Everything is awesome for twins Tegan and Sara
Canadians Tegan and Sara, who will be performing in Singapore, are surprised with the success of their Lego song
It was the ubiquitous song that children could not stop singing - and parents could not escape from - back in 2014.
Everything Is Awesome, the theme tune of the hit animated flick The Lego Movie by US musical comedy trio The Lonely Island and Canadian indie pop group Tegan and Sara, catapulted the latter to the mainstream.
The duo, comprising identical twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin, went on to perform it at the 2015 Academy Awards, where it was nominated for Best Original Song.
And you may get to hear it live in Singapore, as they will be in town for a concert in July as part of their promotional tour for their eighth and latest album, Love You To Death, which will be released on June 3.
The repetitive yet catchy ditty took the girls to a level even Tegan, 35, acknowledged they will never reach again.
In an interview with M over the phone from Los Angeles, she said: "I'm sure we'll never get back there again, but even if we don't, it was such a memorable experience."
Tegan and Sara had first experienced commercial success with their highest charting single to date, Closer, from their last album Heartthrob (2013), which was then followed by Everything Is Awesome.
Tegan said: "We have really set our sights on trying to reach more people and to have more success in the mainstream and I think between these two songs, we were able to reach a whole new audience."
LEGO FANS
She added: "We are very big Lego fans and we were very excited to be asked to sing for the soundtrack, but we had no idea that it would be so successful."
While most indie artists would probably shy away from this kind of gig, Tegan said they have earned their place and respect in the community over their 12-year career and the time was right to try something different.
"We spent two years touring (since 2013) and when we got back, we immediately went into writing and recording so we didn't take much time off in between.
"We explored a little more of our 80s and 90s roots and tried to make something that has the edginess and vulnerability of our early music. We're still making pop music but this record is a little bit deeper and darker," said Tegan, who added that they intend to release a music video for each track off Love You To Death.
In 100x, their third and latest single from the album, the siblings express the grief that twins experience when they drift apart.
She said: "I think there have been eras of Tegan and Sara that have been tough. The toughest time was the beginning of our career. While our friends were going to university and spreading their wings and getting to go have fun, we were travelling around in a car playing to 10 people a night, not making any money. It was really hard and there was just no one else to take it out on. We were rough on each other."
According to her, things subsequently improved, but "got bad again" in 2007 and 2008 when success came a-knocking.
She said: "We got burned out and tired and it was always really easy to take it out on your sister. But over the years, it's become a lot easier as we've learnt to work as a team and navigate the day-to-day of being on the road with a family member."
Directed by professional dog groomer Jess Rona, the unusual MV for 100x features five of her adorable canine clients looking just as forlorn as they sit on the twins' laps.
"We're actually cat people, which is the funniest part of this whole thing... we really love cats and Sara has two cats, but cats would never ever do what those dogs were doing," said Tegan.
For now, she's gearing up to revisit Singapore, where they performed for the first time in 2013 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, and hopes to play tourist again.
She said: "We loved it. We were completely mesmerised. It was beautiful and the people were friendly. We got a whole day to walk around and we enjoyed the food so much.
"The concert itself was also incredibly memorable that we put it in our top five of the whole record cycle (for Heartthrob). The audience were on their feet cheering the whole time and singing along and we had no idea that anyone (there) would really know any of our music. It was so inspiring and we've been looking forward to going back ever since."
FYI
WHAT Tegan and Sara Live in Singapore
WHERE The Star Theatre
WHEN July 29, 8pm
TICKETS $68 to $228 from Sistic (6348-5555 or www.sistic.com.sg)
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