If anyone out there procrastinates, they might understand why I recorded an interview with Tegan and Sara’s Sara Quinn at the Austin City Limits music festival last September and am just posting it now. If you aren’t a victim of the putter demon then I’ll just say that I saved this interview for the release of queer twin sister duo’s new disc, “Sainthood.” I think more queer people could stand to see that they can be successful in their chosen field without having to treat their queer identity as a secret.

The New Gay Zack: My first question for you is this: Do you consider yourself a queer musician, or a musician who just happens to be queer? You know, some people say “I’m just an artist, sexuality shouldn’t matter…”

Sarah Quinn: A distinction I like to make is that all the artists out there who are heterosexual, be it painters or writers or singer, it means very little to me that they are heterosexual. Like Bruce Springsteen, I can understand his music, listen to it, relate to it, love it, regardless of who he sleeps with. But it’s important for me to be visible and acknowledge that my sexuality is not something I’m ashamed of. I do think of myself as being queer and I am an artist, I think that the distinction for me is I don’t make “gay music.” I don’t think you can make straight music or gay music. I’m just making music. My music does not have a sexuality. I have a sexuality.

TNG: How has your queer experience influenced your music?

SQ: My life experience influences everything I do. The way I look, the way I dress, the way I think, the way I talk. Being queer, being a minority, not just that but being a woman, I have experiences where I feel discrimination in the industry, like off-handed or backhanded comments. You either turn inward or turn your shoulders back and move forward, you try to battle through others projections or perceptions of you. I would never change anything.

The big difference between when I was 18 and now, when I’m 28, is that I used to say “do you think that if I could be straight I wouldn’t? you now, if I could make it easier on myself?” But now I would never. I love being who I am, I love being exactly who I am. It just feels like less of an issue.

TNG: My boyfriend went to see your DC show last thanksgiving [actually '07] and saw all these teenage girls, queer and straight. What is your relationship to you’re queer fan base? Do you think you’re helping queer girls come out or straight girls be open minded? Are the parents at these shows scared you’re going to somehow “turn” their girls?

SQ: I always try to flip it. If I’m surrounded by heterosexuality in every billboard, every image, every TV show or musician, in everything I grew up with, and I’m not straight. So clearly it doesn’t work the other way. If we were so impressionable that we’d become straight by being around straight people we’d all be straight. They’re the majority. I don’t worry about it. We are gay but I don’t think our show is…

TNG: So you’re not making out on stage?

SQ: No! It’s not a sexual experience, but look at the Kings of Leon. Girls scream for them, guys are singing passionately along with them. Music creates passion with everyone. I don’t look into the audience and think all these girls are in love with us. It’s an experience. You go and feel passionate. Some people attach to you personally, some attach to your music.

TNG: But if there’s some fifteen year old girl there that wants to come out…

SQ: I think that having visible role models in media is so important. When I was little people like Kathleen or Ani DiFranco might not have identified as queer, but they certainly identified as queer allies. I think there will be some of us in this genre of music who say “I don’t care if you think it’s wrong, Im motherfucking OK with it,” and if fifteen year olds or forty-five years olds take inspiration from that it’s awesome.

TNG: I was going to ask a question about indie rock creating a safe haven for queers, more than a genre like death metal would seem to. Is there a relationship between the music and the scene and queer comfort in it?

SQ: I think that there is an open-mindedness to alternative music and indie rock, but it’s also very male. There is a very male feeling to indie rock. Being a female queer artist in the world of rock is a little alienating sometimes. I don’t know that many queer dudes in rock either, but I think you’r right that in metal or hip hop there is more of a feeling of homophobia, or if I’m gay and listening to Talib Kweli it might not be kosher…

TNG: What are your queer musical influences?

I’m really inspired by people like Beth Ditto who will actually talk about being gay, who won’t skirt the issue or not talk about it. Like Jenny Owens Young who just came out on Matador. I like that they’re casual about it. Tegan and I have always been super casual about it. We’re making music for everyone, but I’m not gonna answer “What does your boyfriend think about you writing music about love?” I don’t have a boyfriend. I had one when I was 17, but I dont know what he thinks and I don’t care. I think being open and comfortable is what inspires me. Other people are just talking casually about who they are. I really like that.TNG