This week sees the release of Brooklyn duo Tanlines' debut album, Mixed Emotions via True Panther Sounds. Originally planned for a late 2010 release, the LP saw its share of delays over the course of its conception, the biggest of which was when the building that contained Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm's studio evicted all of its residents.
"While we were on the tour in May 2010, we got a phone call from Eric's sister-in-law who lived upstairs, and she said everyone in the building got eviction notices," Cohen tells Exclaim! "They sold the building and people had to be out in six weeks. We were in Sweden or something and thought, 'Fuck!' The plan was to get back and make the album in the studio, which was the only place we'd ever recorded music. So we didn't know what would happen."
Luckily for the duo, some complications forced the eviction to see a series of delays. This allowed Cohen and Emm to continue working on the album, and actually finish it before eviction time.
"When we got back, six weeks turned into two months, which turned into three months and then eventually it became six months," Cohen continues. "They made a settlement with the new owner, who was trying to make the building into a homeless shelter. The community was fighting over the shelter, which slowed down the process. And we finally moved out in January 2011."
Cohen says the pressure of being forced out of their studio definitely helped shape Mixed Emotions, and give it some meaning.
"Basically that whole period, the uncertainty provided the sense of urgency we had for making this record," he explains. "It definitely filtered into the entire process, it was hanging over our heads, not knowing what would happen next. I think it was a big part of the album, especially for Eric with the lyrics, with the sentiment and being an adult, wanting to know what you're doing but the inevitable uncertainty of life. And of course, moving and being homeless, searching for a home. I can't really speak for him exactly, but those were all things we were dealing with during this record."
As previously reported, Tanlines have lined up a North American, which kicks off next month and includes a few Canadian dates. You can see the schedule below.
Tour dates:
3/23 Manchester, England - Night And Day
3/24 Glasgow, Scotland - Death Disco @ The Art School
3/27 London, England - Cargo
4/11 Washington, DC - DC9
4/12 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
4/13 Philadelphia, PA - Making Time @ Voyeur
4/14 Middleton, CT - Wesleyan University
4/16 Montreal, QC - Il Motore
4/17 Toronto, ON - Wrong Bar
4/18 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
4/19 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
4/20 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
4/23 Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club
4/24 Seattle, WA - Barboza
4/25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
4/27 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
4/29 San Diego, CA - Casbah
4/30 Los Angeles, CA - Echo
"While we were on the tour in May 2010, we got a phone call from Eric's sister-in-law who lived upstairs, and she said everyone in the building got eviction notices," Cohen tells Exclaim! "They sold the building and people had to be out in six weeks. We were in Sweden or something and thought, 'Fuck!' The plan was to get back and make the album in the studio, which was the only place we'd ever recorded music. So we didn't know what would happen."
Luckily for the duo, some complications forced the eviction to see a series of delays. This allowed Cohen and Emm to continue working on the album, and actually finish it before eviction time.
"When we got back, six weeks turned into two months, which turned into three months and then eventually it became six months," Cohen continues. "They made a settlement with the new owner, who was trying to make the building into a homeless shelter. The community was fighting over the shelter, which slowed down the process. And we finally moved out in January 2011."
Cohen says the pressure of being forced out of their studio definitely helped shape Mixed Emotions, and give it some meaning.
"Basically that whole period, the uncertainty provided the sense of urgency we had for making this record," he explains. "It definitely filtered into the entire process, it was hanging over our heads, not knowing what would happen next. I think it was a big part of the album, especially for Eric with the lyrics, with the sentiment and being an adult, wanting to know what you're doing but the inevitable uncertainty of life. And of course, moving and being homeless, searching for a home. I can't really speak for him exactly, but those were all things we were dealing with during this record."
As previously reported, Tanlines have lined up a North American, which kicks off next month and includes a few Canadian dates. You can see the schedule below.
Tour dates:
3/23 Manchester, England - Night And Day
3/24 Glasgow, Scotland - Death Disco @ The Art School
3/27 London, England - Cargo
4/11 Washington, DC - DC9
4/12 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
4/13 Philadelphia, PA - Making Time @ Voyeur
4/14 Middleton, CT - Wesleyan University
4/16 Montreal, QC - Il Motore
4/17 Toronto, ON - Wrong Bar
4/18 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
4/19 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
4/20 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
4/23 Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club
4/24 Seattle, WA - Barboza
4/25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
4/27 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
4/29 San Diego, CA - Casbah
4/30 Los Angeles, CA - Echo
