Really beautifully written post Tegan, there's something about music that has so much nostalgia attached to it. I love Bastille too. I think your photo descriptions are great, it's a hard thing to do. I usually read the post with you narrating it so get the best of both worlds.
I find listening to these substack posts are extremely soothing, probably because you and Sara have those type of voices. I tend to listen to audiobooks or podcasts (including my true crime ones) before sleep nowadays, listening to someone read seems to soothe me to sleep and I’m with you on music. It wakes me up and my mind goes into overdrive. I don’t know why it works better than music now. Maybe it harks back to when mum used to read to me before bed?
Aug 10, 2022·edited Aug 11, 2022Liked by Tegan and Sara
Really lovely post Tegan, other people have said it and it’s true, a very soothing read.
I’m like that now too, only really listen to music though headphones, although I haven’t fallen out of love with going to sleep with music just yet and have woken up the next morning still in the middle of many a playlist. 😂
Although I do absolutely relate to what you said about music becoming more personal to you. With so much music that I love now, I feel it and have to enjoy it. Like with having a conversation and listening to music, your brain isn’t prioritising either of them and I imagine that’s partly where the frustration comes in. I can’t do it either.
I agree that music is emotional. I choose what I listen to based off of what I’m feeling in that moment. ( I began to dread going to work at a previous job and I would blare the song “narcissistic cannibal” on my way to work)
I like to listen to podcasts in the kitchen. I love the Pants pod and Queery. I also add in some podcasts about murder and weird medical things just for fun.
I don’t use headphones. Even if I’m walking in my neighborhood, I make sure I have bottoms with pockets and just play whatever music I want. When I’m listening to Tegan and Sara, I like to think I’m spreading queer vibes as I go.
I’ve always had issues with ear buds falling out of my ears, especially when I sweat.
Aug 11, 2022·edited Aug 11, 2022Liked by Tegan and Sara
Hey Tegan, (me editing- omg, sorry this is so long!)
I hadn’t heard any of the music in the background of the post, cool to hear some other stuff. I never used to listen to much music, just whatever my parents listened to, which with my dad was mostly 80’s and 90’s stuff on the radio and with my mum bands like crowded house and Coldplay or movie soundtracks. But when I was 13, (at 12 figuring out that I was part of the LGBT+ community), at the time I mistakenly believed I was a girl who was a lesbian, (both wrong), anyway though, I went searching for the perfect band, a band I could really relate to, and something else to focus on besides my straight celebrity crush. I looked at artist’s like Girl in red and Hayley kiyoko (both good artists), but not THE artists I was looking for. Then I found you and Sara, I’d heard lesbian culture references about you and thought I’d check you out. I was hooked quickly. I realised later, I was looking for people who were not afraid to present in a more masculine way but also be feminine sometimes too. I was looking for someone genderfluid like me, but there’s no representation of that so I found idols in you and Sara instead. (Just as good!)
Now that I’m more into music (my own music), I have about 3 other bands/artists I listen to on a regular basis (4 if you include tomberlin who I’ve been checking out recently). I’m almost religious (you could say) about listening to specific artists. So I was glad that I picked you and Sara, not just cause your excellent roll models but also cause you have a fuckload of content!
In terms of listening to music in the car, that’s sort of a family tradition, we have sing alongs to the CD’s we have in the car (My parents have a very old car). I don’t find it annoying when people talk over most music, unless it’s T&S, especially one of my favourite songs! But I think I know what you mean by feeling too many emotions while listening, I have a wide range of music that I like (I like all your albums for a start), but for me specific music or artists are for different things, Coldplay’s older albums and some of crowdy’s too I listen to while I write cause their like white noise to me cause I know them so well. But I can’t write and listen to T&S or my second favourite band, I get too into my emotions, how the song makes me feel or what I think the words mean.
I was pleasantly surprised a year or so after becoming a fan when you started substack! I love being able to talk to you two! Thanks for being epic role models!
