Tegan and Sara Share Their Early Industry Challenges in New Audible Feature

The Grammy-nominated duo, Tegan and Sara, renowned for their songwriting, performance skills, and literary accomplishments, reveal insights into their career beginnings in an exclusive Audible segment called Tegan & Sara: Under My Control. Known not just as musicians but also as authors and TV series inspirations, they stand out as a multifaceted pair.

The Indie Label Decision

With a desire to maintain their artistic integrity from the start, Tegan and Sara opted for the indie route over mainstream labels. In the Audible Words + Music series, the Canadian sisters discuss their early decision to approach artist-run labels like the ones owned by the Beastie Boys and Madonna, as well as Vapor Records, overseen by Neil Young and his manager.

Advice from a Music Legend

Tegan recalls how Neil Young's manager, Elliot Roberts, a highly regarded figure with clients like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, cautioned them against signing with major labels. Roberts, sharing his wealth of industry knowledge, encouraged the sisters to stay true to their music and join a label like his that respected their creative freedom.

The Audible feature sheds light on Tegan and Sara's stories, offering a candid look at their journey through the complexities of the music industry and their personal relationship. They discuss their commitment to owning their narrative and the challenges they faced in the music industry, emphasizing the importance of staying in control of their work and experience.

Their reflections on their pursuit of the right label partnership, striving to assert their narrative and produce music on their terms, can be heard in the Audible clip.

music, indie, advice