When we heard the new Psychic Twin 7″, Gonna Get Her, we were smitten with the sounds, the song and the voice. We looked behind the moniker and found Erin Fein, a pile of Casio Keyboards and a crate-load of ideas. Working alongside Fein is Brett Sanderson, and between them they’ve created a gorgeous form of electronic pop that we could spin 24/7. Seriously, you gotta check this out.
Bowlegs: Firstly nice work on the Lefse 7″ Gonna Get Her, we must have listened to that track a hundred times over. What’s it about?
Erin: Gonna Get Her is written as if I’m talking to a friend about a complicated relationship. One that is on the verge of ending, but very meaningful. I thought writing as if I was speaking to someone else would be an interesting way to express something I was feeling at the time. I guess I was thinking about a couple of questions that many people have probably had to ask themselves or someone else. Questions like: Can ‘you’ do what needs to be done to make this relationship work? And also, How much can one person endure in a relationship before deciding it’s no longer worth it?
Most of what I write about in the context of Psychic Twin is about love. I guess it’s about trying to figure out the answers to these questions. When you love someone with all of your heart, and it’s not working out, it’s fucking shitty. Simply put, this song, and really all Psychic Twin songs, are a way for me to express the darker side of love in my life. It’s not necessarily always romantic love, and it’s not always about my life, but it’s about love nonetheless.
Bowlegs: We read that the band name came about when you had a few surreal moments imagining you were recording with a twin – tell us more??
Erin: I’ve always been in bands where i was a co-vocalist. I sung a lot of harmonies and always worked with another songwriter. I loved that experience in many ways, but I secretly always wanted my own project where I could have full reign over the musical aesthetic. When I began to write songs for this project I would sit alone in my basement, smoke a lot of weed, and record demos on Garageband. One night when I was particularly stoned, I listened to the looping vocals and harmonies that we’re all over each song. But this time it was just me. I had a thought that it sounded as if there were two of me. How fucking awesome would it be to record with your clone or your twin? In my mind I imagined you’d always be on the same page, always feel the same things, and know what the other wanted to do or say. That began to define the music for me, and ultimately, that’s where the name came from.
Bowlegs: So how did you get into song-writing? Was it always electronic-based? What was your first track written on?
Erin: I’ve been writing songs since i was a little kid. We had a piano in the house and that’s how I started. I think the first song I wrote was about a tornado – I live in the midwest (lots of tornadoes). I think I first recorded on a tape player with a little mic. I’ve always been in love with keyboards though. We had an old organ and little Casio keyboard when I was growing up. I played them endlessly. And basically I’m still playing with Casios, synths and old organs. It’s just what I love. I love the texture and layers you can make with synths. I love messing around with effects pedals and finding magic sounds. I started out playing in bands that were not very electronic though. It took me a little while to find my way as a songwriter and I loved my other bands very much, but truthfully electronic music is what appeals to me most as a songwriter.
Bowlegs: Brett Sanderson is the other half of Psychic Twin – are you getting to a stage where you know what each other are thinking?
Erin: Yes absolutely. We work so well together. We’ve been in bands together for years. We finally realized that this was the type of project both of us wanted to do and It’s been so easy to work with him. We feed off of each others ideas. I call him my computer wizard. He is actually a wizard.
Bowlegs: How did you get involved with Lefse?
Erin: They heard us on the blog called ‘I guess I’m floating’. Lucky for us!
Bowlegs: Your Bandcamp page has the track I Want To Forget streaming. Have there been moments in your musical career that you would rather forget – or are you fond of all the ups and downs?
Erin: Yes there are some moments I’d like to forget. Some songs I’d like to make disappear. But sometimes it just takes a while to figure out where you’re going. You’ve just got to own the things you do and the choices you’ve made I guess. I can’t say I love every moment of the other musical projects I’ve been involved in, but I’d never have gotten here without learning from some of those mistakes. Mistakes teach you a lot. But they also suck.
Bowlegs: Do you listen to much 80s music – which bands have stood the test of time in you opinion?
Erin: Yes i do. It’s what i grew up listening to. It’s what is most nostalgic for me. Some of my favorite 80′s music came from Tears for Fears, Peter Gabriel, Prefab Sprout, Depeche Mode, New Order, Joy Division, Cyndi Lauper, Cocteau Twins and early Madonna. All of the music these guys made in the 80′s absolutely stands the test of time as far as I’m concerned.
Bowlegs: What is next for Psychic Twin? We want an EP, and Album and a Tour – are you going to give us what we want?
Erin: We’re almost done with our record and we have a bunch of extra songs, so maybe an EP will come first. We will tour a lot i hope.
Bowlegs: Tell us what record from 2012 you’ve been digging?
Erin: To be honest, I’m mostly listening to old stuff right now. But I really like Grimes.
