Another Summer Playlist! (Can't Have Too Many)

My summer playlist…is long and all over-the-place. When you have a job that allows you to listen to music during all 8 hours you work every day, the amount of music you acquire tends to build up. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with my entire playlist.

Janay beat me to the punch on several artists she mentioned in her playlist, so I just wanted to add that Hesta Prynn, Japanese Cartoon, Steel Train [my favourite album for work] (+ Terrible Thrills), and Kaki King are all on heavy rotation for me too. Fantastic albums!

Geographer - Animal Shapes EP


I stumbled upon this band by complete accident a couple years ago around the time their first album, Innocent Ghosts, came out. I was an instant fan. Since then, they’ve released Kites EP and now Animal Shapes EP. Their sound has changed quite a bit as well; their latest releases are more up-beat…a mix between electro-pop and rock. The instrumentals are always BIG with lots going on – I can never sit still listening. Then add Mike Deni’s very distinct vocals and the result is one of the most beautiful songs you’ll hear. On Animal Shapes, Mike definitely challenges his vocal range, adding so much more emotion and power to their songs (Age of Consent [Kites EP] is a great example). I can’t say enough about this band, nor do them justice with my thoughts, you got to see...err listen yourself.
Standouts: ALL

Braids [CAN]


Braids recently opened for Holly Miranda and I had the pleasure of witnessing their phenomenal live set (I’m pretty sure I had to pick my jaw up from the floor). Originally they resided in Calgary and were known as The Neighbourhood Council. They put the Set Pieces EP out through this name. Now known as Braids, they moved to Montreal where they taught themselves how to record/make an album in their self-made studio. Native Speaker is the end result of this adventure, which is supposed to be released sometime in the fall. There are four members to the band, which is hard to believe when you hear all the layering of vocal tracks and instruments. It is also for that very reason why their live show is truly amazing.
Standouts: Live and Tan (Set Pieces), Lemonade, Native Speaker (Native Speaker)

Blue Hawaii – Blooming Summer [CAN]


The band consists of Raphaelle Standell-Preston (from Braids) and Alexander Cowan. Raphie refers to it as a “love project”. The songs on Blooming Summer are all about love and revelations with a very dream-like feel to it. The keyboards, synth, and drums have been beautifully layered and topped with Raphie’s unique vocals. There are only a few points during the album where her vocals sound like that in Braids, which shows the range she has and the challenges she creates for herself. The album will leave you in a daze and wanting more. Recently, they did a split cassette tape with Braids, which can be bought at their shows. I only have Floral from this release; it’s very Blue Hawaii-like but with more layers and backing vocals.
Standouts: Lilac, Dream Elextrixra, Blue Gowns

Eminem – Recovery


Em is back! Relapse was one of the worst albums I’ve heard and I can no longer listen to the majority of Encore. So let’s just say I was worried when I got Recovery. But Eminem pulled through and put together a great album that I can’t stop listening to. Recovery reminds me a lot of The Eminem Show; with him singing on tracks, using old classic song snippets, heartfelt songs for/about his daughters, etc. He has some great artists featuring on the album, however I wish he used Rihanna and Pink better, maybe give them more to sing. Eminem has always been known for his clever lyrics/lines, I think he took them to a whole new level this time; a lot more insulting, hilarious, and powerful (ie. love is evil, spell it backwards, I don’t need the swine flu to be a sick pig, I don’t need a tank top to be a wife beater, shake that ass like a donkey with parkinsons). It’s a very emotional album – as most of his are – but this one is different. You can tell he reached his breaking point, that he is hurting, and is ashamed (Going Through Changes is a great example…listen to the sound in his voice). The album left me thinking and reflecting on life.
Standouts: Going Through Changes, Not Afraid, Seduction, No Love, Space Bound, 25 to Life, Love the Way You Lie

Goldfrapp – Head First


I’ve been a fan of Goldfrapp for several years now and saw them in concert when they toured in support for Seventh Tree. Until recently, it was flat out THE best concert I had ever been to. Head First has Goldfrapp going back to its more electro-pop without grunge days. It was a nice change after Seventh Tree, which was a much slower album. You can’t help but move around in your seat and dance to Head First (very 80s like). Will Gregory and Alison Goldfrapp are an amazing pair; they balance each other so well. If they are ever in your city, do yourself a huge favour and go! Alison sounds amazing live and is accompanied by a huge band (note: W.Gregory does not do any live shows).
Standouts: Rocket, Believer, Head First, Shiny and Warm, I Wanna Life

