The Voltaire Twins

Fri 11th Dec, 2009 in Features

It’s December and 2009 has been a big year for Voltaire Twins, Tegan and Jaymes Voltaire. The have played their way through the year on the Perth stage and seen the video clip for D.I.L come out – but the adorable pair are taking it all in their stride. “This is the year that we’ve gone from [being] a band that picks up gigs here and there to [being] a band that has a more professional outlook,” confesses Jaymes, “We feel that we can do a lot of things we couldn’t do before.” And they’re not content to just leave it there.

Since coming to the musical table via Triple Js “Unearthed” competition – way back in 2007 – the Voltaire Twins have wrangled their way into electro-lovers’ hearts with local gigs, radio play of songs like The Kate Bush, and their knack for scoring excellent support spots on some major tours. Tegan explains “we were chewing everyone’s ear off about Ladytron! It was all we could think about for ages.” But, as their talent and reputability steadily grows, the twins Voltaire are surely becoming the sought after Perth ticket. “This year more supports have fallen into our lap, which is quite nice.”

While their humility is endearing, the strength of the Voltaire Twins live shows is undeniable. Being well practised on the Perth scene, the duo have developed incredibly engaging and contrasting stage personas – they can draw the crowd in and “work the stage” without creating a forced or contrived atmosphere. “When I’m on stage I find it very easy to be…kind of cheeky, and destructive and passionate. When you’re on stage what happens next doesn’t matter,” Jaymes says of himself.

And of his sister, “I know a lot of people are in love with Tegan! Tegan is very much the sex appeal of the band.” Not that she necessarily agrees that this is the case, admitting “I can be a bit feral!”

The gentle ribbing, side comments and psychoanalysis flow between the two siblings much like…well, siblings! It’s a dynamic that is in part tempered and in part enhanced by the addition of their drummer, Jye Satti. “There’s three people doing a lot in a small space, you really have to know each other and exactly how you work. But it feels pretty natural with Jye now.” Jaymes agrees with the observation, “We’ve had rehearsals where we’ll spend the time talking, or joking, or fighting or crying! Whereas with Jye in the room, you can’t indulge yourself in those things – he’s not there for that.”

So, with Jye on hand to keep time (and break up any mini-spats!) the Voltaire Twins are about to lock themselves away and write their debut album. “By the beginning of next year, hopefully, we’ll have our album written…there’s bits and pieces written already, but we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.” They have high hopes to take their brand of delicious electro-pop to the eastern states before launching a working holiday in Europe next year. With all of that in mind, Tegan and Jaymes can practically kiss what’s left of 2009 goodbye – nearly.

“I was thinking,” Tegan begins, slightly sheepishly, “if we wrote a Christmas song…?” Perhaps she thought her brother would shoot the idea down, but Jaymes seems willing enough to give it a try. “That will be the first sign of our decline, when we put out a Christmas album. Or, our ascent! Because Christmas albums, these days, pretty thin on the ground…”

Whatever comes of their first official record – whether it be Christmas themed or a synth-fuelled and characteristically cool musical gem – the Voltaire Twins are more than prepared to work hard and take on all the opportunities that 2010 is sure to present to them.