In Conversation With #251 - Sorry Girls
Montreal duo Sorry Girls have just released their new album ‘Bravo!’ via Arbutus Records.
Since forming in 2015, the Montreal duo of Heather Foster Kirkpatrick and Dylan Konrad Obront transformed an eerie, dreamlike sound into lush, pleasure seeking pop. Expanding upon their debut album, Deborah, which Pitchfork described as “more John Hughes than David Lynch,” the band’s deftly arranged sophomore LP, Bravo!, sings to the back rows of the stadium, drawing listeners inward with a newfound focus on personal lyrics.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Sorry Girls - how are you? So your album is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
It feels good! It's been a way way way long time coming and we're excited to finally share it! We've also started playing live shows again, so it feels good to come out of hibernation.
It is called ‘Bravo!’ - what is the meaning behind that?
It's meant as a celebration of release. A feeling of "you made it." It's a little tongue and cheek because on the back cover of the album there's a lone character sitting in an empty audience. There's something about welcoming the darker feelings that isolation brings and finding something in yourself to celebrate through it all and also celebrating the new community that you find through honest self-reflection and expression despite whatever feelings of loneliness that might bring.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
We recorded partly in Dylan's apartment, studio Toute Garnie with Austin Tufts, Edwin de Goeij's home studio and Mitch Holtby (of Mitch Davis) home studio. We also stayed at Dylan's sister's house and tracked most of the vocals in what is now his one year old niece's room. Her favourite song (Dylan's Niece) is Prettier Things, it's fun to see her dance to it, babies love Sorry Girls! A cute little BTS moment is when we rented a cabin in rural Quebec and Prettier Things just poured out of us. There's always something about being in wide open nature that allows things to flow naturally and joyfully.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
We read a bad review where someone was accusing me of "goes to therapy once" writing. But I'd say that's pretty true.
If the album could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Wings of Desire. It wouldn't really mash up with the film that well aesthetically, but I feel like thematically it's exactly what I was going through.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album - if so, which one and why?
Nothing jumps out but I'm pretty proud of the lyrics on "if you're done I'm done." It took me most of the writing of the album to finally come up with the lyrics and make them fit into a little poem. So I feel like I was successful in getting across what I wanted to in that one.
Now the album is out there - what next?
Tour!!! We're going on a NA tour in September and we cannot wait!! Would also love to tour Europe so anyone reading this who has any connections to booking Europe PLZ HELP US!