Lights – Acoustic EP [CAN]


I found out about Lights when she wrote songs for the show Instant Star (yes, I actually liked that show). At that time, she only had a few songs on her myspace I could never remember and google could never find. The Acoustic EP (5 songs) is her latest release which has her covering a Rancid song, as well as releasing a new song, Romance Is… The EP really strips down her songs, which are very electro-pop driven, almost creating a demo-like sound (but better). To me it also shows off her vocal talent. A lot of people seem to write her off, not giving her the credit she deserves. I’d go into it, but my post is getting long. Look her up and read about her, watch her videos and you’ll see what I mean.
Standouts: Romance Is…, River, Saviour

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours


I’ve been listening to a lot of oldies lately because well, they really don’t make music like that anymore. There is something really special about it all. Rumours has been on repeat for a week and I’m still not tired of it. Every song is amazing and it’s a great album to dance around your room too. So blow the dust of your (or parents) old vinyls and give them a spin!
Standouts: ALL

Fences – Fences


A beautiful album - very raw. Christopher’s voice and the instrumentation are very soft and delicate with brutally honest lyrics about love, loss, and life. I really enjoy emotional acoustic records like this. It reminded me of City and Colour’s Sometimes record. It’s a must-have and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Fences.
Standouts: Boys Around Here, My Girl the Horse, From Russia With…um ALL

Honourable mentions: Lydia – Assailants, Hannah Georgas – This Is Good [CAN], Long Long Long – Shorts EP [CAN], Mesita – No Worries EP

Note: I’m a big person of putting on a bands entire discography and listening to it all (if you are able to do this with a band, it shows their talent). I also tried to only mention new releases in this post. With that I’d like to point out that Silversun Pickups, Shiny Toy Guns, Flyleaf, Against Me!, Angels & Airwaves, Paramore, Lydia, Tegan and Sara, Lightning Dust, Anberlin, and The Jezabels are my most played bands!!

[CAN] – Canadian Band

Thanks for reading...and thanks to Janay for asking me to do this!

- LLV

Awesome Spring/Summer Releases 2010

Yeah I totally stole this, shhh, it's beautiful.

So I've been listening to a lot of new material this spring/summer. So I thought I'd share some with you. Some that it'd be a shame for you to miss out on. I'm no record reviewer. I just like to recommend things I love. So that's what this is. Enjoy.

Brandon Boyd - The Wild Trapeze

I'll start with Incubus' frontman Brandon Boyd's solo effort, The Wild Trapeze! This was a gem. It won't sound like it if I pull it apart. I do truly feel like it came too late in his career, and sounds too similar to Incubus' material to be a powerful solo record. However, it sounds great. It doesn't sound too original, but it sounds like great music...that has been made before. Regardless of these things, it's a great listen. Standouts: "Courage & Control", "Revenge of the Spectra Tiger", "Mirror of Venus" and "All Ears Alow". That last one is just chaotic and I thought it was great for Brandon to let go like that. One thing worth noting, that I can always appreciate is that Brandon played all the instruments on this record.

Kelis - Flesh Tone

A lot of people don't "get it". Me on the other hand, oh I got it! This record was fun! It was of course a great departure from what Kelis has contributed to the hip-hop game. A lot of people simply couldn't separate what they knew of her previously to go here. I think the best thing to do is think of this as a debut record from a new Electro-Pop artist, if you do this, I promise you will be impressed. The songs are fun but deep. There are a few clearly about her child and her divorce but it's all hidden meaning behind tight beats and that amazing signature voice. Standouts: "Intro", "Scream" , "Brave" and "Acapella". To be honest, you can just dance your ass off to the whole thing without skipping anything.

Hesta Prynn - Can We Go Wrong [EP]

Hesta Prynn FINALLY released her much anticipated EP Can We Go Wrong earlier this month. It was worth the wait. The sometimes agonizing thing about Twitter is that you're forced to read updates constantly about an artist's progress in the studio every single day while seeing/hearing no results. You wait and wait and wait. Then you see a tweet about a song being completed. Then you wait and you wait and just when you think you're going to die, THEY RELEASE SOMETHING! This was the case with Hesta Prynn. What we finally got was a consistent full sounding EP that's leaving everyone, yet again, waiting for more! I've given so many thoughts on this EP already on different sites, it's almost obnoxious-I cannot shut up about it. But I will tell you to go grab it immediately! Standouts: "Motive", "Recall", "Le Coq Aux Folles" and the title track.

