Crash and Learn. @edgeofsafe - Tumblr Blog

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This band was a pleasant surprise. A co-worker had given me a flashdrive with their entire album on it and I just found myself listening to each track repeatedly. this track is one of my faves.

They're from Australia and had already played a gig at Black Market in Makati before I knew they existed.

They're coming back to Manila for Wanderland 2014 and I just might go just to see them.

#lastdinosaurs

prettycraycray

jungleindierock

Cloud Nothings gig poster by The Bubble Process

#BestMomentof2013

#teganandsara #teganandsarainmanila #teganquin #saraquin #trq #skq #teganrainquin #sarakeirstenquin #quintwins #teganandsarafans #teganandsaralove

prettycraycray

edgeofsafe

:)))))

sphingter

edgeofsafe

#CUTEegan wherethewildthingsrrr

At a Coffee Shop with Tegan and Sara

The best ten minutes of my life happened on a red couch, in a coffee shop, without any coffee.

The morning before we were to interview Tegan and Sara, I couldn’t eat. I did not know how I would be able to even look at them, have them look at me, let alone, speak. Butterflies had taken up residence in my gut and they were making themselves at home.

My brother and I arrived at the cafe a little after 5pm. The place was quaint and cool and as I looked around at the vibrant murals, the first thought that came to mind was that they’d love the place. I ordered a latte and reread my letters to them. [In my head, I’m always writing them letters.] But no words seemed like they were good enough. Even quoting one of Sara’s favorite books felt like a cop out.

Two hours later, as I was still contemplating whether or not to rewrite my letters, the producer texted us that they would be there in fifteen minutes. The second floor had an obstructed view of the sidewalk but from the enclosed smoking area where my brother was standing, one could see the road. As I was reviewing my questions [no questions seemed good enough], I noticed how he quickly snuffed his cigarette out after one drag and I felt a weight in my gut. I knew he had seen them.

I could see shadows shuffling as they ascended the narrow staircase. There was a riot within me. And my feet felt like jelly. Sara emerged smiling and Tegan adjusted her leather jacket with her usual swag. My first thought was that they were taller than I’d expected. And, even more beautiful in person. It baffled me how it was even possible that they could be more beautiful up close.

They were no longer on the other side of the globe, on a computer screen or on a stage. They were in a little café walking towards me taking a seat next to me. Surreal would not be a sufficient adjective. No adjectives suffice.

As we scooted over to make room for them on the couch, I noticed Tegan’s eyes were a lighter shade of brown. Or, maybe it was the lighting. My eyes fell on her double ring. [Would she think it was creepy if I pointed out how I noticed she had a new piercing?] They were luminous. I couldn't look directly at Sara.

I gulped down all my feelings and tried to smile. After a few minutes, a calm encircled me. It felt like I had known them forever. It is astounding how these iconic rock stars could remain humble and genuine. The first thing I said to them was that we [my friend Eva and I] emptied our bank accounts to fly to Singapore to see them last May. They chuckled and simultaneously gushed about that particular concert being one of the best they've had this year.

I felt my voice break but I tried to power through it. I did not want to break down in front of them.

[for full interview see my previous post]

As Tegan was signing autographs after the interview, I leaned in to ask Sara if I Would Walk 500 Miles was still stuck in her head or if it's been replaced. "At all times. At all times. I'm telling you." I reached for the gifts and she turned back to me and added. “It never will go away” with an awkwardly endearing chuckle which I only noticed as I was rewatching the video. I asked if she would sign my guitar and she said, “sure.” I handed my gifts to her and Tegan and she said, “this is the gift? I love this paper.” I was reluctant to leave her side. Tegan caressed my little present and smiled as she read the dedication.

As we were being ushered out by their management, they both extended their hands towards me and pulled me in between them. I was shaking as our photo was taken but their firm grips around my waist steadied me - the same way they have for years.

