Q&A 2009

November 2009

1. Will we ever get to see the lost ‘Not A Love Song’ video (the one that was originally filmed but never saw the light of day- these photos)? -Ryan, New York

We actually have a copy of that video somewhere in our archives. We will try and post the first version for your enjoyment! Stay Tuned.

2. On Twitter you said that your record label have control over your Facebook page and now your official website has gone too. Will the Message Board stay up? -Lily

As far as we know, with the main webpage being taken down, the message board has been hijacked as well. We’re trying to look into salvaging it, but will probably have to make an entire new one. So Sorry! Thank Nettwerk for that one! They claim to be artist friendly. Not so much.

3. When shall we fans see new photos of the band? And the request is to have Cam smile a big ole smile, hahahahaha. Looking forward to the new tracks. -badjedi

New photos/photoshoots will happen with the release of the new record. We’re currently having to finance all of the recording/mixing process as well as photoshoots, so that is all slow-moving because of that. We are however working on it!

4. Will the old t-shirts/hoodies that you first sold ever be available to buy again? Any new stuff coming up? -Maud

We will be making all new merch items with the release of record 2. We are currently sold out of all old black on black hoodies, but don’t worry, we’ll make some fabulous new ones.

5. If you could have written any song in music history what would it be and why? -Laura, Chester, UK

Cam: I wish I wrote ‘Adagio for Strings’ by Samuel Barber. I think it’s the perfect epic string composition.

Leisha: Blue by Joni Mitchell.

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October 2009

1. Which band would you like to have opening for you? And which band would you love to open for? (this can be next tour or ideal tour) -Pitxi, Portugal

As far as openers, we would have Mellowdrone or Hearts Challenger, because they’re awesome. As far as opening, we’d love to open for Goldfrapp or The Killers.

2. How important is ‘radio-time’ to the success of your albums/songs? And, how difficult is it to obtain radio-time nationally? -Sarah, Arizona

We think radio is bizarre nowadays. It’s so hard to be heard unless you’re a Disney band or something. That being said, if you’re lucky enough to get play, then it’s an extremely helpful marketing tool. Indie radio is where it’s at for band’s like us, and for the most part that’s via the internet with stations such as indie 103.1, which went off the air to avoid corporate pressures to play crap music, and stations like NPR that dare to be different, etc… There is still a lot radio can do, it is just heavily influenced by “the man” at the present time. That lends itself to really homogenized music that I personally don’t prefer to listen to at all.

3. Do either of you do any sports? Or do you prefer watching? If you do watch are there any teams that you avidly support? -Doug, New York

- Cam: I’m really into playing racquetball at the moment. I love hitting the ball as hard as I can and not having to run around too far to chase it. It’s very 80s of me, no? I really like watching the LAKERS play bball as well. Go Colby and Lamar.

-Leisha: I run and listen to my ipod. It clears my head.

4. Name something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. -Lyndsey, France

Old – Gary Numan Records, New – iPod touch, Borrowed – Leisha’s Nord Lead 2x, Blue – our fave chewing gum.

5. The internet has obviously been a wonderful tool for a lot of small, independent bands to get their music out to listeners. Yet how can bands, and labels, harness the democratizing power of the internet while still making money, maintaining a sustainable business plan? -Kace, Vancouver

If they knew how to harness the internet to generate income, then maybe labels wouldn’t be in such duress. I hope they figure it out soon. As far as indie artists, the direct communication to fans enables us to let them know about merch/touring/albums/etc…which in turn generate sales for the artists in the form of ticket sales, and album sales, etc. It’s a great marketing tool that doesn’t cost a whole lot because we can talk right to the people who would want to support us and buy our product (which happens to be music).

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August 2009

1. Any chances of a tour with Tegan and Sara in the fall or sometime in the future? Cuz that would pretty much be the best tour ever. Also, do you know when the next CD will be out and/or when you will start touring again? -Heather, USA

No plans to tour with Teegles and Sara. We’re not sure when our new CD will be released but you’ll be the first to hear when we do now via our MySpace or Twitter.

2. Do you have any favourite animated/disney movies and if you could lend your voice to an animated character either who/what would it be and why? -Emily, Australia

Cam: I would be puff the magic dragon.

Leisha: I would be the singing frog

3. If you had a one-way, one-trip time machine, would you use it? If so, what time period would you go to? And why? -Anna

Cam: Yes, I’d go back to the 70′s in London because i think it was a really exciting time in music.

Leisha: I’d go to the future so that I could have a tiny flying vehicle. yeah.