Steel Train - Steel Train

So. Good. Every song is passionate and guitar driven! Amazing vocals from the incredible Jack Antonoff! Every sound on this record is significant; every note, every bass line, every key pressed, hell at times every hand clap. There is no shortage of imagination and experimentation. This record is lustrous it starts off on fire and doesn't burn out until the very very end on "Fall Asleep" but by then you're so physically and emotionally drained (from crying at the sad words and moving around to the cool music, naturally) you don't mind at all. Standouts: ALL OF IT.

Japanese Cartoon - In The Jaws of the Lords of Death

Because there seems to be something encoded in Lupe Fiasco that prevents him from failing, he won again. Japanese Cartoon is the rapper's side project. The post-punk outfit has finally released the record that has had tracks floating around youtube for quite a while now. Lupe sings lead vocals with an English accent, one so convincing that when the tracks first surfaced many questioned whether or not it was him, which I'm guessing, is why he did it. The lyrics range from romantic to heartbreaking to political. Please don't write this off because Lupe is a famous rapper. Every artist needs to express themselves by stepping out of their comfort zone every once in a while. What's rare is when an artist releases side material and it's so compelling you feel they could easily do it full time. That's what happened here. Standouts: "Heirplanes", "Crowd Participation", "Firing Squad", "You Are Here" and "Gasp".

Various Artists - Terrible Thrills

It's weird I didn't put this after Steel Train's record. I debated putting it on here at all because it's technically the same record. Terrible Thrills is an all-female compilation cover record of Steel Train's self titled third record, which I mentioned earlier in the post. What makes it worth mentioning is it doesn't sound like the same record. Every artist took a Steel Train song and made it their own. I mean it's quite amazing. Tegan & Sara, Holly Miranda, Amanda Palmer and Rachael Cantu, the more notable acts featured on the record, for example covered the tracks in such a way you could easily imagine hearing it on one of their original releases. But if you read my interview with Jack you know that's exactly what he was hoping for. This project was an amazing, unique idea and it turned out beautifully. All the covers were great, all these women are brilliant, but this time there are standouts: "Turnpike Ghost" (Tegan & Sara), "You and I Undercover (Holly Miranda), "Behavior" (Amanda Palmer), "Bloody Lips" (Charlotte Caffey & Astrid McDonald), "Fall Asleep" (Rachel Antonoff), "You Are Dangerous" (Angel Deradoorian), "The Speedway Motor Racers Club" (Anna Waronker)...ok ALL OF THEM.

Kaki King - Junior

I know, I know! And I wasn't going to add it but then I realized that April 13th is actually spring and therefore this qualifies. I'm sick of talking about how awesome it is. I mean gosh what else can I say? The woman is phenomenal. If you think you're hearing her name too much and there's too much hype being built up around her to believe-trust me, believe the hype. In fact, I was just like you Mr. Skeptic. I only became a hardcore Kaki fan about five months ago. Before that I was just a casual listener, I thought "There's no way she's that good!". I was wrong and so are you. Junior is a lot different from her previous records, however it follows her Mexican Teenagers EP appropriately. It's full of heavy drums and busy guitar riffs, I've given a review of it so I won't say much. Standouts: Ha, please.

Honorable Mentions: B.o.B's The Adventures of Bobby Ray, Eminem's Recovery and The Roots' How I Got Over. All great records that have received lots of coverage in mainstream media so I'm guessing you've read all you care to read about those.

Exclusive: Interview with Steel Train's Jack Antonoff

If you have internet access then you know who Steel Train are. They're one of the biggest bands in the indie scene right now. After touring with Tegan & Sara for 2 months and conquering the main stage at Coachella they finally released their much anticipated third album, Steel Train, on June 29th. The record has been receiving rave reviews and they have been packing shows in support of it. Now that the people living under rocks are all caught up, I'm excited to bring you an interview with front-man, Jack Antonoff.

I saw Steel Train during Tegan & Sara's spring tour. I've never been to a show where all the bands got along in that way. I have to ask, is there any chance of Steel Train, Holly and TnS touring together again?

That tour was very special in that sense. It felt like summer camp. Like a traveling circus or endless road trip. I was so excited to arrive at every show that for the first time in my life that I actually missed meals. Shocking. Ha. Anyway, of course I'd love to tour with everyone again soon. Can't see it happening in the very near future, but hopefully one day. Touring or not, they are all people that i'm looking forward to working with in one capacity or another. I adore them all.

