5 Questions With - Tegan & Sara
Tegan and Sara are fucking awesome. I mean, duh. This goes without saying. They’ve been in the game for years now, and they have proven that they can make top notch tunes in whatever genre they decide to do, whether it be acoustic indie rock or electro pop.
Still touring to promote their latest LP ‘Heartthrob’ (which was my second favorite album of 2013), the duo will be performing at festivals across the country this summer (I’m pumped to see them at the Boston Calling Festival in particular).
Sara answered a few questions the other day about everything from their musical switch up to life on the road to being gay role models.
How does it feel to be in a band with your sister? Ever feel like its too much family time?
After 14 years it just feels normal! We spend a lot of time on the road together, but we also have a large band and crew so its not as intense sisterly bonding as one would imagine. We also have lived in separate cities for almost 12 years so that allows us a healthy break from one another when we aren't touring.
Your latest album ‘Heartthrob’ is noticeably different from all of your previous ones. What made you decide to try something different?
We wanted to approach this album without any aesthetic or sonic limitations. We let the songs and the producers have a lot of head room, and pushed the material as far as it would go. We both listen to a lot of pop music and it felt time to make something that reflected our current inspirations. It was also our 7th album and we were hoping to both surprise and inspire our devoted fan base, and an entirely new fan base.
Were you at all worried about the fans' reaction to you two changing genres?
We've always seen ourselves as being genre-less. When we were collaborating with Tiesto people would still refer to us as "folk" and no matter how imbedded in the rock/indie rock scene we got people still would label us "indie pop" or some other sub genre of a sub genre. Its always been confusing and so we really don't feel trapped by those labels. I knew that if people could love our old songs, our collaborations with electronic/hip hop/rock artists then they could accept a little pop!
How did you meet Greg Kurstin and how did you end up working with him?
Greg was on our radar as someone who bridged the pop and indie scenes. He had produced the most recent Shins record, which we loved, but was also behind some of our favorite pop songs. It seemed appropriate to work with someone who could help us translate our melodies and ideas onto a bigger pop landscape.
You guys seem to always be on tour and playing festivals, which can be grueling. What keeps you going?
Touring and road life has been our main focus for over a decade so we're quite disciplined about the lifestyle. The key is rest and eating well, a good consistent routine and exercise!
You guys are probably the most popular lesbian music group performing today. Does that ever add any pressure in any way?
I don't really think of us in that context. We are proud of our identity and are very cognizant of its importance to a part of our audience but we have never marginalized ourselves by thinking that we are a gay band. We have a sexuality but our music does not
Do you feel there is a lack of positive gay role models in the music industry?
I think there are amazing role models in the music industry but there could be more. I hope in the future people will see themselves as playing a role in giving shape to a more diverse spectrum of identity. But for now, there are certainly plenty of folks to get behind!
Are you guys already working on a follow up to ‘Heartthrob’?
Not yet! Soonnnnnnn.
What are some artists or bands you are listening to right now that we should all go out and try?
I love the new Lykke Li record a lot! Some others: Chet Faker. The Courtneys. Tomas Barfod.
Tegan and Sara are fucking awesome. I mean, duh. This goes without saying. They’ve been in the game for years now, and they have proven that they can make top notch tunes in whatever genre they decide to do, whether it be acoustic indie rock or electro pop.
Still touring to promote their latest LP ‘Heartthrob’ (which was my second favorite album of 2013), the duo will be performing at festivals across the country this summer (I’m pumped to see them at the Boston Calling Festival in particular).
Sara answered a few questions the other day about everything from their musical switch up to life on the road to being gay role models.
How does it feel to be in a band with your sister? Ever feel like its too much family time?
After 14 years it just feels normal! We spend a lot of time on the road together, but we also have a large band and crew so its not as intense sisterly bonding as one would imagine. We also have lived in separate cities for almost 12 years so that allows us a healthy break from one another when we aren't touring.
Your latest album ‘Heartthrob’ is noticeably different from all of your previous ones. What made you decide to try something different?
We wanted to approach this album without any aesthetic or sonic limitations. We let the songs and the producers have a lot of head room, and pushed the material as far as it would go. We both listen to a lot of pop music and it felt time to make something that reflected our current inspirations. It was also our 7th album and we were hoping to both surprise and inspire our devoted fan base, and an entirely new fan base.
Were you at all worried about the fans' reaction to you two changing genres?
We've always seen ourselves as being genre-less. When we were collaborating with Tiesto people would still refer to us as "folk" and no matter how imbedded in the rock/indie rock scene we got people still would label us "indie pop" or some other sub genre of a sub genre. Its always been confusing and so we really don't feel trapped by those labels. I knew that if people could love our old songs, our collaborations with electronic/hip hop/rock artists then they could accept a little pop!
How did you meet Greg Kurstin and how did you end up working with him?
Greg was on our radar as someone who bridged the pop and indie scenes. He had produced the most recent Shins record, which we loved, but was also behind some of our favorite pop songs. It seemed appropriate to work with someone who could help us translate our melodies and ideas onto a bigger pop landscape.
You guys seem to always be on tour and playing festivals, which can be grueling. What keeps you going?
Touring and road life has been our main focus for over a decade so we're quite disciplined about the lifestyle. The key is rest and eating well, a good consistent routine and exercise!
You guys are probably the most popular lesbian music group performing today. Does that ever add any pressure in any way?
I don't really think of us in that context. We are proud of our identity and are very cognizant of its importance to a part of our audience but we have never marginalized ourselves by thinking that we are a gay band. We have a sexuality but our music does not
Do you feel there is a lack of positive gay role models in the music industry?
I think there are amazing role models in the music industry but there could be more. I hope in the future people will see themselves as playing a role in giving shape to a more diverse spectrum of identity. But for now, there are certainly plenty of folks to get behind!
Are you guys already working on a follow up to ‘Heartthrob’?
Not yet! Soonnnnnnn.
What are some artists or bands you are listening to right now that we should all go out and try?
I love the new Lykke Li record a lot! Some others: Chet Faker. The Courtneys. Tomas Barfod.