You may remember Bis. They were the first unsigned band ever to perform on Top Of The Pops, netting a legion of fans with their song Kandy Pop and their charismatic frontwoman Manda Rin.

Well, sadly Bis are no more – they died in 2003 – but in their place are the mighty Data Panik. Comprised of Manda Rin, fellow ex Bis-ters Steven Clark and John Clark and newbies Stuart Memo and Graham Christie, Data Panik are currently rocking worlds wherever they go. The first Data Panik single Cubis (I Love You) went down a storm around these parts. Spiky, electronic, post-punky, Cubis (I Love You) is just about everything you’d want in a single, and we can’t wait for a Data Panik album.

We caught up with Manda Rin from Data Panik for a chat about The Apprentice, Japan and Gary Barlow…

Who are you, and where are you?
I am Manda Rin and I’m sitting on my couch with my laptop watching that daft Apprentice programme on BBC2.

Describe yourselves for us, would you?
The band? Data Panik is an excitable five-piece from Glasgow containing three members of Bis and two talented friends.

Bis? What happened there?
We did Bis for 10
years and feel we took it as far as we could. I had the best
experiences I could ever have in my life but there was only so far we
could take it. We wanted a new project, a new angle and a wad of
enthusiasm back again. Bis was put to rest with great respect we feel.
If we’re remembered at all by anyone it’s very flattering indeed.

You’ve had your picture taken with Gary Barlow, Brian May and Beck. Any funny stories?
Getting
my photo taken with Brian May is funny enough in itself. Gary Barlow
was a really cool guy, and Beck knew Bis which was nice!

What’s it like meeting people who wear badges with your face on?
It’s
always very strange. One of the Chalets who we played with in Glasgow
recently was wearing one of me from about seven years ago! It’s very
flattering!

How’s your glittering radio career?
I decided to leave at the end
of 2005. I am now running my own badge making business and it’s been
going crazy (www.weebadgers.com). I really love working for myself and
it works out great with my band commitments. It’s a hard decision to
leave a job as enjoyable as DJing but its a large commitment and one
that I don’t really need while I want the band to be my main concern. I
did a one-off last week and have one more this week now that the
station is called XFM Scotland. The music is so much better but I feel
I made the right decision to not be there anymore.

A woman has five potatoes to feed three children – how can she give them equal portions without fractions?
I will have two!

Tell us about this new picture disc.
We are putting out a split
7" on Must Destroy records which comes out early April. We have never
done a picture disc before so I’m really looking forward to it. I did
the artwork for it which was fun!

Preach about something you love (not related to the band) in 100 words.
Japan
is my main passion! I am going to Tokyo on holiday next Thursday and I
cannot wait. I love the people, the food, the shops, the records, the
language and everything gadgety! I have been learning Japanese for
years of touring and am getting there a bit. I can read two out of
three of the writings now! I love Manga, and drawing it too. I did a
cartoon strip about Bis in a Manga style for Bug magazine there, which
was so much fun. The artwork of the New Transistor Heroes was in that
style and something I feel got that album attention in Japan. I’m also
going to see Polysics in Osaka who are one of my favourite bands at the
moment too. We played with them in Glasgow. Is that 100 words?

What’s on the Data Panik iPod?
Steven gets control of the iPod
through the stereo in the van as he’s driving. Deal to me!  On my own -
Be Your Own Pet, Panic At The Disco, Polysics, Sleater-Kinney, B-52′s,
Clor, The Futureheads…

Favourite movie soundtrack?
Grease.

Motorhead have Cheese And Chive Ruffles on their rider. What’s on yours?
Wine, beer, red bull, pretzels, tortillas and salsa!

Say something rock and roll.
Eat cold pizza for breakfast! Grrr.

What are you going to do right now?
Check the Data Panik forum on this rare occasion I’m actually sitting still for more than five minutes!

Data Panik release Control The Radical on a split 7" single on Must Destroy Records with fellow Scots next month.

Visit the official Data Panik website now or visit the Data Panik MySpace page

[interview by Stuart Heritage]