How was it playing Coachella for the first time ever and on the main stage (according to Spinner, bigger than the stage Phoenix, Thom Yorke and MGMT played on)?

It was wild. We can be very nervous and self-loathing people, so it's extremely hard to enjoy moments as they happen. We're always looking at the next step etc etc. We get exciting news, are thrilled for a minute, and then immediately jump to the next thing. Find another mountain to climb. But with coachella (especially on the main stage) it was all too over the top to deny. There are very few moments like that when you feel like you've really arrived somewhere you've been trying to get to. It's not coachella specifically, it's what it represented for us. A community of bands in a way. A beacon of....something. Haha. Anyway, what i'm trying to say is that one stuck with us for a bit more than a minute.

I am obsessed with the 1969 EP on which you guys covered The Jackson 5, The Beatles and David Bowie. Were you at all nervous about recording and releasing covers of such notable classics?

Not at that time. We were younger and just excited to play those songs. It all came from a simple place. I think that's why it was so fun and easy. When we cover songs now we look at it very differently than we did then. Now we're obsessed with spinning things a different way, making it ours, which is exciting in a totally different way. With 1969, it was just about playing the songs and not thinking beyond that. I'm happy we had the chance to do that because I really can't see it happening again in that way. My next idea is to cover all the bands we've toured with. That'd be a blast

Would you consider another EP with covers from a different year?

Haha. Kinda just answered that. Besides the tour friends idea, I'd like to do 2010. It's been an amazing year for music already and I love the idea of current bands covering each other. It binds us. It's nice. Community. Etc.

What went into the decision to start your own label after cutting ties with Drive-Thru records?

Leaving drive thru is a huge part of this record. For a long time, I've felt like there was a party happening and we were on the outside looking in. We'd been tied up in an archaic and antiquated system that made no sense for a band like us. We started touring in our first bands when we were super young. We put on our own shows back then. It was all DIY, it's where we come from and it's what we know. We've always been an independent band locked up in a world that made no sense to us. Breaking out of that was a no brainer. Something we had been trying to accomplish for years. I'm so thrilled to step into the future and release this record independently. Five years from now everyone will be releasing their own music. I'm really glad to have the opportunity to do it at a time when it's still a risk.

As a member of an independent band, releasing music on their own label, who started booking it's own shows at 15, what would be your advice to new bands trying to get signed?

Getting signed is fine, but just make sure you experience the whole picture before you do. My only real advice is to just go on tour. All the questions get answered on tour. Even if you spend your life savings and play for 6 people....just go on tour.

Will you be signing other bands to Terrible Thrills?

Haven't thought about it yet, but it's not out of the question. Right now we kinda have our hands full on the label side with this record. Maybe we'll sign redd kross!!

The all-female cover album of Steel Train, Terrible Thrills Vol. 1, was such a unique idea. All of the covers sound amazing but were you at all hesitant to let other artists take your material and interpret it-make it their own?

Not at all. The whole point of the project was to hear the songs through each artists own ears (heart). The cast of characters on terrible thrills is so outstanding that I never had a worried moment. It was the opposite. The past few months of getting the songs sent to us was magical. It was better than any gift I've ever recieved.

Will there be a Terrible Thrills Vol. 2? Is this the beginning of something? Will there be other compilations in the future?

There will be something. Not sure exactly what yet...but something. Part of the glory of releasing your own music is the ability to do projects like terrible thrills without some other parties cock blocking you at every turn. We were held up for so long that we have every intention of going completely over the top with music, art and different projects like terrible thrills. Think we'll probably go with the tour friends covers sooner than later?

Do you write all the lyrics for Steel Train songs? Do you ever feel like you're exposing yourself at all or sharing too much lyrically?

Yes to both. The only way I know how to write is to be totaly candid and just to tell the stories I've lived. I believe it's the only way any writer can be unique.....to tell their story. Anything else to me feels like meaningless fodder. But that comes with a massive price. For me personally, I can only talk so much about the darkest moments in my life, and when I put it into songs, it makes me never want to go there in the other moments of my life. It disconnects me from friends and family. Almost like I have nothing left to share cause I've spilled it all out in the songs. It's complicated and isolating. That's why I love touring. I love the silence of being around people that understand that there is often nothing to say. I live my life feeling like I've constantly said too much, so you could only imagine the mixed feelings about putting my history into the songs. It also creates a real issue at the live shows. There is no way to half ass songs that mean that much to you. And that's a wonderful driving force, but it's also draining. Every show is over the top, every story and darkness has to be revisited to play the songs the way they need to be played. It's an honor to share my life, but not always easy or healthy.