Phoenix, he/they/ri/it, 15, Australia
PS: I like the descriptions! Good job! I love that you always say more than the picture shows! Also the ‘Sorry I’m bad at this’ comments were kind of funny cause you reminded me of myself when I’m actually doing better than I think I am!
Aug 11, 2022·edited Aug 11, 2022Liked by Tegan and Sara
Also, you and Sara are really calming and soothing readers! (As everyone else keeps saying)! There’s something about your voices that compels me to keep listening! I realised this while listening to your audiobook, but it’s great to get more frequent content too!
For the record I did not fall asleep (out of sheer willpower (it’s 12:40am)), night!
The more time pass maybe all of us try to find that peaceful moment for us just to pass through day.
Yeah some days we just need to get to the end of day and say, I made it.
Music thank God for that friend, company, and therapeutic" moment . I understand that feeling of being quiet, when reading I prefer to turn off everything even cell phone (not that I have all that friends and text) the only noise right now its my tamagotchy askin for food when reading. But yeah those moments are very special and when we get the quiet mode done the perfect mood comes for listen Northshore" (T&S) or some metal stuff.
BTW When I was start to listen music I discover GENESIS I learn to find albums read about the band about the memebers and the changes they went through or their solo careers like Mike and the Mechanics. Have to share that special moment when I finally saw Phil Collins in concert, Peter Gabriel, and Steve Hackett, a little sad I couldn't see Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford in that recent reunion of GENESIS.
Yeah music is part of my life, Tegan & Sara are part of my every day.
Tnx for sharing this T. I love the noises on the background on this its kind of a little view where you are.
Aug 11, 2022·edited Aug 11, 2022Liked by Tegan and Sara
I relate to what you said about music becoming more personal. I cherish my solitude as I listen to a new album from start to finish. The friends I bonded with (over Tegan and Sara) aren’t in my life anymore, as we’ve all grown up and apart. But I feel so fortunate that Crybaby is on the way and can’t wait to immerse myself in every song. I’m glad this substack exists so that I can connect with other people over the music we all love so much.
Aug 10, 2022·edited Aug 10, 2022Liked by Tegan and Sara
For me, I always have to be doing two things at once. For example, as I read this post I was blasting "stop desire" from my TV (sorry neighbors) . When I try to sleep in complete quiet, my mind gets too busy and I start thinking of other things, which is stressful. But for the past week, I've found that I fall asleep easily to the "still jealous" album - its comforting for me. When I'm at school, I listen to music as much as I can, I think it makes it more fun, and I can focus more (although a lot of the time my teachers are playing their somewhat weird music) . One thing I love to do is make crafts, but again I have to be doing something else while making my project- wether it be watching a TV show, YouTube, listening to music or a podcast. Also, off topic (sorta) but did you guys say something about a new single coming out in August or did I imagine that? (I really hope there's a new single because I loved yellow, listening to it right now and FUWM is probably one of my favorite T&S songs) .
Edit: after reading, I listened to the Audio. Everyone is right, Tegan's voice is very comforting/soothing
I agree that as people grow older their relationship with music change. During my teenage years, music was an essential part of my day. Not that it isn’t anymore, but I listen to it differently right now. I remember being so enthusiastic discovering new bands and new music and listening to their entire discography at once. That’s how I discovered you at 18. It was a thrill for me. I would spend hours trying to discover new music. Now I just stumble upon a song from a playlist, show, or TikTok and I play it on repeat for hours and days until I’m sick of it.
As for listening to music, I still enjoy doing that while taking long walks or during my showers (yes, I shower with music on). I usually grade papers while listening to music as well. I’ll just put my playlist on shuffle and begin my work. I cannot listen to music and talk at all. I feel like it’s too distracting and often when I’m listening to a song, my brain is inside the song and not inside my head. It’s weird that I can work while listening to music but I can’t interact with people while doing so. I would be bothered. It would feel like someone is intruding and interrupting my special time with that song or something.
