious Weapons," and it's a fitting mission statement for his band of the same name. After wrapping up a world tour with Lady Gaga in 2010, the quartet spent six months living rent-free in their manager's pool house as they prepped their sophomore album and adjusted their "filthy" Brooklyn vibe to the West Coast.
Their style's hard to define: they're the kind of guys who'll match high-fashion jewelry with yard sale cast-offs. Of course, when you design your own Barneys bling, as Tranter does with his Fetty line, you can rock whatever you want.
"As a band, we've probably assembled over 400,000 pieces of jewelry," Tranter says.
Both their style and work ethic extend to the writing process: guided by new mentor Tricky Stewart, they've penned over 40 songs for sophomore album consideration. And, in Tranter's case, all in high heels.
"We look like this while we write. We always look like this. I wouldn't want to write a song in a pair of sneakers," he says. "I think it would be a horrible song."
Check out the videos below to hear two exclusive tracks to Billboard.com.
Interview by David Greenwald & photography by Joseph Llanes
"Heroes and necklaces and schizophrenic DJ sets." -Cole
_
"The 'hit-by-the-most-pitches-in-one-season' commemorative men's dress shirt by Cole Whittle." -Cole
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"Two installations to remind me of cool, horrible and evolutionary moments." -Cole
_
"Some of my artwork placed strategically to ensure that I will only get laid by insane crazy people." -Cole
_
"I bought these shitty sneakers and spray painted them on 14th street and 6th. Those keys are from a Paris locksmith." -Cole
_
"Kicks. Recent standouts include the K-Swiss drug money pair and the Tyson/Rodman hi-tops." -Dan
_
"The things I can't live without; sticks, books, and the contents of my pockets including religious icon nail clippers and a French lazer-eyed cat wallet." -Dan
_
"Yes, the outer space stickers do glow in the dark." -Dan
_
"The Banjee RockNroll Realness Essentials highlights: weave heels, acrylic red paint for eyebrows, aviators w/ color drips, Fetty camouflage rhinestone necklace, and a flashdrive with new song ideas on it." -Justin
_
"My signature gold sparkle Stuart Weitzman high heel boots (I have two pairs cus they've seen so much of the world I needed a back up) and an AMAZING fan-made baby Weapon. Magic." -Justin
_
"What? You don't have an unused S&M mask that a friend painted gold hanging on your wall? Weird." -Justin
_
"Our friend Jimmy got these for me on a drive from Oklahoma to LA, they have been in the back of his 1994 Astro Van for 6 months...and some pearls my mom gave me HAD to be added." -Justin
_
"Airborne circuit bent Charlie Parker cool cat." -Stevy
_
"Boots acquired from Japan and Mexico - featuring Ricardo Seco's custom converse." -Stevy
"I can't pay my rent but I'm f***ing gorgeous," Justin Tranter sings on "Semi Precious Weapons," and it's a fitting mission statement for his band of the same name. After wrapping up a world tour with Lady Gaga in 2010, the quartet spent six months living rent-free in their manager's pool house as they prepped their sophomore album and adjusted their "filthy" Brooklyn vibe to the West Coast.
Their style's hard to define: they're the kind of guys who'll match high-fashion jewelry with yard sale cast-offs. Of course, when you design your own Barneys bling, as Tranter does with his Fetty line, you can rock whatever you want.
"As a band, we've probably assembled over 400,000 pieces of jewelry," Tranter says.
Both their style and work ethic extend to the writing process: guided by new mentor Tricky Stewart, they've penned over 40 songs for sophomore album consideration. And, in Tranter's case, all in high heels.
"We look like this while we write. We always look like this. I wouldn't want to write a song in a pair of sneakers," he says. "I think it would be a horrible song."
Check out the videos below to hear two exclusive tracks to Billboard.com.
Interview by David Greenwald & photography by Joseph Llanes
"Heroes and necklaces and schizophrenic DJ sets." -Cole
_
"The 'hit-by-the-most-pitches-in-one-season' commemorative men's dress shirt by Cole Whittle." -Cole
_
"Two installations to remind me of cool, horrible and evolutionary moments." -Cole
_
"Some of my artwork placed strategically to ensure that I will only get laid by insane crazy people." -Cole
_
"I bought these shitty sneakers and spray painted them on 14th street and 6th. Those keys are from a Paris locksmith." -Cole
_
"Kicks. Recent standouts include the K-Swiss drug money pair and the Tyson/Rodman hi-tops." -Dan
_
"The things I can't live without; sticks, books, and the contents of my pockets including religious icon nail clippers and a French lazer-eyed cat wallet." -Dan
_
"Yes, the outer space stickers do glow in the dark." -Dan
_
"The Banjee RockNroll Realness Essentials highlights: weave heels, acrylic red paint for eyebrows, aviators w/ color drips, Fetty camouflage rhinestone necklace, and a flashdrive with new song ideas on it." -Justin
_
"My signature gold sparkle Stuart Weitzman high heel boots (I have two pairs cus they've seen so much of the world I needed a back up) and an AMAZING fan-made baby Weapon. Magic." -Justin
_
"What? You don't have an unused S&M mask that a friend painted gold hanging on your wall? Weird." -Justin
_
"Our friend Jimmy got these for me on a drive from Oklahoma to LA, they have been in the back of his 1994 Astro Van for 6 months...and some pearls my mom gave me HAD to be added." -Justin
_
"Airborne circuit bent Charlie Parker cool cat." -Stevy
_
"Boots acquired from Japan and Mexico - featuring Ricardo Seco's custom converse." -Stevy
Up for Discussion