I'm also a fan of your other band, fun. How do you balance being in two bands? Will you tour more with fun. later this year?

It's a lot. When i'm not on tour with steel train, i'm out with fun. I used to be in a relationship, that ended and I basically replaced her with another band. I hate not working. I hate not running. Having both bands allows me to constantly press on. It's a shit ton of work, but they are all good problems. The bands also help each other artistically. I feel less of a need to jam every idea into one band. That really helps the individual styles mature as they should.

Links!!!

http://SteelTrain.net

http://twitter.com/SteelTrain

http://myspace.com/SteelTrain

photo by: Lindsey Byrnes (http://twitter.com/LindseyByrnes)

http://LindseyByrnes.com

Astronautalis: Astronovelis

So this is why I love twitter:

Earlier today I was listening to Astronautalis while wondering why the hell I named my blog 'Rainbow Report'. I jokingly offered 'Astronovelis' as a potential title, being sure to "@reply" the rapper in my tweet. A couple hours later I receive this tweet from Andy 'Astronautalis' Bothwell himself:

@JanayKinney is that my book blog?

I told him it could be. Like most people that read my blog I am an avid reader and am always looking to add my list of books to read as much as my list of bands to check out. So I took the opportunity to find out what Astro (would he hate that nickname?) was reading as of late:

@JanayKinney "Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla" by Marc J. Siefer & "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville

I'll admit to being pleasantly shocked by the answer. Although I have no idea what I expected the answer to be. I've read the first few chapters of "...Nikola Tesla" before caving under the pressure to purchase and complete "The Lovely Bones" before it was released in theaters a few months ago. I'll definitely be getting back to it soon. And "Moby Dick", classic, not many original things I can think to say about it. It appears to be an old favorite of Andy's:

@JanayKinney i hadn't read it in over a decade...it is still great. my favorite author is a big Melville fan and so im going on a tear!

Astronautalis has a way with words. He spins them with art and I find myself obsessing over his lyrics the way I'm sometimes caught on a sentence in a book wondering "Wow...that was clever, how did they do that?". So when someone whose words effect me like that recommends something full of words they think are worth reading I take it to heart:

@JanayKinney Mark Helprin. greatest living writer. start with either "A Soldier of the Great War" or "The Pacific" THEN read "Winter's Tale"

LINKS!!!

http://myspace.com/astronautalis

http://twitter.com/astronautalis

Photo by: Jaime "Wojo4hitz" Wojdowski (http://twitter.com/wojo4hitz)

Crystal Castles: "Celestica" Video

So like every other blogger this week, I decided to embed this here to make it easier to find. Pitchfork did not want to share.

Sick of Sarah Unveils '2205'

Sick of Sarah has released the title and tracklisting of their new record. The new record will be called 2205, which every Sick of Sarah fan will find adorably sentimental.

And the tracks:

1. Overexposure

2. Simple Parts

3. Giving Up

4. Kick Back

5. Cigarettes

6. Kiss Me

7. One Night Stand

8. Shattered

9. Autograph

10. El Paso Blue

Only 10 tracks??? Yeah I know bummer right? Well, the beauty in that is, as with most indie bands SoS tends to release EPs every once in a while and they seem to always be writing so think of it as just more to look forward to; B-sides baby! Also four of the tracks you already know ("Simple Parts", "Kick Back", "Kiss Me", "Autograph") and I'm pretty sure you can hear some of "Cigarettes" and "Overexposure" in the band's latest "Making of the Album" upload on Youtube. Apparently some material was written over the time spent in the studio in El Paso, TX where the girls recorded. With this in mind I'm guessing "El Paso Blue" is about baby raccoons. No but seriously, there should at least be baby raccoons on the cover.

The band has been speaking on the album being darker, less poppy this time around since the demoing phase. From what I can tell, they're delivering on that. And I don't think that means we'll be singing along any less or that the songs will be less catchy. I just think this means less upbeat with more(complex)structure. Release date yet to be...released.

