In the early 2000s, the Lovemakers cultivated a devoted Bay Area audience through their polished, dance-oriented indie rock sound laced with playful sensuality and a deliberately provocative visual presence. Lisa Light first crossed paths with Scott Blonde in Oakland, California, during 2002, introduced through his manager, with whom she was romantically involved at the time. She ended that relationship in favor of Blonde and became a member of his existing group, Applesaucer, before the year concluded. Their intense mutual attraction ultimately proved disruptive, leading to their removal from Applesaucer after they were caught kissing during rehearsals. Undeterred, the pair adopted the name the Lovemakers—drawn directly from the Japanese adult film The Weird Lovemakers—and launched an independent project. They added keyboardist Jason Proctor to the lineup and produced a self-released, self-titled EP recorded at home. Issued in 2003, the recording gained traction locally, quickly selling through Oakland retailers and drawing enthusiastic crowds to the band’s performances. Airplay on regional stations followed, attracting attention from label scouts who began attending shows, which led to the group signing with Interscope. Despite this momentum, the pressures of impending fame fractured Light and Blonde’s personal relationship, resulting in a breakup mere weeks before their scheduled debut album sessions. They nevertheless completed the record, Times of Romance, a glossy, energetic collection steeped in disco textures that reached stores in late summer 2005. Its lead track, “Shake That Ass,” reinterpreted 50 Cent’s “Shake That Ass Girl” for an indie audience. Drummer Ken Hard, previously of Oasis, joined the band, and the group transitioned to the Fuzz, Inc. label within the subsequent two years. Their second EP, Misery Loves Company, appeared in 2007.
