121 Comments

I would feel so horrible if I ever made an artist I admire feel trapped in skinny jeans.

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

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It sounds very constricting and uncomfortable. You haven’t breathed in 20 years?

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Love it Tegan. As a newer fan who wasn't with you through the changes but had the opportunity to get to know 9 albums at once it was pretty cool to see the evolution and definitely the risks taken. For every fan you have lost in the past I feel like you've gained many more in their place. You both have a lot of courage to show up and be who you are and not apologize for it. Not everyone is as strong as you noted. I believe all of your fans love you for being you and being truely authentic. It also helps IMO that you connect with us off the stage because then we can see who you are and what you stand for. Maybe its just me but I tend to stick around and support people I can connect with rather than those that are just a figure head or a brand. I can't wait to hear where the road goes as you take a left turn. I believe its gonna be amazing! Hope you are feeling better and its not the big C. Maydays are blooming in yyc so shall be a fun month for me too. Take care beautiful!

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Was not the big C! LOL! Sara is such a little sister, teasing me on tiktok! What a jerk! LOL! SO! That is so interesting that you got to know all 9 albums at once. I forget that newer fans get the opportunity to listen to it all together and hear the evolution in a different way than people who were there along the way. So cool!

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That's a relief. Glad to hear it. Get her back! She deserves it after the coffee and egg tik tok and now this one...jeez haha

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I am also a newer fan and got to listen to the evolution condensed. I like how they have grown and changed instead of catered to the people who just want bands to crank out hit after hit same after same.

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Absolutely true ❤️

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This is going to be a long comment, Tegan, so you don’t have to read it, but I really wanna share it hehehe.

I discovered your band in late 2012-early 2013 VERY RANDOMLY. It was a poetry class and my professor made us interpret Clever Meals. It can’t get more random than that. I just fell in love with the lyrics because I love lyrics that really feel poetic to me. I asked her about you and she told me all about Tegan and Sara and how much of a big fan she is. I checked you out after but I had finals and didn’t pay attention back then. A month or so later, I was on Youtube and saw the Closer MV in the recommended vids and checked it out. I was IN LOVE. Hours later I found myself enthralled when I finished Forest Fones and a few banters. I fell in love with the band not only because of the music, but with EVERYTHING that came with it: your personality, your humor, the fact that you are storytellers, the way you truly engage with and care about your fans and each other. It was a package. I listened, of course, to the entire discography. I was also struggling with my sexuality back then so that was a plus, too. You seemed closer to me as a fan than any other artist, probably because you always give to the fans through Youtube mini series, banters, blogs...etc. This mattered to me because I live in Jordan and despite having family in Canada and the US (and even some parts of Europe) I knew early on it was impossible for me to see you in a concert. It’s too expensive to fly and getting a visa is not easy...etc. So the closest I get to a concert are those moments you try new things to get closer to fans like this substack or your banters or the WDTGG live...etc. I could finally get my first merch THIS YEAR and only a couple of months ago thanks to a friend in the fandom who shipped some, and my aunt who kindly got me more merch when she came here from Mississauga. Still, throughout these ten years of being a fan, what made me really not get sick and bored of the band is the fact you are always evolving and changing. I was always excited to know more and get more. I’m a person who gets bored a lot and I love change. The fact that you do that is what kept me here. The music always had the lyrics that was so heartfelt and close to my experiences and even when it didn’t, it was always beautiful. I love every sound from the beginnings till now. It’s all special and it all comes with a story. In the past ten years, I graduated college, grad school, worked, got in and out of relationships...changes happened in my life as a fan the way they happened to your lives as people, so It’s really important for me to see the changes in the music and in everything that you do. Nothing really stays the same and that’s the beauty about life. Anyway, the summary of this rant is that I love that you experiment with and try new sounds, styles, and projects. It’s what makes the band approachable, lovable, and real.

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Appreciate this long and lovely post Maryam! Loved reading your history with our project! And I personally agree with all that you said. I think some people who like our band couldn't care less about all the stories and bits, and history of every song. They probably aren't searching out community or attaching the way many are, but I still appreciate their support.

I also love how attached and committed and invested so many people get in our world, our music, our stories, the community. I welcome it all! And appreciate it for different reasons. Ultimately I just really love that people are searching our music, and community and finding it with us, and if not with us, then somewhere else! I really am grateful for what I've learned from this substack for example, getting to know so many of you through your comments! It's so special! As you said, nothing stays the same, but one thing remains consistent for me at least when it comes to T&S - our fans are so freaking cool and wonderful and thoughtful and we appreciate you all very much!

