Kristen Kurtis: Yeah, I feel really honored to be speaking with the two of you, especially today, having come out of the riot girl movement in Olympia 30 years ago now, and really bringing themes of feminism and issues that women face all the time in your music. So thank you so much for giving voice to some of these issues and for taking the time today. Speaking of which, 30 years ago, congratulations on still making music together and rocking so hard after first forming the band in 1994. When you think back on three decades together, what are some thoughts and feelings that come to mind?
Corin Tucker: I think that we’ve witnessed a change in culture. We’ve obviously, as Carrie mentioned, we feel bad that legislatively we’ve lost some of the rights that we had this years ago. I think the change in culture is that we’re much more open to talk about women’s issues and to tell our stories, and I think that part of our music and part of our audience, I’m really happy about that kind of thing.
Carrie Brownstein: Yeah. And when you start a band, when you’re quite young, you don’t think too far ahead. I think that’s part of the vitality of being young and playing music, is that you’re squarely rooted in the present, and that’s all you’re reckoning with. So I think one thing that kind of marvelous and miraculous about being a band for so long as being able to tell stories from various stages in our lives, and we really value the artists who are ahead of us and, you know, and have been around even longer, and getting to hear narratives from the full spectrum of ages and experiences. And we’ve had this conduit for so many years through which we can tell our own stories and reflect back through the music, our feelings and our perspectives. And that’s, I think, a real privilege. And we feel very, very lucky and also a little surprised just to still be playing music together.
Kristen Kurtis: I think it’s great. Your music is so cathartic when you’re, like, really frustrated about some of these issues that we’re discussing right now. It feels really good to blast a Sleater-Kinney album. You were just mentioning some other musicians that came before you and ones that have come after you. Who are you guys rocking out to these days? Is there anybody really that’s kind of constantly on your turntable right now?
Corin Tucker: Yeah, I mean, I’m we’re really happy to be playing with Black Belt, Eagle Scout, she’s incredible. Really fun to listen to every night. We also talked with BlondShell this year.
Carrie Brownstein: Kim Gordon has an incredible album coming out this year. I am in constant amazement of her reinvention, but also her consistency in putting out interesting and innovative art. Lucinda Williams, PJ Harvey, Joan Armatrading who is about to do something in the classical world. So many artists who, like I said, have come before us that we admire and continue to kind of look to a guide.
Kristen Kurtis: I heard a whispering, and maybe you can confirm or deny that even after releasing this full-length album in January and the reimagining of some of the songs on the EP today, that you have even more new music on the way in April, maybe some collaborations?
Sleater Kinney: Oh, that’s.
Carrie Brownstein: So do we, Corin.
Corin Tucker: We might.
Carrie Brownstein: Just. Stay tuned is what we can say.
Kristen Kurtis: We’ll definitely be paying attention. Do you have any plans to celebrate 30 years together? Is this tour that you’re on right now it? Or can we expect other celebrations, too?
Carrie Brownstein: I think we like to not look back too much. You know, we are grateful to have a through line. We acknowledge the through line. We always incorporate our older records into the setlist, but I think we try not to get too steeped in nostalgia or sentimentality, even though we’re proud of our accomplishments. There’s a slight a tinge of cynicism, I think, to always be looking back and to have a sense that the past was better. We try to just be in the moment. So I think the best way to celebrate 30 years is to have a record out that we’re very proud of. That seems to me like the ultimate anniversary present, both for ourselves and hopefully to our fans. So nothing that’s going to be some kind of big retrospective. I think, 30 years and being on the road with a new record is about as good as it gets.
Kristen Kurtis: I so appreciate that. Have either of you heard of, and I think it’s maybe a… Joke doesn’t feel like the right word, but kind of like a tongue-in-cheek named organization called the, the Society for the Advancement of Time for exactly what you’re talking about. Folks who are like, it is not the 60s and 70s anymore. We have to be talking about the issues of today, and just not trying to dwell in the past and pretend that it was better than where we are right now. And as you’ve mentioned, we’re certainly dealing with some stumbling blocks that we felt like we had put to bed in the past. But we’re here to have the two of you forge into the future and be witnesses to the things that we’re all experiencing together. So I am here for that too.
Carrie Brownstein: It’s 2024. Let’s go.
Kristen Kurtis: All right. So, anything impactful for International Women’s Day in any ways to make a dent in some of the issues that we’re talking about right now that you two are planning on?
Corin Tucker: We work with an organization called Headcounts that registers people to vote so we encourage people to vote if it’s locally, that’s happening right now.
Kristen Kurtis: Oh no, Corin, I think our connection is breaking up a little bit here, but I heard you say Headcounts. I am at their website headcount.org and seeing that the next few shows they’re hosting here in Philly are with Group Love at Franklin Music Hall on March 23rd, Green Day at Citizens Bank Park on August 9th, and Philly’s own Mount Joy at TD Pavilion at The Man on September 20th, which is great. So thank you for alerting us to that. And in the meantime, we look forward to seeing you for your sold-out show at the TLA on March 18th with Black Belt Eagle Scout, and I can’t wait to sit down and do a little AB playing songs from Little Rope next to the reimaginings you’ve released today on the Frayed Rope EP. Thank you both so much for your time.
Sleater Kinney: Thank you so much. Take care.
Kristen Kurtis: All right. You too.
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