As the latest duo to hit he music scene, Lipstick Gypsy arrives with a soulful sound, musical talent and a look that has them ready for the masses.

Hot off the release of their latest single “Infatuation,” Chris and John spoke with me about their love for R&B and funk, music and what it means to be a Lipstick Gypsy.

JH: How did you guys come up with the name Lipstick Gypsy?
Chris: The name came up when we were looking for something with a spark to it, something that would grab people’s attention. We wanted something that didn’t sound ordinary, and it had an edge to it.
John: Essentially, anyone can be a lipstick gypsy. It’s like a thing, or a noun. It’s basically a wanderer in search of love. A gypsy is a wanderer. They travel and never really settle.

I know that John is the lead singer, but Chris what’s your role in the group?
Chris: My role is producer, composer, and I sing background on some of the records. I’m the music man behind everything.

How did you guys meet?
Chris: We met through somebody who I knew in the business that was a manager. He found John at a showcase that he was singing in at the time, and they connected us together for me to produce John’s solo project. It just turned into great chemistry and we basically formed a group about two months after we met and started writing songs together. With our pretty amazing chemistry, we just figured it just make sense to do a group.

Your new single “Infatuation” is out now. The production of it, mixed with the sensual tone and vocals, makes it’s a very hot song. What was the approach to creating it?
Chris: When we write in general, we don’t go in with a plan. It just starts to happen. But when I sit down at the piano, I just come up with a chord progression and on top of that came the groove and you start to add drums, guitars and all these things. I just wanted get a certain tone; a down tempo groove record that I feel like is missing in the marketplace a little bit that just feels really good. A song that pretty much anyone can grasp to, you know. The melody is pretty much a universal thing, whether it’s a melody vocally or a chord or whatever. And when John started singing, I think the first thing he started coming up with was the hook. It just landed perfectly over the track, then the concept came after that. John will tell you more about it.
John: Yeah, so when I first heard the track, it just had a mean groove. You just couldn’t help but to groove to it, whether you like it or not. The concept actually came from me bartending at the time. There was this British girl that would come to the bar all the time, and I thought she was so cute. I had a crush on her. I was in the studio one day and I was thinking about her for whatever reason and I just started writing. It was about her and even though we’ve never had any real interaction other than her coming to the bar a couple of times. She’ll probably never know the song is about her.

John, just watching the music video for “Infatuation” you definitely have a smooth Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake vibe going on. Who are some of the artists that have inspired you guys as artists both individually and as a group?
John: Thank you. Individually I would say as a vocalist and a performer would be Michael Jackson for sure, and also Prince and Stevie Wonder. And I would say a lot of gospel and R&B influence like Brian McKnight and Boyz II Men. Chris introduced me to a lot of stuff that I wasn’t even listening to really like a lot of funk that immediately resonated with me. Chris, what about you?
Chris: It’s so much, but I’ll try to condense it down to a few. But everybody from Prince to Stevie Wonder on the R&B and funk side. Then on the hip-hop side, A Tribe Called Quest and people like that from that era of hip-hop. I also like producers like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Babyface, L.A. Reid coincidentally, but it’s true. Just records that came from that era of funk and soul. That stuff is timeless. It has a timeless feel. It worked then, it works now.
JH: I definitely hear a deep R&B influence in your music, at least with “Infatuation.” That mixed with John’s voice really makes you guys unique.

You guys were signed to Epic Records by L.A. Reid. What is it like to work with L.A.?
Chris: Awe man, it’s the best. You couldn’t ask for a better team or a better boss. He loves music just as much as we do and he appreciates the details. Because we’re nerds when it comes down to it, musically. So he gets into the little nuances that most people overlook. He’s an artist himself, so it’s just a dream come true. He’s the guy that we would always speak about when we’re writing and recording, saying, “One day L.A. Reid has to hear this.” So, it’s just a Godsend when he heard the records.

Will there be a full album coming soon after “Infatuation?”
Chris: There will be an EP first. There’s actually another single coming in a couple of weeks called “The Cure.” It’s a little more aggressive sounding, but still in the same lane. It’s not as smooth and rounded out as “Infatuation,” but it’s a little more aggressive, a little more punchy, and pop-oriented.

Will you be coming to Texas with a tour anytime soon?
John: Definitely, we’re actually figuring all of that out now. We’ll let you know as soon as we know, and we’re definitely gonna come to Texas, no doubt about that.