Brazilian Girls played a sold-out show at The Paradise last week. Although we've been listening to their new CD, Bostonist wasn't cool or clever enough to buy our tickets early enough. We did get a chance to speak to charismatic frontwoman, Sabina Sciubba. Despite a bad phone connection and interruptions in multiple languages, we chatted for a few minutes.

When asked about Boston crowds, Sciubba emphatically stated that the crowds have been great every time they play here. The band's recent show was mixed from what we read (mel.opho.be, Herald), which seems to be based on some of the slower-tempo numbers on New York City and possibly the tamer stage theatrics of the pregnant Sciubba. Her defiantly stoic response to fans that want more booty-shaking? "We just got old and... We can't keep up with the fast pace anymore."

The Brazilian Girls weren't the first band to serve up a dance-a-licious blend of musical influences from around the globe, but they've always had an original approach and panache that set them apart. Each of the band's albums maintains its identity without becoming repetitive, but New York City sets itself apart with a looser, more relaxed vibe. Sabina joked that the band members were "all on Xanax," but some songs follow a single direction with subtler elements. For example, "L'Interprete" is simply a beautiful, jazzy chanson in Italian--and French?

As usual, the lyrics slip from one tongue to another on many songs. We didn't hear any German vocals, but it might be in there while we bobbed along to some trip-hoppy groove. Beyond languages and musical styles, it's a musical journey around the world. From the band's former home in the CD title, other songs include "St. Petersburg" and "Berlin." On "Internacional," Sciubba coos a laundry list of major cities as Senegalese star Baaba Maal sings something in the background.

More on the new CD, the band's origin, its name, and Sciubba's favorite swear word after the jump.

"It's obviously influenced a lot by traveling and touring," explained Sciubba. She elaborated to LAist that the location songs were written while on tour in those places. One of our favorite tunes is "St. Petersburg," which starts with a Latin rhythm and shifts into a couple more gears before it's done. This Bostonist has been often whistling the sly four-note motif that's thankfully much less persistent than "Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn, & John.

The album as a whole has its shifts sounds and moods to keep things interesting, but some of the other highlights are the future party anthems like "Good Time" or "Losing Myself." "Nouveau Americain" also has a hypnotic beat that BG fans will love. We enjoyed the carnivalesque flourishes in "Ricardo" and "Berlin" (nope, no German to our ears). We loved chilling out to the long outro of "Mano de Dios."

In describing their songwriting process, "It's different from song to song. A lot of times, for example, [keyboardist] Didi [Gutman] brings an ambience or harmonies; then we jam on it a little bit, and I come up with some melody and maybe some lyrics. Then [drummer] Aaron [Johnston] jumps in on it."

Bostonist: Where does the band name come from? Or what does it mean to you?

Sciubba: It's nothing.

Was it the sound of the name, or...?

This is the question that's been asked 350 millions times, meaning it's the one question I don't like. I think it's obvious if you see a picture of the band and the bands name, it's...

Okay. I read that you the group got together while jamming at a jazz club. How did that come about?

It was a east village club called Nublu. We all knew each other already, because we had met and played in other things together. DiDi had a gig there every Sunday for 3 years or something. He invited a couple of guests and it ended up being... When first we all got together it was a very exciting [time]. We could [create] nice things together.

Was it a more traditional jazz sound?

No, no. It was exactly the same [as we sound now]. It was not a jam session as such. We were playing together, and it wasn't a lot [of] planning.

Have you ever had any negative reactions to the song, "Pussy?" Sometimes people get uptight about particular words.

No, actually. The reaction overall is very positive, and in fact, that's the song that people want to hear when we play. Screaming "Pussy, pussy..." I regret the day we ever wrote that song. (Laughs.)

What have you been listening lately?

A lot of classical music. Prokofiev, the whole library of Brahms. Also High Places from New York. You should check it out, it's really good; very creative.

Do you know whether the baby is a boy or a girl?

Not yet.

Have you had any strange cravings?

Yeah, I've been annoying. I only want to eat Vietnamese food. I lo-o-o-oove Vietnamese food.

Have you ever watched "Inside the Actor's Studio?"

Yes.

I'd like to ask you the concluding questions from that show. What is your favorite word?

Favor.

Your least favorite word?

No.

Your favorite swear word?

Minchia.

Your favorite sound?

Humming.

Your least favorite sound?

Anything loud.

What turns you on?

Love.

What turns you off?

Aggression.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Welcome, everything is prepared for you!

Thanks, Sabina.

Photos from Brazilian Girls MySpace page.