Earlier today, I chatted with T&S’s Tegan Quin. Here’s our full exchange:

1. Why did you choose Sainthood as the title of your new LP?

It came from a Leonard Cohen song, ‘Came So Far For Beauty’. Sara & I had never written together. When we were plotting the new album out, we decided to a do a writing trip together in New Orleans. Sara was working on a song & she was doing a vocal track. I was sitting quietly. She was singing this amazing song. When she was finished, I commented on how beautiful it was & she told me that it was a Leonard Cohen tune. We tried to get the rights to use certain lyrics from the song but we weren’t able to. But I think that Sainthood, summed up, represents how you can do so much for someone and it can go unnoticed. That’s a sentiment that both of us were working with.

2. What are the key differences b/w Sainthood & earlier albums?

Well, the big one is that we recorded as a band for the first time ever. 5 people in a room. It was much more open than previous albums. No overdubbing. It’s not nearly as condensed as The Con. It sounds bigger. Sonically, there are a lot more single vocals rather than our usual crazy multiple vocals.

Read the remainder of this interview AFTER THE JUMP…

3. Are you planning any new cover tunes for your US tour?

We’ll come up with something for the new year. Sara & I always laugh that we pick inappropriate cover songs. Over dinner the other night, Sara was talking about covering the new Jay-Z/Alicia Keys song. Ha! We aim high!

4. What do you love most about Chris Walla’s production skills?

We became friends when we did shows with Death Cab For Cutie. I like his energy & he really likes our band a lot. He understands it. He’s extremely supportive of weird ideas. Also, not only did he produce Sainthood but he plays bass on all of the tracks. He’s a part of all of the songs. It was really nice to see himself get so lost in our music. He’s a creative force & he has an abundance of enthusiasm. He’s very focused & not about making music just to be famous. He makes music because he’s obsessed with it like us.

5. Lilith Fair is returning in 2010. Any thoughts on the festival?

Contrary to popular belief and Wikipedia, we played just one show on one of the last Lilith Fairs. I totally understand its significance. I remember going to a Calgary gig around the time when I became a musician & being really excited by it all. At the time, there weren’t many women in the mainstream that were writing & performing their own music. We released our 1st album the same year that Britney & Christina put out records. Unless we were dancing or selling sex, it was hard to get noticed. Over the years, it’s been challenging but it’s also rewarding because we’ve come this far. I’m excited that Lilith Fair is coming back. It doesn’t hurt to have big stars alongside lots of up & coming acts. As long as the quality is good, gender is unimportant.

6. What are your current musical obsessions?

I love the new AFI record. I also just bought the new Say Hi album. Tonight, we’re playing with a great artist from Toronto named Katie Stelmanis.

7. Are there any Canadian acts that we should keep an eye out for?

You should definitely check out We Are The City. They are amazing 16 & 17 year olds. It’s like Radiohead. It’s amazing. I also produced a record for Char2D2. She’s in hibernation now but expect a full-length very soon.

8. Are there any misconceptions that you’d like to clear up?

Sara & I were just laughing about this. We can do an amazing interview & then the person asks if I have a twin language with my sister. It’s ridiculous! However, recently I was hanging out with twin girls & they actually do have a twin language. They are those people! I couldn’t believe it. It happens to be a topic that we frequently encounter. People think that twins have magical powers. It’s definitely not true. Trust me, if we had magical powers, I’d be reading Sara’s mind and we’d be in Vegas right now! Ha!

Visit Tegan & Sara on MySpace.

MP3: Tegan & Sara – Back In Your Head