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“Remix” shouldn’t be interchangeable with “the dance version.” The very word has become an excuse for producers to dig up and rehash their beloved, three year-old beats that couldn’t fit any other song. A remix doesn’t necessarily add a four-on-the-floor bass drum. It doesn’t need to amp up the tempo 20-plus beats per minute nor make way for a shot-taking, strobe-lit interlude.

A remix should be a reinterpretation of a song’s structure. The best ones are those able to turn one song into another - those able to take a song on a journey of re-situated lyrical patterns, deconstructed melodies, re-hauled instrumentation, and, sometimes, completely new chord progressions. A real remix adds dimension, rather than monotony, to an already layered piece of music.

Because “Closer” is one of the “danciest” tracks on Heartthrob, its “re-configurations” (six of which are available to stream online) were forced to push the limits on what it means to remix a track. As a collection, Closer Remixed is a testament to the writing strengths of Tegan and Sara. Their melodic and lyrical arcs stand the test of six very different reconstructive surgeries.

Sultan and Ned Shepardopen Closer Remixed with a quintessential club groove, filter-sweeping into a slowed-down yet recognizable “Closer.” For an electronica-based duo, Shepard maintains much of T&S’s musical and structural elements. With a few synth sounds changed here and there, the 80s power-pop vibe remains the resting foundation for what is now a true dance number. Production wise, the hook is toned down a little in energy and leads to a very lovely post-chorus build. Besides melodic structure, the Shepard interpretation is just a slightly clubified, slightly reconfigured version of “Closer.”

Tegan And Sara “Closer” Live Performance

April 25, 2013 ⋅ 10 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara performed “Closer” on Sunrise recently. Watch the performance after the jump.

Albums Out This Week: Record Store Day

April 19, 2013 ⋅ 26 notes ⋅ Comments

Record Store Day is tomorrow, April 20th, and we’re excited to say goodbye to the money in our wallets. There are over 400 releases that can be seen here, but we’re highlighting just a few more special releases that are coming out tomorrow. Check out our RSD Preview here and some more albums coming out below!

Tegan And Sara “I Was A Fool” Lyric Video

April 18, 2013 ⋅ 12 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara have released a new lyric video for “I Was A Fool.” Watch it below by clicking “Read More.”

Tegan And Sara Discuss Same-Sex Marriage

April 12, 2013 ⋅ 42 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara recently discussed same-sex marriage and their opinions on the current landscape of equality. Check out a video with the sisters below by clicking “Read More.”

Tegan And Sara Summer Headlining Dates

April 9, 2013 ⋅ 8 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara have announced a series of off-date shows on their upcoming tour with fun. Check out the dates below by clicking “Read More.”

Related Stories:
fun., Tegan And Sara Announce Summer Tour

Tegan And Sara Add Waxhatchee To UK/EU Tour

April 9, 2013 ⋅ 26 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara have added Waxhatchee to their UK/Mainland European tour in June. Check out the dates below by clicking “Read More.”

Tegan And Sara mtvU Woodie “Closer” Performance

March 18, 2013 ⋅ 28 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara performed “Closer” at the mtvU Woodie Awards. Check out the performance below by clicking “Read More.”

Tegan And Sara Shooting New Music Video Today

March 17, 2013 ⋅ 13 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara are shooting a new music video today. Check out a tweet from the band below by clicking “Read More.”

Tegan And Sara SXSW Full Set Stream

March 15, 2013 ⋅ 41 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara’s SXSW showcase set stream can be watched below by clicking “Read More.”

Tegan And Sara’s “Closer” Covered By ‘Glee’

March 14, 2013 ⋅ 15 notes ⋅ Comments

Glee will be covering Tegan And Sara’s “Closer” tonight. Listen to the cover early below by clicking “Read More.”

POZ SXSW Blog: Day Two - Schedule Audible, Big Crowds, Twin Falls, And Good Surprises

March 14, 2013 ⋅ 3 notes ⋅ Comments

The first full day of SXSW is done, and Jesse Richman had a hell of a day covering the the grounds, shows, and more for POZ. Check out a great round-up of POZ’s first SXSW day with crowded showcases, Tegan And Sara, Twin Falls, and much more below!

At SXSW, things never quite go as planned.

Waterloo Records is an Austin institution, a long-standing vinyl-lovers paradise that dates back to the days when vinyl was the medium of choice for everyone — by default. And while their store is a good 20-minute walk from the rest of the SXSW action, they’ve made a tradition of free day parties that are always worth the hike. On today’s bill, two favorites of ours: Tegan & Sara and Twenty One Pilots.

Of course, there was one minor miscalculation in my plan. Tegan & Sara were scheduled for 2 p.m. and Twenty One Pilots for 4. In between, at 3? Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The hip-hop hit-makers — at SXSW fresh off an appearance on Saturday Night Live — drew by far the largest crowd I’ve seen for a day party to date. It was impossible to get inside the fenced-off Waterloo Records parking lot and it was equally impossible to cut through the thicket of fans on the sidewalk around three sides of the lot, for that matter. There was a crowd of people five deep, on the opposite side of busy Lamar Drive, listening in. There were folks on a Whole Foods rooftop diagonal across the street and at least a hundred yards away. There were a few brave diehards standing on the tops of cars, just trying to get a peak at whatever wonders might be hiding behind those fences. (Tip to those folks: it’s just some musicians, I promise!)

I managed to hear half of Tegan & Sara’s set while wandering the scene in a daze — fortunately, they sounded great, their harmonies spot-on, their band album-perfect. Their newest LP, Heartthrob, trades their traditional indie rock sound for electronic pop melodies, and the bright blips seem like they were crafted specifically to be heard in the bright afternoon Austin sunshine; it was an enjoyable set, even if I couldn’t see the Quin twins.

Still, there was no way I was going to stick it out through Macklemore’s set, not when Twenty One Pilots are playing a grip of additional sets this week. My backup plan was a day party sponsored by our affable hosts here at PropertyOfZack, the fine folks at Tumblr. Unfortunately, that proved a disaster for the exact opposite reason. I discovered to find a band playing to a ginormous empty, fenced-off lot. Like, literally empty. I took a peak around the side of the lot, looking for a poster or something that might identify the mystery band, and was immediately told by a security guard that I needed to vacate the alleyway. No wonder the place was entirely devoid of festivalgoers.

I never did catch the band’s name, settling instead for a power pop showcase (I might be the old man here at POZ, but I had a good ten or twenty years on anyone else at reclusive Clevelanders Shoes’ set of bouncy, Fountains Of Wayne-esque pop-rock) and a burger with a friend. It wasn’t in the plan, but if you’re doing SXSW right, no plan is the plan, ultimately.

Tegan And Sara Fall Out Of Top 50 From 19; fun. Remain In Top 15

March 13, 2013 ⋅ 4 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara went from the 19th spot in the Billboard charts last week to dropping out of the top 50 this week, with little explanation at that. fun.’s sales for Some Nights stayed strong with another 22,000+ copies sold in the 11th spot. Luke Bryan, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruno Mars filled out the top three spots in the charts. Check out the top 25 Billboard spots this week below by clicking “Read More.”

Tegan And Sara ‘Closer’ Remix LP Stream

March 12, 2013 ⋅ 17 notes ⋅ Comments

Tegan And Sara have released a series of ”Closer” remixes for a RSD LP. Stream the remixes below by clicking “Read More.”