Let’s see — alt-pop duo the Darcys just released their album Centerfold on Arts and Crafts, which is the Toronto label that brought us Broken Social Scene, Feist and Stars. Made up of Jason Couse and Wes Markskell, The Darcys’ slickly produced pop tracks harken back to the 1980s unstoppable bass lines and funky synth melodies of Hall and Oates. Finally, their video "Miracle" remakes Kevin Bacon's warehouse dance scene from Footloose. (Fun Fact: Bacon liked it so much he promoted it on Twitter.)

Markskell talks to Myspace about all the other connections between he and Couse, and the Darcy’s musical path.

Hometown and homebase: Toronto, Canada

Why are you called the Darcys? Is it like the Heathers?

Sadly, we are not twin sisters. Years back we were in an English survey class and were forced to read Pride and Prejudice. We booked in our first gig to get free beer and meet girls, and thought we might as well name ourselves after fiction’s greatest bachelor. I really pushed to be called Pink Flamingos but no one was having it. What could have been…

How did you and Jason meet, then?

We don't have mountains in Toronto, so on the weekends my parents would ship me off on a bus to a ski hill so that I could learn how to snowboard. I first noticed Jason when he was on the ambulance sled speeding down the hill in a neck brace. I'm no Shaun White but I’m pretty sure J busted out some sort of mute-grab-turned-face-plant and knocked himself out cold. That evening I rode the bus back beside him because no one else wanted the seat. On the way we plotted how to use his injury to try and meet girls. Double black eyes are a great conversation starter. We worked out a pretty good bit and a friendship was born.

How did you discover music? Did you grow up in a musical household?

Neither of my parents plays an instrument, unfortunately. That said, they were gracious enough to let me beat on some drums in the basement through my teen years. I discovered a lot of records through my dad, who has been perpetually stuck in a yacht rock phase since 1975. I grew up on Steely Dan, Jimmy Buffett and the Eagles as well as Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd. He also spoiled me by taking me to all the concerts he could. I remember my first ever concert, The Rolling Stones on their Voodoo Lounge tour, and after one song I said to myself, "This, this is what I have to do with my life." Mostly, I was just stoked on the pyro at the time.

Was that the moment when you realized you wanted to make music for a living?

I mean, what’s cooler than being a rock star? Writing music and performing has always been something I've loved to do and fortunately I've been able to keep doing it. Life is short. You have to do what you love.

How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard of you?

Imagine if Prince had sex with Daft Punk.

What thing most influenced your album, Centerfold?

While recording, we watched a lot of movies on silent and tried to replicate some of the images that we saw. We'd be in the middle of a take while simultaneously watching Blade Runner or Inherent Vice and someone would yell, "Stop stop stop, this needs to sound more like that looks." We wrote a lot of the record in the dead of the Toronto winter, so all I could think about was escaping. I think that played a large role on both the lyrical content and the sunny atmosphere of the record. It's the soundtrack to escapism. It was a daydream that got us to stop dwelling on all the snow.

Does living in Toronto influence your sound a lot?

I love Toronto to death — I think we're a more important city then we're given credit for. If anything, with the success of artists like Drake and The Weeknd, it is really encouraging to know that a Toronto artist can go international. They’re making our space bigger in the world. I love it.

Mostly when you say Toronto music people think of Broken Social Scene ... are you fans?

I've gotten to know Kevin Drew over the years and I do really love Broken. It's not so much that I grew up on it, but I really have a respect of the records they made and how true to themselves they have stayed. We worked on a bit of our new record with Kevin, Brendan Canning and Charles Spearin at the Banff Center, and it was really enlightening to see their process. I just realized I could have had a Broken Social Scene reunion on my album and I blew the chance.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

I think about this question a lot because we get asked it in almost every interview. My high school self would say Thom Yorke. I smoked a lot of weed and got down to Amnesiac when I was a kid. That said, if I did an honest evaluation of myself at this point in my life then I would want to do something more universal. I would really love to write a song with Brandon Flowers. The Killers are unstoppable and I really loved his solo record The Desired Effect. I think he manages to connect on a really essential level. “Read My Mind” is such a heavy jam.

What do you do for fun?

Golf. It's the only time that I turn my phone off and try to forget about the world for a few hours. I tour with my clubs.

Were you in other bands before? 

Not really. I used to cover Eagle Eye Cherry in my basement with a few friends when I was in high school. That said, I feel like the band I am in has been three totally different bands over the years. After our self-titled debut we interpreted (covered) all of Steely Dan's AJA, put out a well received "art-rock" record and released a 20-minute instrumental track. Every time we share something I feel like are fans are like, "Man, I thought I knew you" and we're like "Yeah, but you don't." It's fun to fuck with peoples’ perception of you and your band. It really angers some, but as an artist you have to be challenged and excited by your work. “Never to do the same thing twice” has become our motto. We used to come across as so serious but we were just closeting that we wanted to have a good time. Now, we break out the inflatable cactus and turn on the light-up drums and let it rip.

What are your day jobs? Do they help you make music for the Darcys?

I used to work at a medieval themed restaurant. The slogan was “dinner and tournament.” I served people in paper crowns alcoholic slushes. Ever seen The Cable Guy? I was Melinda. It helped me realize that I needed to write better songs.