Pop duo to combine music, politics … and fun
Tegan and Sara aim to engage on latest tour
There are almost as many videos as songs for Tegan and Sara’s new album features a wind machine and beautifully groomed dogs.
stars a magical animated horse. stars a cast of trans and gender nonconforming youth in the roles of iconic artists like Prince, David Bowie and Grace Jones.
The latter is perhaps the most memorable, as was filming it. The video shoot took place just days after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, where 49 people at the gay club were killed. It was a devastating blow to the cast, crew and the band.
Despite the tragedy on everyone’s minds, Sara Quin said the set was a beautiful place to be. The musicians tried to be handsoff during the shoot so the cast could have its moment to shine, but they were there for a few hours to film crowd shots.
“To have a set with both cast and crew that were primarily made up of people from the LGBT community, it was just heartwarming for us and it has just strengthened our belief that right now part of our mission with this album cycle is to increase visibility for people in our community who are so rarely focused on in the media,” she said.
The band is about to begin a North American tour in support of the album, with shows across the U.S., including one in Orlando. Quin said she’s excited to tour in the U.S. at this time, particularly during election season. It’s a chance to play shows but also do outreach in communities and learn more about the specific issues faced by the LGBT community in each city.
“As Canadians, there can be a bit of a disengagement: ‘It’s not our country, it’s not our problem.’ But I just feel such a connection to the LGBT community internationally. We’ve spent 17 years really focused and building our career in the U.S., so there is a power and duty to give back to that community,” Quin said. “We’re not trying to preach and beat people over the head with our concerns and our priorities politically, but I do think it’s an interesting way to integrate politics in a fun way into music again.”
Tegan and Sara’s eighth album, was released in June. It continues the group’s gradual transition from indie rock to big, polished pop, a change most obvious on the band’s last album It’s a natural shift that reflects the band’s listening habits and the wider music world. Tegan and Sara’s fan base has adapted easily, something bands don’t always experience.
“I think once was out and we had been touring for about a year I remember thinking ‘This is going to work.’ We’re not beholden to this rock infrastructure or this indie rock world that we’re known for,” said Quin. “We’re really able to transcend that genre stuff that sometimes bands can’t. People seem more interested in the lyrics and the stories.”
The culture of the band extends beyond the music. There are stories and a personality that draw people in, creating a community both Tegan and Sara are actively engaged in. People who discover the band a few albums in are often eager to delve back into the catalogue.
“That is a really lucky thing for us because we’re a touring band and we present ourselves on the whole catalogue. We’re not just a singles band,” said Quin.
Even with such devoted and open-minded fans, Quin says she and Tegan still worry it could all end tomorrow. In some ways, not a lot has changed since Tegan and Sara released its first album in 1999.
“Tegan and I are exactly the same in that we’re still nervous and ambitious and we’re always worried that things will be gone tomorrow and we’ll have to find new jobs. We’re still sort of fatalist in that way in that we’re kind of shocked that it’s happening and that we still get to do it. But on the other hand, we’re incredibly confident and really believe in what we do.”