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The Puppini Sisters have taken the current trend for all things burlesque, reapplied their gorgeous red lipstick and are fairly running towards the charts.

We caught up with them to ask a few questions ahead of tonights instore performance at HMV on Oxford St - they will be celebrating the launch of their debut album ‘Betcha Bottom Dollar’...

How did you get together?

We all went to Trinity College of music at different times and took a 4-year degree course in Jazz singing and performance. When Marcella left, she missed singing the tenor part with me (Kate) in the jazz choir so phoned me up to get together a little group to sing through Andrew’s Sisters tunes for fun. I suggested Steph as the third member and it just so happened that she was a redhead, which completed the Puppini rainbow of blonde, brunette and redhead!

Where do you think the current trend for all things burlesque came from?

It’s definitely been an underground scene for a while now, particularly in East London,  in venues like The Bethnal Green Working Mens Club and with performance groups/club organisers like the Whoopee Club, Lost Vagueness and Modern Times. Suppose the trend has developed from the Rockabilly and Torture Garden scene, and of course through a communal love of dressing-up glam!

Where do you get your amazing vintage clothes from and what is your favourite item in your wardrobe?

Some of our outfits are market and second-hand shop finds, some are made to measure and a lot is from Vivienne Westwood. Marcella used to work for her so she still has a lot of useful contacts. Our favourite, most fabulous yet hopelessly impractical item is our matching red couture corset dresses which feature in our music video for our debut single The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B. (You can see this video at www.thepuppinisisters.com)

What song in your repetoire has been the hardest to re-work in your style?

Wuthering Heights was probably the hardest one to Puppini-fy. Marcella spent many a day lost in despair and many more in tears over that one! The end result is so different from the original it’s become a new song in its own right and we love it!

Do you think any song out there could handle your magic? Which would you love to do that you have not tried yet?

Not all attempts have worked! A gospel/country version of ‘Purple Rain’ was abandoned mid-way through and Ten CC’S ‘I’m Not In Love’ wasn’t too successful either. It’s mainly ballads that don’t translate to the Puppini style. Ballads didn’t exist like they do today in the 30’s and 40’s so trying to cover modern day tunes without that bouncy sense of swing doesn’t tend to work. ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ might work though…

How would you describe your musical style?

We’ve made up our own genre to describe it best: Vintage-Swing-Pop.

Do you perform any original songs or is it all re-worked covers?

This first album is a gentle warm-up to the world of Puppini so we’ve stuck to arranging covers. We’re in the process of writing originals though. They’ll be in a similar vein and style to the first album. It’s hard work but it’ll definitely be worth it for the second album!

How have the artists you have covered appreciated it? Any feedback from them?

We were very surprised to receive such positive feedback from The Smiths fans! They are renowned for being very picky but have left some really nice feedback on our MySpace site (www.myspace.com/puppinisisters ). We also feature on a website called ‘The Worst Kate Bush Covers Ever’ as doing a version that they do actually like! Still waiting to hear from Kate and Morrissey though…

What has been your favourite gig to date?

Definitely Duckie, which is a gay/alternative cabaret night at the Vauxhall Tavern. The audience are very discerning and if they don’t like something, they will let you know! The night itself has one a Lawrence Olivier award in the past and we initially arranged both ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Panic’ to get gigs there. We love performing there. They truly are very loyal and fabulous people.

What is next for the band?

We’re beginning work on writing original tunes. Expect bigger hair, more red lipstick and a national tour starting in September.

If you could choose a place and a year to go back to, where and when would you be?

New York, 1935, performing alongside Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers.

The Puppini Sisters debut album 'Betcha Bottom Dollar' is out now...

Mandy Carter, MyVillage, 31st July