TLC vs. The Teenagers: The Ben Sherman Interview
After reading previous off the wall magazine and blog interviews with The Teenagers, TLC was admittedly a little nervous in preparing for our interview during the madness of October’s CMJ. However in a tizzy of anticipation, free booze and prescribed antibiotics, I lost the questions I had prepared for the interview!
Luckily we were interviewing The Teenagers and how boring would a formal interview with Quentin be anyway?? So with our planned questions thrown out of the window TLC simply chatted it up with lead singer Quentin Delafon for this interview after the band’s performance. My favorite random quote of our conversation was: “I’m like Carrie Bradshaw, I couldn’t help but wonder. Was it me or was it the city?” Too funny.
Shout out to TLC friends Goldie and Amanda! (Please note: As expected, a lot of the inappropriately hilarious side conversation had to unfortunately be cut.)
> Welcome back! How many times have you previously been to New York?
Q: I first came to New York in 1996, and we came back twice this year. This is our third time.
> What do you guys like to do when you’re in New York?
Q: My god, I just go to Brooklyn or the Lower East Side and hang out trying to be hot. Everyone is so hot in New York it’s really scary! It’s such a big peer pressure in New York, honestly. I feel I have to like work on an eating disorder because everyone’s so skinny.
> Do people ever recognize you?
Q: Someone recognized us today in the Lower East Side and they were like, “Are you The Teenagers??” [They] didn’t ask me but it was cool. I mean being recognized in New York is really cool.
Will: Quentin stay out of trouble!
Q: I know I’m trying it’s difficult. (All laugh)
> What other cities do you like to visit in America?
Q: We had fun in San Francisco. My sister’s living there so that was pretty cool. LA was cool but to put it in a positive way, there is much more culture in New York.
> If you’re from New York you automatically have to hate LA (laughs)
Q: I don’t hate it, but for European people to not be able to walk or stuff is not considerable. In New York you can walk to get somewhere but in LA you need a car and none of us have drivers’ licenses. Who needs it in Paris, London or New York?? You look cool enough to just ride a cab.
> Tell us, how did you guys get serious about getting your music out there?
Q: Boring question. (All laugh)
> According to the internet you started off as a joke, but we know that’s not the case. Dispute the claim!
Q: (Laughs) We didn’t start as a joke we started for fun, not as a joke.
> Did you feel like you were reaching a goal when you were touring in the states?
Q: Uh yes, honestly the first time we came here I was like “Whoa!” Now its the third time and we’re still like “Whoa!”
> What was your first show in the states?
Q: …I have memory issues but where we played it was amazing.
> The first time I saw you guys was at Studio B…
Q: That was like, I’m not lying, but that was like the best show ever! Everyone was like really drunk or super high and like “Ahhh The Teenagers!” I felt really important that night.
> Are you checking out any CMJ shows?
Q: We wanna see Friendly Fires and Crystal Castles. I think on Friday we’re going to see White Lies in Bowery Ballroom…I love it. Do you know their song “Yes this fear’s got a hold on me…” (sings Death by White Lies) I’m not a singer. Oh yeah…I am, I’m joking. Anyway I love White Lies, that song is so good. I really want to see them because we’re sleeping around them (laughs)…our things are a couple of hotel rooms away.
> Do you still live in Paris?
Q: We live in East London. It’s called Hackney but we call it Crackney (laughs). I don’t do crack though, crack is wack.
> Okay thank you so much for speaking with us!
Q: If you wanted to taste like caramel….(all laugh). No problem!
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