I was packing my guitar away when my brother said,“One more with Sara.” My brother held us both by the shoulders. I felt Sara wrap a hand around my waist as he pulled me close and I heard her giggle.

I was holding my guitar with one hand and after this photo was snapped I set it down to hug her with both hands. She was just standing there waiting, smiling at me while everyone’s back was turned. So I went in for the hug without saying anything. For three seconds, it was just me and her. I will always have that.

She was then dragged away to do an interview with our local music channel.

They were in the middle of that next interview when they saw us leaving. They stopped mid-sentence, waving and smiling, they said, “see you tomorrow.” [at the concert]

Sitting a mere few inches from my heroes was electrifying, terrifying, disarming and it felt like I was dreaming as my dream was coming true. I had a million questions but the strict time limit wouldn’t allow it. I thought it forfeited my chance of having a life-altering conversation with them, But, I was wrong. It turns out it only took a few seconds – the way it took only the first few strains of their record, So Jealous – for them to change my life.

It’s been more than a week, and every day I realize something I should have said.

I want to tell them they are my Smashing Pumpkins, U2 and Bruce Springsteen combined.

I want to thank them for steadying me, for directing me.

But, no regrets.

I choose to hold on the memory of how their eyes disappeared into their face when they laughed at something I said, how they looked me in the eye and talked to me like an old friend, how their hugs felt like home.

I will hold on to the image of them walking towards me, smiling, taking a seat on the same red couch where I can come back to when life gets dark and dreary. I will always have that mural-splattered room and the memory of them all clad in black lighting up that little corner of my lifetime.

#teganandsara #teganquin #saraquin #quintwins #trq #skq #teganandsaraphilippines #teganandsarainmanila teganandsarainterview #dreamcometrue

Tegan and Sara Interview

Tegan: Hi, you guys.

Sara: Hi, we’re so excited to be here.

[T and S look around the table. Everyone smiles and greets them.]

B: Hi, before I ask my question…[Bianch tells them about emptying bank account to go to SG. Tegan and Sara smile and laugh]

S: Singapore was awesome. It was the best show.

Bianch: It was the best.

T: Although last night, (Malaysia) was pretty amazing.

Eva: Wait ‘til tomorrow.

T: …I think we may have underplayed Asia.

[All laugh]

Bianch: You both love Bruce Springsteen. If you could sing a duet with him, aside from Dancing in the Dark or I’m On Fire, which song would you choose and why?

T: wow, that’s hard.

S: oh, so if it’s not ‘Dancing in the Dark,’ or ‘I’m On Fire,’ maybe ‘Atlantic City.’ I’m a big fan of the Nebraska record.

Bianch: His older records?

S: Yeah, his older stuff.

T: I think ‘Human Touch’ is really good. I think what’s really great about Bruce Springsteen and why Sara and I really relate to him is because every record is really different than the one before. I think he challenges himself as a writer and, you know, always tries to put a different kind of record out.

Bianch: [Just like you guys.]

T: yeah, I think that’s what Sara and I are trying to do. But we’d really sing anything from any record.

S: But, I would choose Atlantic City.

T: Yeah, Sara would choose Atlantic City. [chuckles]

IC: Hi I’m IC from the Inquirer. I love you and she’s my sister by the way. [points to Bianch]

T and S: That’s amazing.

IC: You both said in previous interviews that you would like to have kids one day with your respective partners. Just for fun, among the Hollywood Celebrities who would you choose to be your “Babydaddies”?

[T and S laugh]

T: Oh my god, Brad Pitt would be great. I mean, he’s had so many cute children already.

S: Yeah

Danica: Obama?

T: [chuckles] Did you say Obama? Obama would make adorable children. Daniel Craig, please. Imagine if James Bond was my baby’s daddy? Like, that would be amazing.

IC: (to Sara) what about you?

S: Um, oh my god, who would I choose? (presses fingers to chin) Maybe Leonardo diCaprio.

T: What?