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That’s so sweet. Love you 💙

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One of the things that I love so much about you and your music is that you never stay in one genre. You’re always changing styles and sounds and I think that is awesome. When I first discovered you 8 years ago, it was during Heartthrob and I loved the pop sound, which is what I was listening to during that time. When we were waiting for LP8 (soon to be LY2D), I didn’t know what to expect, but when I heard the new sound and style of that album I fell in love. Everything about that era will always remain my favorite for so many reasons. It’s no different with HIJLY for me, that album is very special to me and no matter what you put out, I will be here to listen ❤️

I can’t wait to hear this new album and I just know your evolving sound and style will bring in so many more people. Are we going to get a tracklist soon?? 👀

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Thanks for commenting! And just know we appreciate the support across albums very much! As for a tracklist for the new album...we are definitely getting closer every day to announcing more about the album!

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I LOVE how much your sound has varied from album to album. Its like we’ve watched you grow as people as well as artists, which feels more intimate, which fans love- as you know. I keep telling my husband he should listen to them all in order, because it’s like a journey. He is a fan but doesn’t know much pre-The Con, and the other day I played Living Room for him and it took him like 17 tries to guess who it was, and he was stoked when I told him. Now he’s digging around your library looking for more sounds that he didn’t know you had. So there you go; your

ever—growing sound has gained you a bigger fan ☺️

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That's such a sweet story Danielle. I have no idea why it delights me to imagine people discovering our early stuff, or exploring our back catalogue, but it does. I think its also what motivates me to try new things, experiment with our albums, take tours opening for other kinds of artists, I just LOVE when people discover us. Almost as much as I take pleasure from people sticking with us through the years, I love seeing the faces of new fans. It really energizes me! I love that someone could LOVE our band for one album, then eventually find an old album and rediscover us. It's so cool! Thanks for sharing!

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I don't get the people who don't want artists to change their sound and evolve, I like that each album is a different vibe, it tells a story and brings you on new journey. If every album sounded the same it would be boring, you'd never grow as artists and the audience wouldn't be challenged or inspired

p.s. Bet you can't wait to tour again so you can hear people scream for you to play Superstar and Living Room every night!

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LOL

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So true. I think of some artists that are married to their genre and literally every album sounds the same. It gets boring IMO. I love the variety in my playlist (all TnS of course) from The First to 100x to Bad Ones to HIJLY and everything in between. Completely different sounds but love them all so much. Have a huge soft spot for all the acoustic and both SJ's as well. Loving the new FUWM sound into it too!

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Loved hearing this, I have been trying to follow the advice of not caring what people think as long as I know I’ve done a good job and I love it and my family & partner appreciate me and my achievements that’s all that matters! I was also wondering what song from the new record it was that you mentioned in the t shirt subscription zoom chat that Sofia turned to you and said it was the best T&S song she had ever head? Was it fucking up what matters? Did it make the record? Lol thanks

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NOPE! It is the next single...and is one of my faves of all time...I think it'll surprise A LOT of people...and please a lot of people too!

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This band is definitely the epitome of "IYKYK". There is some validity to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it,", but I admit I'm a finicky fan. There are artists that seemed to follow a formula (that I liked) for quite some time, but after a while, I was like "Ok, I get it. This works...but how about trying something new?" And then when they do try something different, I'm like, "um...not really feeling it...but at least it's different!" But even though I may not like their current path, it doesn't take away from their talent. I still, overall, enjoy their body of work.

I am mostly drawn by authenticity, which you both exhibit. So as long as the creations/output/results are genuine and come from within, it's a winner. Like you said, we all change/evolve to a degree - why would art be any different? Thanks for keeping all of us on our toes. =)

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Ultimately we all get to decide what we listen to. NONE of us should be trapped listening to something we USED to love. Just like as artists we shouldn't be trapped into making something we USED to make. I think of other parallels a lot. Like friendship. Sometimes people grow apart. And you can keep working at the friendship, sure, but sometimes you just have to look back and see the friendship for what it was, and move on to new friends. And that's sad, and sometimes hard, but it's a part of life. And in a way I think sometimes people have to do that in our fanbase (and other fan bases). You have to let us go. As opposed to critiquing or being shitty on IG comments you know? I don't even get hurt feelings when people come up to tell me they don't like our band anymore. I mostly just wonder what drives them to say it. We don't need anyone to explain moving on. We're okay with the good times in the past, the memories we have of our time together, and it's okay to move on! Find new bands! We wish you well! LOL! But we also REALLY appreciate when people keep on the journey with us. We love when we hear from long time fans who have come back to the fold. Who love the new stuff. It's so gratifying. We're always here for everyone. We aren't going anywhere. Ok! ALSO! thank you for being open to us exploring, appreciating our authenticity, and enjoying being on your toes!!!!

