Getting Closer with Tegan and Sara
September 15, 2013 11:29 AM   Subscribe

"...back in the day I feel like we could have been doing polka and we still would've gotten compared to Ani DiFranco"
Tegan and Sara Quinn sit down with The Nerdist's Chris Hardwick and Jonah Ray to discuss consciously trying to expand their fanbase, the challenge of being seen as something other than a "gimmicky" (girl/gay/twin) group, the futility of trying to gauge "authenticity" in music and, of course, Miley Cyrus' VMA performance
posted by The Gooch (10 comments total) 14 users marked this as a favorite
 
The pull quote makes me think of I'm Mot Your Hero from Heartthrob.
posted by maryr at 3:15 PM on September 15, 2013


Meh. I much prefer their older stuff.
posted by aclevername at 6:48 PM on September 15, 2013


So do I, aclevername, but one of the things I thought was interesting when I saw them live earlier in the year was that they talked about the same thing The Gooch mentions above: that they moved into dance music in a deliberate attempt to get their music out to new fans. You certainly can't say they haven't paid their dues; they've toured Australia six or seven times in the last decade and I'd be amazed if they broke even on most of them because the venues were so small. The first time I saw them, around 2003, it was in a pub that holds maybe 300 people.

So if they want to make some money now, I really can't fault them for it. There's not a lot of fame and success in woman-friendly folk/rock these days.
posted by Georgina at 7:46 PM on September 15, 2013 [4 favorites]


Oh, and the venue I saw them in earlier in the year? The Sydney Opera House. So the plan appears to be working.
posted by Georgina at 7:49 PM on September 15, 2013 [4 favorites]


Also, Feel You In My Bones (which I am told got a lot of mainstream radio play in Canada, but I never heard it here in the US) is a great song and very fitting with their sound, Tiestro dance-y sound or not.
posted by maryr at 8:39 PM on September 15, 2013


(I too prefer their older stuff, but I still enjoy the most recent album. It took a second listen, but if you ignore the obvious dance beats, it feels pretty consistent to the older stuff, to me.)
posted by maryr at 8:43 PM on September 15, 2013


Prison is not a joke.
posted by New England Cultist at 8:51 PM on September 15, 2013 [2 favorites]


Prison is not a joke.

It's not fun, don't do it.

I've been a fan to various degrees for years and I've so enjoyed watching their long deserved massive increase in popularity. They are amazing strategists, unapologetic in their approach to the band as a business, but I think they manage this without compromising their artistic vision at all.

On top of that, they remain hilariously funny. Seriously, see them live if you get a chance.
posted by unbearablylight at 3:54 AM on September 16, 2013 [1 favorite]


I don't know their old stuff. I knew their name since the early days because, well, Canada, but I really like their new stuff. It's good quality pop music in both lyrics and music.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:16 PM on September 16, 2013


Oh I definitely don't have a problem with them gaining fame and making money. Go for it Quinn twins. I just haven't bought any of their albums since The Con because it's no longer to my taste. But good for them, by all means.
posted by aclevername at 9:32 AM on September 17, 2013


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