4. What was the first band/concert you ever went to see, and did they influence you in any way? -Kayla, Germany

Cam: Elton John and Billy Joel dueling pianos, it was good stuff.

Leisha: Amy Grant-boooja

5. If you were to ever write an autobiography, what would you call it and what would the first chapter be about? -Peyton, Toronto

Cam: Mine wouldn’t have a title, but would just be a big shimmery mirror substance as a cover so that when you look into it you just see your own reflection. First chapter would be about projection and how most people just project their own shit onto you.

Leisha: “Dad’s Workshop”- and it would be about how I learned about the power of manifesting dreams and also always keeping my own sort of personal space.

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July 2009

1. Do you have an all time favourite Film and Book? -Ash, Ireland

Leisha: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and fave book is the Hobbit.

Camila: Goonies, and fave book, well there are too many, so for now I’ll say anything by William S Burroughs.

2. Cam, what work did you do with Tricky and do you skateboard? -Anon.

Camila: I had Tricky do some remixes of some of my solo work while I was working with Dre. I was going to potentially go on tour with him and sing, but it didn’t work out. I don’t really skateboard, and when I do bad things happen like arms out of sockets, so I’m now staying away.

3. If you could choose a different career, what would it be? -Naci, Philippines

Leisha: Painter.

Camila: Astronaut, or doctor.

4. Will the song ‘I’ve Had Enough’ be on the new album and are you still considering changing your band name? -Kim

“I’ve Had Enough” is still in the running for the next record. We have it recorded but are being picky about whether to speed it up or keep it a “slow jam”. Ha! We are going to stick with the very hard to say “UH HUH HER” for the time being. We’ll let you know if we change it on a whim…

5. The industry was surprised when Radiohead gave away “In Rainbows” for any amount fans wished to pay, Amanda Palmer has proof that an indie musician, without a label’s marketing, can make $19000 on twitter in a couple of hours. So let’s get visionary, how do you project the industry in a couple of years? Will music labels fade away or will they play a different role then they are now? -Mabe, Ecuador

Good question! I think now more than ever artists are realizing that the direct artist to fan relationship via MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, etc…is a very legitimate way to develop sales instead of spending huge marketing dollars through a label. Labels are definitely realizing this as well and are forcing artists to Twitter, etc…so it’s just changing the game for the artist. Instead of it being this one dimensional thing where artists just make music and tour and look cool, they now are having to interact with fans on a whole new level. I think more artists are realizing also that they now don’t need labels for this very reason…so much more to say about it but let’s keep it short and sweet for now!

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June 2009

1. Will you ever release an acoustic version of Common Reaction? If not all, maybe some of the songs? -Michelle

Answer: We had been planning on doing that but we got really busy creating our second record and really want to focus on doing that. We definitely plan to take a couple of the songs off common and make acoustic versions. Stay tuned and we’ll let you know how it goes. We also might be doing acoustic versions of new songs and make them b-sides on the next record.

2. Given that you had a longer time to create this upcoming album, were there any moments of creative epiphanies or did the process stay the same? -Badjedi

Answer: The process has been much more relaxed this time around because we don’t have a label and all the pressures that come along with that. Cam’s been producing this new record, much like the style of the EP so we feel like we’re going back to our roots. It’s a mix of lo-fi sounds and electronic in a way and not the polished sound you heard with Common Reaction. Also this time around Leisha has been here the whole time and not shooting the show, so its been a much more collaboratively consistent process from the beginning. We’re having lots of fun making this. We have no rules and we like it this way.

3. If you could be an animal, which one would you be? -Cam, Riverside, CA

Cam: I would be a black stallion that roamed freely through fields of gold in the 1700′s.

Leisha: I would be an eagle.

4. A picture is worth a thousand words: What picture/photo/piece of art did this for you? -Lex, England

Cam: I love all the photos Andy Warhol took during his factory days. I have a bunch of books of his self portraits and portraits he did of others. I think they’re so honest, and also such a perfect representation of the life he led and all the excess.

Leisha: “Artist and Model” by David Hockney. He was obsessed with Picasso and it’s a self portrait of him being drawn by Picasso.

5. What is your all time favourite song and what song can’t you get enough of at the moment? -Shirley, Netherlands

Cam: This is so hard. I have 2 favorites. “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders, and “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber. At the moment I keep singing Zero by the YYY’s [Yeah Yeah Yeahs].

Leisha: All time fave is “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles. Song I can’t stop signing is “Love Lockdown” by Kanye West.

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