I could listen to you speak all day. Your voices are so soothing. Thinking about replaying the High School audio book as I work just to have your voices in the background keeping me calm. :)
Awesome post..Some people don't believe in magic, others talk about it being used a long time ago and is now forgotten..I think magic is real and not forgotten..Magic and songs are equivalent..
*While most people find listening to the radio very outdated, I don't think so, and I love to listen to the radio..This voice memo reminded me of the radio broadcast was so cool..My mother tongue is not English, but my reading ability is more than my ability to listen, so I read first and then listen to the voice memo(Also I hate British accent, I wish I had learned an american accent)..Love you all❣️❣️❣️❣️
Aug 11, 2022·edited Aug 11, 2022Liked by Tegan and Sara
Loving these Tegan, as others have said you and Sara have lovely soothing voices and write/voice these so well. I am lucky to live in the countryside and smiled at your voiced discovery of the glories of natures silence but equally loved this podcast being with the windows open in your town home, it made it feel like sitting with you. (I have a broad smile on my face now, thanks).
I so relate to the change in listening choices but you may find as I have now, that old music will start to come back into your life, as we get older we forget how good the music was. Thanks for pointing me towards Mike and the Mechanics, I am getting back to that era, and your choice, sadly, sounded like it matches our current world situation again! how about a list of listening suggestions from your Dad.
Keep the thoughtful, personal and insightful renderings coming, you are hitting a cord on so many levels and reassuringly making me and others feel it's not just us. :)
wow i haven't heard Mike + The Mechanics in ages. i had listen to "Silent Running" and "All I Need is a Miracle" after listening to this post - had nice trip down memory lane. i'm constantly listening to music but it's rarely anything new; my playlist has many genres but very little music made after 2010. honestly i think every restaurant, grocery store, and department store copied my playlist lol. i don't know if it's because i'm older but i do buy less music, and get less passionate about bands. i think it's more so because the album only has one or two songs that i like and i refuse to spend $15-$20 on an album that's 95% trash. my taste in music is eclectic and i like you, when i find an artist/band i like i really lean in.
Really beautifully written post Tegan, there's something about music that has so much nostalgia attached to it. I love Bastille too. I think your photo descriptions are great, it's a hard thing to do. I usually read the post with you narrating it so get the best of both worlds.
I find listening to these substack posts are extremely soothing, probably because you and Sara have those type of voices. I tend to listen to audiobooks or podcasts (including my true crime ones) before sleep nowadays, listening to someone read seems to soothe me to sleep and I’m with you on music. It wakes me up and my mind goes into overdrive. I don’t know why it works better than music now. Maybe it harks back to when mum used to read to me before bed?
Really lovely post Tegan, other people have said it and it’s true, a very soothing read.
I’m like that now too, only really listen to music though headphones, although I haven’t fallen out of love with going to sleep with music just yet and have woken up the next morning still in the middle of many a playlist. 😂
Although I do absolutely relate to what you said about music becoming more personal to you. With so much music that I love now, I feel it and have to enjoy it. Like with having a conversation and listening to music, your brain isn’t prioritising either of them and I imagine that’s partly where the frustration comes in. I can’t do it either.
I agree that music is emotional. I choose what I listen to based off of what I’m feeling in that moment. ( I began to dread going to work at a previous job and I would blare the song “narcissistic cannibal” on my way to work)
I like to listen to podcasts in the kitchen. I love the Pants pod and Queery. I also add in some podcasts about murder and weird medical things just for fun.
I don’t use headphones. Even if I’m walking in my neighborhood, I make sure I have bottoms with pockets and just play whatever music I want. When I’m listening to Tegan and Sara, I like to think I’m spreading queer vibes as I go.
I’ve always had issues with ear buds falling out of my ears, especially when I sweat.
ear buds falling out when running is so annoying!
also spreading queer vibes. lol.
Any suggestions for good ear buds when running?
Hey Tegan, (me editing- omg, sorry this is so long!)