S: He’s pretty. He hasn’t had any kids yet. I mean is that too old school? [turns to Bianch] Is that too Titanic-ish? He's still so handsome.

Bianch: That’s a good choice. [Don’t let those genes go to waste.]

IC: he still has inception…great Gatsby..

T: I actually thought that was really good. Everybody didn’t like it. I thought it was a good movie.

[awkward silence]

S: George Clooney. He’d make a great babydaddy.

Eva: With the number of gifts you receive from all over the world. How do you manage to store all these gifts?

[T and S chuckle]

T: I feel like we could probably hire someone at this point just to figure out how to manage all of them. I mean, there are a lot of us on the road. And we’re very insatiable so we do eat a lot of the things that people give us.

S: Yesterday, when we were packing up to leave the show in Kuala Lumpur, I just picked everything that was a non-perishable. And I’ll just bring it home to my friends and family.

T: We try to collect all the fan art. We’re keeping it. It’s funny we were…

S: I have big plans for the fan art.

T: We went to Elvis’ house, Graceland. The last time we were in Memphis. A huge part of going there is seeing all the fan art. And I think it inspired Sara and I. We haven’t collected all the fan art over the years because where would we put it? But now I think we’re realizing that stuff is really special and we have some really talented fans. So we do our best to, like, appreciate gifts that are given to us but there is not a lot of space. We constantly try to negotiate with fans to leave the gifts with them especially the big, like, people who give us these like huge pictures of ourselves. Framed. And we’re like, ‘we’ll sign it and give it to you.’ And they’re like, ‘no, no. It’s for you.’ Do our fans think our house is full of art of ourselves?

[Laughter]

Danica: What’s your favourite song off of Heartthrob?

Tegan: I mean, I think, it changes all the time. I think we’re really proud of of each song.

Sara: I really like Shock to Your System.

T: I think Shock to Your System is really amazing. I mean, How Come You Don’t Want Me, (when we play it) live. People have a very intense response to it. It’s a really emotional song. We’re really proud of Closer and I Was A Fool and what’s happening with both those songs in radio. I mean we love the whole record. It’s like choosing a child.

Bianch: As your music evolves, so does your hairstyle. If you could resurrect one hairstyle what would you choose?

T: [laughs]

S: Wow, this is really scary because just recently I was looking through old photos of us back during The Con era where we had mullets. And I was like, do I feel like, into, a mullet now?

Bianch: Why not?

S: [laughs] I don’t know. I regretted it for a long time. But we’ll see what happens but it’s really funny. Hair is such a funny thing. We had long hair most of our life growing up and as soon as we cut it, there was a liberation to be able to change it all the time. Even if it’s just to change sides. Flipping it in different directions.

T: Like today, I’m wearing it this way. It’s ‘cause it’s so humid here my hair gets curly and bunched up. [strokes hair]

S: Even just comparing myself to other girls that we know who like changing clothes and getting more extreme with their aesthetic. Whereas I think we’re a little bit more conservative, you know? I mean we like to look cool but we’re also fairly consistent with the way we look so our hair, it gives us, it sounds so stupid, but it does give us an opportunity to play with our look and to…

Bianch: Be original?

S: Yeah, be original. [smiles]

Danica: How does it feel that Closer is considered to be one of the best songs of 2013?

S: We’re honored. We really are. It’s been an amazing opportunity. This song has been an amazing opportunity to get us to totally new places. Especially here, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Parts of Europe. We just didn’t have the fan base that could bring us there on our past records. It’s a really visceral reaction that the song gets and for that, I’m really grateful.

Danica: can we take a video…

Tegan: Sure.

[delivers spiel flawlessly]

All: wow. Good job.

[starts signing autographs]

Bianch: Sara, I just have one more question.

S: yeah sure

B: I was just wondering if I Would Walk 500 Miles by The Proclaimers is still stuck in your head or if it’s been replaced?

S: At all times.

B: [smiles and reaches for gifts}

S: [turns back to Bianch] It never will go away.

[low chuckle]