TANDM Unveil Their Next Artistic Chapter, Sirens
TANDM recently released Sirens, a potent distillation of the magical individual components that comprise the Toronto duo’s masterful take on alternative pop but with a newfound polish and elevated production style. On the surface, their songs are charming in their sweet simplicity–effortlessly compelling thanks to graceful melodies, heartfelt lyricism, and syncopated synergy. But the deeper you dig, the more their music seems to transcend time, place, and even stylistic categorization. Their most engaging and enveloping output to date, the new EP delights with whimsical, substantial sounds that embody the latest chapter of TANDM’s artistic flourishing. The release show will take place in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern on August 9 with guests Alyson McNamara and Evvvie.
They also shared a new music video, for the track “Avalanche” which looks back on the work they have done. The visuals tell the fictional story of a duo dancing on stage. When the male dancer realizes the effect his performance has on the crowd, he becomes blinded by the attention and confidence, deserting his partner in their shared choreography. The audience believes that the frustration and negative energy between the two dancers are all part of the show, and react happily to all of the moments witnessed. In the final acts of the performance, the female dancer leaves the stage, and exits the building, as the audience gives a standing ovation for the remaining male dancer. The audience throws white flowers, hinting at the imagery of an avalanche.
Sirens is the sequel to EP predecessors, Reflections, Vol. 1 and 2, marking a transition into adulthood as they explore the aftermath of teenagehood. Fans will surely relish the opportunity to dig deeper into the adept, label-defying pair of artists behind it. At its core, the tracks are intended to let listeners know they are not alone, in whatever they may be going through.
“We definitely took the opportunity to experiment with a more expansive spectrum of sounds and influences this time around,” muses vocalist/guitarist Maxine Beck-Sinderby about Sirens, with drummer Thomas Franklin adding, “It’s still TANDM at the core, but we tried to open things up a little bit and it led to some rewarding places.”
As with each subsequent release before it, Sirens shows a clear maturation and musical deftness that seemingly packs a decade of experience into a few short months, putting TANDM on an unparalleled tangent to consistently higher plateaus.
The title track blasts the hope and excitement of youth, while describing independence and severing connection from one’s family. Taking reference from Greek mythology, the lyrics for “Sirens” draw from the legendary tale of Odysseus, with Beck-Sindbery explaining,
“Odysseus was curious to hear the rumored singing of the Sirens, but did not wish to meet a tragic end as did the many sailors before him. Therefore, he cleverly instructed his crewmates to place beeswax in their ears and to tie Odysseus to the ship’s mast. This way the crewmates were not bewitched by the sirens singing, and Odysseus, soon attempting to break into the ocean to be with the Sirens, was unable to free himself from the ship. Our song was not only inspired by this tale of curiosity and wit, but takes a bigger step back to re-evaluate family bonds, and how many will overprotect their loved ones.”
The lead single “The Man in the Sea” was inspired by a poem that Beck-Sinderby had written as an assignment when she was in high school. Born from a story by her grandmother: that what caused the ocean waves was a man with a big spoon, stirring the sea. It’s accompanied by a completely handmade, breathtaking stop-motion video. “2quick2trust” responds to negative experiences, both in their career and personally, in which people have tried to steal their music, ultimately taking advantage of the band and themselves. Its video is a hand-drawn comic-style story about a princess who bravely escapes a castle where she was held captive, only to have the Prince Charming knight show up in the final seconds and try to take credit for her escape and work. “Rambling” concludes the EP with a sweet, happy ending.