I hadn’t heard any of the music in the background of the post, cool to hear some other stuff. I never used to listen to much music, just whatever my parents listened to, which with my dad was mostly 80’s and 90’s stuff on the radio and with my mum bands like crowded house and Coldplay or movie soundtracks. But when I was 13, (at 12 figuring out that I was part of the LGBT+ community), at the time I mistakenly believed I was a girl who was a lesbian, (both wrong), anyway though, I went searching for the perfect band, a band I could really relate to, and something else to focus on besides my straight celebrity crush. I looked at artist’s like Girl in red and Hayley kiyoko (both good artists), but not THE artists I was looking for. Then I found you and Sara, I’d heard lesbian culture references about you and thought I’d check you out. I was hooked quickly. I realised later, I was looking for people who were not afraid to present in a more masculine way but also be feminine sometimes too. I was looking for someone genderfluid like me, but there’s no representation of that so I found idols in you and Sara instead. (Just as good!)
Now that I’m more into music (my own music), I have about 3 other bands/artists I listen to on a regular basis (4 if you include tomberlin who I’ve been checking out recently). I’m almost religious (you could say) about listening to specific artists. So I was glad that I picked you and Sara, not just cause your excellent roll models but also cause you have a fuckload of content!
In terms of listening to music in the car, that’s sort of a family tradition, we have sing alongs to the CD’s we have in the car (My parents have a very old car). I don’t find it annoying when people talk over most music, unless it’s T&S, especially one of my favourite songs! But I think I know what you mean by feeling too many emotions while listening, I have a wide range of music that I like (I like all your albums for a start), but for me specific music or artists are for different things, Coldplay’s older albums and some of crowdy’s too I listen to while I write cause their like white noise to me cause I know them so well. But I can’t write and listen to T&S or my second favourite band, I get too into my emotions, how the song makes me feel or what I think the words mean.
I was pleasantly surprised a year or so after becoming a fan when you started substack! I love being able to talk to you two! Thanks for being epic role models!
Phoenix, he/they/ri/it, 15, Australia
PS: I like the descriptions! Good job! I love that you always say more than the picture shows! Also the ‘Sorry I’m bad at this’ comments were kind of funny cause you reminded me of myself when I’m actually doing better than I think I am!
Also, you and Sara are really calming and soothing readers! (As everyone else keeps saying)! There’s something about your voices that compels me to keep listening! I realised this while listening to your audiobook, but it’s great to get more frequent content too!
For the record I did not fall asleep (out of sheer willpower (it’s 12:40am)), night!
The more time pass maybe all of us try to find that peaceful moment for us just to pass through day.
Yeah some days we just need to get to the end of day and say, I made it.
Music thank God for that friend, company, and therapeutic" moment . I understand that feeling of being quiet, when reading I prefer to turn off everything even cell phone (not that I have all that friends and text) the only noise right now its my tamagotchy askin for food when reading. But yeah those moments are very special and when we get the quiet mode done the perfect mood comes for listen Northshore" (T&S) or some metal stuff.
BTW When I was start to listen music I discover GENESIS I learn to find albums read about the band about the memebers and the changes they went through or their solo careers like Mike and the Mechanics. Have to share that special moment when I finally saw Phil Collins in concert, Peter Gabriel, and Steve Hackett, a little sad I couldn't see Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford in that recent reunion of GENESIS.
Yeah music is part of my life, Tegan & Sara are part of my every day.
Tnx for sharing this T. I love the noises on the background on this its kind of a little view where you are.
The best for you Gurls.
Love T&S
Northshore is a good one. Definitely one of my top 10 Tegan and Sara songs (and songs in general)
I relate to what you said about music becoming more personal. I cherish my solitude as I listen to a new album from start to finish. The friends I bonded with (over Tegan and Sara) aren’t in my life anymore, as we’ve all grown up and apart. But I feel so fortunate that Crybaby is on the way and can’t wait to immerse myself in every song. I’m glad this substack exists so that I can connect with other people over the music we all love so much.