The first "single" (cause I don't know how seriously indie bands take that word) off the new record will be "Overexposure". Abisha (lead singer) tweeted that they plan to shoot the video for it next month. Also, having wrapped up the recording process I'm sure they'll be touring again soon, probably with Vanity Theft (that's just my guess). So lots to look forward to.

http://sickofsarah.com

http://twitter.com/sickofsarah

http://youtube.com/sickofsarah

Behind the Lens: Angela Kendall

Feel free to geek out with me while reading this interview with the amazing Angela Kendall. She's the director behind those Tegan & Sara features we all love and an accomplished music video director. She's not any less amazing a photographer either. She has been crazy busy but took time out to answer a few questions!

How are you today? I can't see you so I just want to make sure you're in a good mood while answering these questions.

These questions are great and i am in a delightful mood (thank you for asking :)

So you just do it all: Photography, music videos, documentaries. Which do you find the most challenging?

Each have their own set of unique challenges. I would say I find music videos the most challenging because there are so many variables. First of all, you have to take someone's song and interpret it in such a way that you stay true to it while also creating something original and compelling. It's also getting increasingly difficult to be original because so many ideas have already been done. Directing the actual shoot is also very challenging. There's a lot of pressure to get the shots you want and you have to be able to think on your feet.

When you're editing footage how do you decide what to cut? For example, that teaser you made for Death Cab, it's about two minutes. You must've gotten quite a bit of behind the scenes/studio footage. How did you decide what to squeeze into the short clip?

It depends on what Im cutting. In that Death Cab Teaser I simply chose shots that I felt were my strongest, matched the mood of the song being used, and represented what you would see when you watched the full piece. In the general sense, you choose shots based on your criteria. For example, what music you're using, what story you want to tell, and what shots are your best. A lot of it, for me anyway, is instinctual; I just gravitate towards certain shots.

An Horse - Camp Out from An Horse on Vimeo.

In An Horse's video for "Camp Out", Kate falls down a few times, which is a literal interpretation of a lyric in that song. As were the phone cords in Tegan & Sara's video for "Call It Off". Is that more of an interesting concept to you; to play with the metaphors in that way?

I like to pull some meaning out of the song, something that I can expand upon to give the video some depth and purpose. I do like metaphors because they can be so creative, and its gets you away from a literal translation.

Jets Overhead - Addiction from Jets Overhead on Vimeo.

One of my favorite videos of all time is the one you guys made for "Addiction" by Jets Overhead. It's one of those "mirror to society" pieces we so desperately need more of. How was that made? That footage didn't strike me as easy to find.

I like the way that video turned out too. The footage was not easy to find, and we spent countless hours scouring public domain archives to get suitable shots.

I just want to switch gears for a minute and talk about your photography. The nature shots on your site are beautiful, some hauntingly so. Could you tell us where some of those were shot?

It's hard to take credit for pictures of nature :) All my shots were taken in and around Vancouver with the really scenic ones coming from an alpine hiking trip I took in Keremeos last summer.

I found the "Urban" photos really sad. Not sure if they were supposed to be. Were those taken in Vancouver?

I never intended for the urban photos to be sad, but that's interesting you felt that. I wanted to focus on structural composition, so there is a starkness that comes with that. Most of them were taken in east van, where I live, so I guess there's an inherent sadness to this neighborhood that might have come through as well.

For the first time in a long time on the "News" page on the Transmission 2 site, I scrolled all the way down. The earliest update being from February 2004 and was about you guys beginning the shooting of "The Making of So Jealous". You've been working with Tegan & Sara for a long time, as well as Jets Overhead. When you bring ideas to people you've been working with for a long time does that make you nervous, I mean is there more pressure there? Or is it all just natural because you guys know each other so well?

It's all very natural by this point. We've been working together for so many years, that I don't feel pressure to give ideas. Beyond a working relationship, we're all friends, so that makes things even easier.

Speaking of Tegan & Sara, you're directing two new videos for their songs "On Directing" and "Northshore". Tegan tweeted a few pictures from the set. They're known for having some pretty quirky videos. However, the shots Tegan tweeted seemed dark in a few ways, mostly in a literal way. Without giving too much away, can you just tell us if these videos will be a bit more intense or darker than their previous ones?

I will say that these videos will be a departure from the quirkiness we usually see from Tegan and Sara. We wanted to do a couple videos that were immediate and accessible to a wide variety of people.

Do you and Brian have any projects in the works you can tell us about?

Both of us are working on two separate pilot tv shows, and I'm starting up an art project with a friend, but I can't really talk about it yet. You'll just have to wait and see :)

Links!!!

http://angela-kendall.com

http://transmission2.com