The Denver band DeVotchKa, which plays May 10 at The Vogue, is known for weaving polka, mariachi and gypsy jazz into the fabric of indie rock. Using the accordion, violin, trumpets and even the sousaphone and Theremin - along with the staples of guitar, piano, drums and bass - the four-piece band has forged a sound both familiar and one of a kind.

On his band's most recent album, "A Mad & Faithful Telling," which was released earlier this year, DeVotchKa frontman and lyricist Nick Urata intertwines themes of love, economics and politics, often in the same song, much like his band blends musical styles.

We tracked him down via e-mail for a few questions.

As an independent band, is it more satisfying for you when your music is associated with independent movies like "Everything is Illuminated" and "Little Miss Sunshine" than when it's used elsewhere? Are you careful about where your songs appear?

Yes, it was beautiful to be involved in those films and yes, we definitely have turned down a lot of stuff. Bands are kind of in a tough spot these days - you're told nobody is buying records anymore, but don't sell out and be in a commercial.

Where do the triple capitals in DeVotchKa come from? And why do you use the 'k' from the Cyrillic alphabet?

There are a few reasons behind that, but the main one is it looks cool.

Some musicians might prefer to keep their styles pure, but you guys seem to revel in mashing them all together. What is the appeal of that and how do you make it work, without it turning into a train wreck of genres?

We all realized, even before we met, when you try to be a purist with any one form it's limiting and eventually unsatisfying. Mashing them together is one of the best parts of this. I can't dissect the alchemy of it, but we just try to make records we would like to listen to.

Are you guys in any way a political band and, if so, are you backing any presidential candidate?

I am very political, but we made a conscious decision to not bring overtly political statements into the show. I want people to escape into our music and lose reality for at least a brief moment.

The great power of art is it breaks all barriers and reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters. That being said, we want Obama.

Some of your songs, like "Blessing in Disguise" on "A Mad & Faithful Telling," seem to look at love as a thing that controls us, much like a political system or a government. Is that a fair comparison?

Yes, I'm glad you caught that. As a writer I made that realization a while back that, no matter what is happening in the rest of the world, the No. 1 concern on everybody's mind is, "How's your love life?"

Is the exuberance of your music a way of counterbalancing some of the things you sing about that perhaps aren't so happy?

Yes, yes, yes - it's always when our world comes crashing down around us that we realize we are alive. Music always can provide a little solace in the worst of situations.

By John Staton / Indy.com correspondent