Sara's Top 10 Albums + Interview

Sara was interviewed in the Winter 08 issue of Under The Radar. Thanks to setoutrunning on LJ for typing it up.

Sara's Top Ten Albums of 2007
1. Electrelane: No Shouts, No Calls
2. Menomena: Friend and Foe
3. Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
4. The National: Boxer
5. Beirut: The Flying Club Cup
6. Shocking Pinks: Shocking Pinks
7. Talib Kweli: Eardrum
8. Pharaoh Monch: Desire
9. Rihanna: Good Girl Gone Bad
10. Northern State: Can I Keep This Pen?

What was the highlight of 2007 for either you personally or for the band?
This record (The Con ) felt so personal, and the experience of making it was the most rewarding of our career so far. I think I'll cherish the time we spend with Chris Walla in Portland during January, February, and March '07 for the rest of my days!

What was the low point of 2007 for you?
This year has been challenging on a personal level for me. I've had a few rock bottom moments emotionally and it's been difficult to navigate my personal life with my professional life demanding my full attention. I've had many years of equilibrium, but something fell out of whack between the two in '07.

What are your hopes and plans for 2008?
We are brainstorming interesting ways to perform our live show. We're in the middle of a traditional "band" tour right now, but I'd still like to get out and do something unconventional before this album cycle is over. It could involve music, but also some community organizations and alternative methods of performing music and distributing information!

What's the hardest life decision you had to make in 2007?
Should I stop hating myself?

What are your thoughts on the way in which Radiohead have released their new album, In Rainbows; in that they made it available online right after announcing the album and that they allowed fans to name their price? Is this something you'd like to see more bands do and is it something that you could imagine doing with a future album?
I have to admit I was disappointed by the figure that two-thirds of the people who downloaded the record chose to pay nothing. I thought this was an amazing opportunity to show the industry of labels, retailers, and radio that we the artist have managed to make a strong connection with our fans WITHOUT the crutch of the middleman.

Which Presidential candidate (or candidates) are you currently supporting for the 2008 election and why?
Well, it's complicated. I think obviously the race is between Hillary and Guiliani. I'd prefer to see the Dems get into power. Although, I feel disillusioned with American politics. I don't understand a country of 300 million people, who'd prefer to watch Dancing With the Stars than tune in to a presidential election of a "reality" show that is actually reality (This American Life on Showtime!).

People are obviously aware that the environment, healthcare, and the war are going to be three of the biggest issues in the 2008 election. Is there an issue that you hope gets brought to light or doesn't get swept under the carpet?
Healthcare and "defense" spending are the two biggest issues I see. Growing up in a country where I never worried that my government would turn its back on me if I got cancer does something to your outlook on life, and ultimately how you value other human lives. To most Canadians, when it comes to healthcare, we all believe that EVERYONE deserves medicine and a fighting chance to live. I think there should be a priority to protect the lives of Americans by providing them with free healthcare, not with a bloated defense budget.

A lot of indie artists have had songs in TV commercials in the last year. What are your thoughts on this? Do you regard these artists as sell-outs or is that an outdated notion? Is there any product that you feel your music would be best suited to advertise and is there any product that you definitely wouldn’t want your music to advertise?
I'm not sure "selling-out" is applicable anymore. Tegan and I specifically won't do cars, tobacco, or alcohol. We're not really interested in commercials, but I realize it would be unfair to expect a band that isn’t likely to receive much mainstream television or radio play to not recognize or respect the value of visibility alternative mediums of marketing can provide.

Which song from 2007 do you most wish you'd written and why?
"Start a War" by The National. The lyric "Whatever went away I'll get over it again. I'll get money, I'll get funny again;" that's why I love it. When I started to feel so overwhelmed that I didn't trust that I was still a loveable person, I'd listen to this song.

You're put in charge of the music business: What's the first thing you do?
Quickly find a way to stop being in charge! I think the best thing that can happen to a band is finding out that relying on yourself and creating infrastructure to support your project without the help of a big bankroll and a lot of extraneous opinions ultimately ensures you creative control and preserves a stronger, more organic connection with your audience. 360 deals terrify me. I think it's so important to understand every nook and cranny of your career, and I worry that labels are going to make it too easy for young bands to avoid the hard work of the doing it yourself. That doesn't mean there aren’t benefits to a record label foundation, but understanding your project before handing it off is a necessary part of finding success in this new industry.

If you could be the champion of something, what would it be and why?
Nintendo Wii boxing. I am the current Tegan and Sara champion, but I'd like to branch out and get a ranking.