Sunday Mail Article

"Copyright 2008 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd.
Sunday Mail
February 17, 2008, Sunday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 34
LENGTH: 543 words
HEADLINE: DOUBLE CROSSED;
GIGS; 60 SECOND INTERVIEW
BYLINE: Avril Cadden

TEGAN AND SARA

The Canadian twins'Sara reveals why they think life's a big con.Their fifth album is out tomorrow and their first Scots concert is at Glasgow's QMU on February 29.

Why is your fifth album called The Con?

Tegan liked the idea of The Con. At the time she was single and dating. When you're meeting people, you show them parts of you that you think are positive or cool. In a weird way, you're conning them.

You're only letting them see what might be attractive, fun or exciting and not the high-maintenance, dramatic, strange parts that are more difficult to love.

She felt love was a con because by the time you start to like or love a person, you are already in too deep - you have to accept the other stuff - and I agreed.

I was thinking more about the con of life. This presentation that we walk around projecting that we feel happy but you go home and stay awake at night wondering what you're doing with your life.

Are the two of you single now?

I am single and not dating but Tegan is in a relationship. Because I'm on the road I feel like a monk, I shut down. It's a challenge, not just for romantic relationships but also for my family and friends. Often everyone is forced to accept my schedule.

How did you get involved in music?

Tegan and I started touring straight out of high school. We were turning 18 and it was 1998. We put out our first record eight years ago and we've been touring since.

I had a couple of crappy jobs but, for the most part, I've made a living playing music.

What else would you do if not this?

The way some people fantasise about being a rock star, I've always fantasised about being an author. I would do creative writing.

Being twins, do you work well together or fight?

We have quite a successful relationship.

We're the only kids in our family and we love each other and we're best friends. There was a lot of bickering and fighting but we are much better than we used to be.

I know so many bands that are terrifying.They fight and don't trust each other.

I'm so used to being told it must be hard being in a band with my sister. But looking at all those other bands, I think me and Tegan are pretty good at this. I trust her, she would never steal or lie or hurt me and we can say whatever we want to each other.

Will you do any individual projects?

We'll definitely do other stuff. Tegan has another side project. She's in a band with Hunter Burgan, the bassist from AFI. It's sort of a pop-rock-electro thing. But we worry about putting out a side project. Her voice sounds like my voice and we wonder if it seems like a Tegan and Sara project. But in future we'll do separate things.

Have you been to Scotland before and are you looking forward to it?

We've never been. Our stepdad is Scottish and our biological dad's father was from Scotland. Because both of our dads have a Scottish connection, I'm excited to be going there.

I don't know where they are from but I'm going to figure it out because we must have relatives somewhere.

Any other plans for this year?

We'll be on the road for another year and spending more time in Europe. Our focus is getting outside of North America. We want to make inroads in the UK and we know we have grassroots support because of the internet. We want to be a more visible band.

Avril Cadden"