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Completely agree that sometimes people just need to scroll past or move on if they don't like it.

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Yeah, I don't know why people feel compelled to express their dislike/distaste "directly". Is there any other way to live than being on our toes?!?!? ;) =P

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You win some, you lose some.

Changes are good. If you feel like you need to do something different, don’t hesitate and just do it. I think the majority of your fans are still your fans and they will be no matter what. Because liking a band is not always just about music. It’s about the band members too. People don’t have to like everything you do as long as you’re happy with your work.

I remember hearing Heartthrob for the first time, it was something different, catchy. I immediately loved it because I just love pop music in general. But it was kinda shocking to me because the first album of yours I got to hear was The Con. But I thought to myself wow they really can do everything and it still somehow sounds like the old T&S.

Anyway, I love you guys so much and will never stop being proud of you. Taking a risk in the music industry? Not many people can do it. But you can do everything 💚

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I think what I was / am always trying to convey is that exactly. Everything still sounds like us, because it IS us.

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I think a big part of your success is your personalities. No matter what you are doing, it’s still you, and we can feel that you are sincere about it ! I’m not gonna lie, I’m not a big fan of heartthrob (the stripped down versions are 🔥🔥🔥 though!!!) but it’s you, so it’s ok 😂. And you can’t make us enjoy something if you don’t enjoy it yourself.

So don’t change anything, keep changing everything!

PS: in French "tattoo" (tatou) is armadillo, so each time I hear "You’re like a tattoo..." I have a weird image in mind.

PS2: Heartthrob➡️Closer➡️Did you finally picked up the Georgia T shirt at your management?! (It’s been 20 years ago 😂😂)

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Yes, I think a lot of people came around on Heartthrob because they understood the songs themselves were still strong, and maybe pop production is not your thing, but you could still enjoy the songs, the stories, the way we were writing. I am glad you found that too! And you are also right, part of what we love about some bands is the bands, the personalities, the people in the band. Sometimes just as much as their music. We know we're lucky that people often attach to us, and not always just the music. It gives us freedom some other bands don't have. we appreciate it! PS yes I got the shirt!!!! THANK YOU

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Yas! Fuck. It. Up!

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YEAH!

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If it weren’t for Heartthrob, I might not have discovered your band. Happy to follow you wherever you go with your sound. Bring on LP X!

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Thanks Josh! YAY!

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Hey Tegan, hope you're feeling better. I only discovered you and Sara almost 2 years ago, I was watching The L Word Generation Q and that's when I heard Closer for the first time. I quickly googled who was singing it and the rest is history. I become hooked instantly, I've bought all your albums and love your sound and how you've both evolved through each album. You and Sara are such an inspiration and you've changed my life and I now know its OK to be me and just be my weird, quirky self. Keep being awesome and be happy. And let's all keep Fucking Up What Matters ❤❤xx

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Helen! I am so happy you found us ( love The L Word) and I am so happy to have you in our T&S substack world! Glad you liked the early stuff, and the new shit and I hope you love what comes next!!! *(and yes I am feeling better! thank you!)

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Thank you so so much for such an incredibly kind reply, you have truly made my year. I can't stop smiling, so happy. So glad you're feeling better Tegan ❤❤xx

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Starting new chapter and flipping the page! Writing new stories that our life’s may tell. And moving forward. One must not let that fear and insecurity keep them from exploring new territory.

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love this!

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♥️

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I think that’s it’s good to change it up and evolve through time. I can’t speak for other fans but I look forward to the changes in your music, I like you are switching it up and testing out new sounds. I normally do not like change, at all. It’s scary and I fear the unknown but that’s one thing I love about your band.

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Thanks Riley!

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Love the “fuck around and find out” vibes of this message. I am trying something new lately. My birthday is coming up & my partner decided to start researching you two for gift inspiration since I talk about the substack a lot. He gave me my gift early because he was so excited. It is the same Martin LX guitar that you both had (and then didn’t). I cried. Best gift ever. I have never played a musical instrument in my life. But I got a Yousician subscription and I’m fumbling my way through 1 hour a day and certainly fucking up left and right. But I’m changing and that’s good. Maybe one day I can look up some T&S tabs to try.

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THIS IS SO COOL!!!!!! I hope you love playing an instrument and enjoy the guitar!!!! HOW COOL!!!

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