For me, I always have to be doing two things at once. For example, as I read this post I was blasting "stop desire" from my TV (sorry neighbors) . When I try to sleep in complete quiet, my mind gets too busy and I start thinking of other things, which is stressful. But for the past week, I've found that I fall asleep easily to the "still jealous" album - its comforting for me. When I'm at school, I listen to music as much as I can, I think it makes it more fun, and I can focus more (although a lot of the time my teachers are playing their somewhat weird music) . One thing I love to do is make crafts, but again I have to be doing something else while making my project- wether it be watching a TV show, YouTube, listening to music or a podcast. Also, off topic (sorta) but did you guys say something about a new single coming out in August or did I imagine that? (I really hope there's a new single because I loved yellow, listening to it right now and FUWM is probably one of my favorite T&S songs) .
Edit: after reading, I listened to the Audio. Everyone is right, Tegan's voice is very comforting/soothing
that was a soothing read. very relatable.
I love how soothing your voice is.
I agree that as people grow older their relationship with music change. During my teenage years, music was an essential part of my day. Not that it isn’t anymore, but I listen to it differently right now. I remember being so enthusiastic discovering new bands and new music and listening to their entire discography at once. That’s how I discovered you at 18. It was a thrill for me. I would spend hours trying to discover new music. Now I just stumble upon a song from a playlist, show, or TikTok and I play it on repeat for hours and days until I’m sick of it.
As for listening to music, I still enjoy doing that while taking long walks or during my showers (yes, I shower with music on). I usually grade papers while listening to music as well. I’ll just put my playlist on shuffle and begin my work. I cannot listen to music and talk at all. I feel like it’s too distracting and often when I’m listening to a song, my brain is inside the song and not inside my head. It’s weird that I can work while listening to music but I can’t interact with people while doing so. I would be bothered. It would feel like someone is intruding and interrupting my special time with that song or something.
I really enjoyed the background noises and the slight hint of melancholy (not bad!) in this
I could listen to you speak all day. Your voices are so soothing. Thinking about replaying the High School audio book as I work just to have your voices in the background keeping me calm. :)
Awesome post..Some people don't believe in magic, others talk about it being used a long time ago and is now forgotten..I think magic is real and not forgotten..Magic and songs are equivalent..
*While most people find listening to the radio very outdated, I don't think so, and I love to listen to the radio..This voice memo reminded me of the radio broadcast was so cool..My mother tongue is not English, but my reading ability is more than my ability to listen, so I read first and then listen to the voice memo(Also I hate British accent, I wish I had learned an american accent)..Love you all❣️❣️❣️❣️
Loving these Tegan, as others have said you and Sara have lovely soothing voices and write/voice these so well. I am lucky to live in the countryside and smiled at your voiced discovery of the glories of natures silence but equally loved this podcast being with the windows open in your town home, it made it feel like sitting with you. (I have a broad smile on my face now, thanks).
I so relate to the change in listening choices but you may find as I have now, that old music will start to come back into your life, as we get older we forget how good the music was. Thanks for pointing me towards Mike and the Mechanics, I am getting back to that era, and your choice, sadly, sounded like it matches our current world situation again! how about a list of listening suggestions from your Dad.
Keep the thoughtful, personal and insightful renderings coming, you are hitting a cord on so many levels and reassuringly making me and others feel it's not just us. :)
wow i haven't heard Mike + The Mechanics in ages. i had listen to "Silent Running" and "All I Need is a Miracle" after listening to this post - had nice trip down memory lane. i'm constantly listening to music but it's rarely anything new; my playlist has many genres but very little music made after 2010. honestly i think every restaurant, grocery store, and department store copied my playlist lol. i don't know if it's because i'm older but i do buy less music, and get less passionate about bands. i think it's more so because the album only has one or two songs that i like and i refuse to spend $15-$20 on an album that's 95% trash. my taste in music is eclectic and i like you, when i find an artist/band i like i really lean in.
Relatable!