Date: June 13, 2010
Author: Tegan Quin
Publication: teganandsara.org
Headline: May 2010 Ask Tegan

Nick writes:
I recently saw Kaki King live. At one point during the show, I looked to my left and saw all five people to my left pointing cameras at her. How do you feel about concertgoers increasingly watching your shows through the viewfinders of their cameras?


Hey Nick!
Excellent question! When a sea of cameras appear during say...Call It Off, I actually get it. I imagine them going home and playing it back and it being a really great token of the concert experience. I don't really mind the recording of our shows so much, though I do wonder how good it could possibly sound? And I would never record anything and go home and watch it so...there is definitely a disconnect for me there but I don't really mind. Photos on the other hand I find really annoying after a few songs. How many photos of me blurry, making silly faces, from below can you really want in your collection? Ha.
Take care,
Tegan

Megan asks:
Hi Tegan,
When you do press, do you ever get tired of answering the same questions over and over? Do you try to change up your answers to make the same question that has been asked ten times still seem interesting to yourself and the reader?


Hey Megan!
I definitely try to keep it interesting. Telling the same stories over and over is boring just like being asked the same questions over and over can be boring. But often if the writer is really engaged and really seems to want to know what its like for me being a twin for example I can actually get into answering that question, even though I've been asked 5000 times already. I imagine a lot of our fans don't read our press. I figure they go right to the source anyhow. So I don't really worry about appearing boring to them.
Thanks!
Tegan

Britt asks:
Hey Tegan,
When you first worked with Chris Walla on The Con, you said that he encouraged you to build the album as if it were a story and each song was a piece of a puzzle instead of a singular entity. I was wondering if you approached Sainthood the same way, and if so, what is the importance of the order on this record?
P.S. I think you're a phenomenal writer and I am continually amazed by your way with words. I think one of the great things that separates you from other artists is your passion in and for your music.


Hey Britt!
Thank you for saying everything you've said above. That's so sweet of you. And to answer your question, no we did not build Sainthood the way we built The Con. It was a VERY different record in that sense. Truthfully it was much more traditional in the sense that we were just picking a random song everyday to work on as a band. There was no order or sequence until we had already mixed it. We actually came up with the final sequence the night before we mastered the record! Eek! Order is very important though. Obviously you want people to be able to play the record from start to finish and it feel...like a story. I think Sainthood has a great feel to it. But nothing will ever trump The Con. That record was our baby and its sequence..is perfect. Ha.
Thanks again Britt, take care,
Tegan

Kate writes:
Is there a person or an experience from your life thus far that you feel strongly influenced who you are today? What do you think it was about that person or experience that had such an impact on you?


Kate,
I think our mom and our gramma had a huge impact on us growing up. Sara and I had some very strong and devoted women in our life right from the start and I think we were confident and supported because of it. That being said both of our dads (step dad and bio dad) were amazing as well. Sara and I were lucky to have a family that supported us being so alternative. From our music choices to our clothing and hair but also our friends and as we hit our late teens our sexuality. All of them had great passion for music and for friends and family and I think now well into our own lives Sara and I still see those things as most important to us. They definitely shaped who we are.
Thanks Kate,
Tegan

Jessica writes:
Hello.
The loyalty shared between you and your fans is insane/ amazing/ fascinating. Is it disappointing to you that you can't hang out after shows, or is it kind of a relief to have scheduled/ controllable meet and greets? What is a good way for fans to find out about in-store appearances or to get autographs?
P.S. Life of Pi is a good book. Thought I would throw in a book suggestion.


Hey Jessica!
I loved Life of Pi. Did you know Yann Martel has a new book out? I can't wait to read it. Anyhoo! Yes I am definitely sad to not be meeting fans anymore. To be honest when we released The Con we stopped selling merchandise after the shows. That was huge for us. I missed it so much at first. It was something we had done for nearly 10 years. Ha. After shows we would pace around backstage confused as to how to fill our time. But we got used to it. And then started to enjoy that time after the show for ourselves. Relaxing and taking a moment (sometimes the first moment in the day) to ourselves to relax and unwind. I think a lot of fans don't realize that a lot of artists work all day long. Its not just the show that is part of our job there are a lot of other things to do in the day too. Like radio, where we often meet fans and do signings. We also do record in stores, TV, interviews, meet with the label or just travel. There were days when we were pulling into the venue, doing a few hours of press, sound check, a meet and greet and then having just enough time to eat dinner quick and get ready to go on stage. When we finish the show often we are so tired its a relief to get to just go to the bus and go to bed. (we're getting old). With Sainthood we've tried to cut back on signing after shows. Mainly because by the time our crew is ready to bring us outside (a necessary factor when we leave the venue after a show) its well after midnight. We started to feel concerned about minors and our younger fans who had been standing in an alley for hours waiting. Some of the venues we play are in dangerous areas etc. We had parents of fans emailing our management complaining that there wasn't proper security or areas for fans to wait. Which is true. There isn't. And we don't travel with security. So. We also have had some issues with a few fans this year being too aggressive with us. The fact is our tour manager and the rest of our crew are just regular people like Sara and I and aren't trained to protect or to prevent attacks etc. The venue security are not insured to police outside the venue either. So we decided as a group to stop standing in alley's post show. We really do love our fans. Sara and I would be working regular jobs and would have never accomplished what we have without all of you. Sometimes our guilt gets the best of us and we go out and meet fans during the day before the show or sometimes after shows too but we are trying to protect the fans and ourselves from the 1% of people who just go too far and endanger the whole group. Sara and I assure you we're looking into smaller shows, acoustic performances, record store shows, signings and meet and greets at radio stations etc all so we CAN meet you. So keep an eye out for those opportunities.
Thanks for the question Jessica!
Tegan

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