Illustrious Michigan music writer JEFF MILO (of Current Magazine, Real Detroit Weekly, Deep Cutz blog, and more) kindly interviewed us for his "Perspective Rock" column of the monthly magazine CURRENT.  we had a lovely time conversing with him and here is what came of our conversations**!  photo by the talented and oh so nice Keith McArthur.

Physical copies of the DEC 09 issue should be available at your favorite local coffee/diner/establishment!

A slightly different version of the interview has been posted on the DEEP CUTZ music blog:


(**just to set the record straight - Dina returned to Michigan from Japan in 2007 and Timmy Tom hails from Fremont, Michigan.  griveous omissions include the fact that Dina's flying v "Sweet Louise" shoots sparkly laser beams and Timmy Tim Tom's drumming inspires baby kittens to weep with nascent, unbridled joy. just so you know)


“Singing is my joy.”
   Dina Bankole is a subtle soul up on that stage; her skinny frame gripping that striking, white flying-V guitar, eye-lids half lowered as her angelic voice coos and soars into the mic. During the day she’s helping Toyota with Japanese translations and sporadically contributing to Ann Arbor folkster Nathan K, but lately she’s been singing her own songs on a regular basis at an increasing number of live performances for her new band, the Secret Twins. “This is what I want to do; I’m living life the way I want to.”
   Bankole, 27, was raised in Jackson, MI and currently calls Ypsilanti home. She admits that Jackson’s “kind of a weird place,” with a definite small town vibe, but that she enjoyed it — attending Catholic school and finding her lifelong joy, singing, through the choirs there while growing up.
   With Ann Arbor based drummer Tim Thomas, the pair forms Secret Twins, an up-and-coming indie-rock band, heavy on melody, angular rhythms and spats of rougher punk-edge spunk. As Bankole rattles off influences, I can’t help but harp on the middle ground her music forges between the acerbic/endearing noisey-rock of Sebadoh and the intricately dressed forceful indie/folk of Feist.
   After high school, Bankole went to Connecticut to study Japanese at Yale. While there, a friend helped her obtain her first guitar, and soon started taking some lessons, learning the tabs to some tunes by favorites like the Pixies and Nada Surf. When she returned to Jackson in 2006, she was able find a job so she could settle in Washtenaw, eventually writing her own songs and performing solo. Lucas would accompany her in early 2009, backing her up in April at the Totally Awesome Fest in Ypsilanti. After the Dreamland Theatre show, this tall, lanky guy came up exclaiming, almost demanding, to be her drummer — that guy was Thomas — the rest is history.
   “I really wanted the chance to see what I could do for her on drums,” said Thomas, who also grew up in a small town, Fremont, Ohio eventually coming to the Arbor-Ypsi area for school and work. “She took me up on it and I didn’t know her at all, so it was weird, but we just started playing together and got to know each other.”
   Timmy has played most of his life; he drummed in a band of close friends through the end of high school and a bit after, helping further his experience and giving him a taste of band-life. He currently drums for three bands, including BoyWife, Invader and Mouthfinger.
   Musician Jim Cherewick, a friend of and occasional jammer with Bankole, took notice of her melodious rough and regal folk style and helped her get a spot on the Totally Awesome Fest – which could be where we use the cliché: “and she hasn’t looked back since.” Secret Twins established itself at that show, briefly featuring recordings Bankole had previously made and appearing on WCBN. They caught the eyes and ears of Detroit fans when they performed at the F*cking Awesome Fest in August, at the Majestic Theatre complex — attracting a large crowd and spawning a decent blog buzz.  
   Even Stuart Murdoch of Scottish baroque-pop legends Belle & Sebastian took notice of Bankole’s strikingly beautiful voice when she won an online contest to contribute vocals to his recent film score project, God Help The Girl.
   Future plans include a proper full length recording, hopefully a tour and a handful of local shows.
   See them in Lansing at (Scene) Metroscape on Saturday, December 12 with Joshua Barton & You and Yourn.
For more information, visit www.mypsace.com/secrettwinsmusic.

konnichiwa!

Timmy and I had the BEST time playing at FUCKING AWESOME FEST on the 14th and it seems like some people actually enjoyed the show!

we'd like to thank everyone for their kind comments and for being sweet new friends!

Detroit blog EAT THIS CITY (eatthiscity.com) actually took some time to write a little about us giving us our first bit of bloglove!

"...I probably won’t have time to mention how sweet TAN!’s set was or how rocking Croff’s set was before I head out to the day portion of Saturday’s show. Also, there was an extra band added Friday night, called Secret Twins, who pretty much stole that hour away from everybody. I’m not sure if the singer / guitarist spends as much time on Craigslist as I do, but there will definitely be some “missed connection” ads in the coming days from me to her. If only I knew how to talk to girls IRL…"

http://eatthiscity.com/?p=5746

oh. how we blush!

hey, does anyone happen to have any pictures of us at the fest?
send away!

sankyuu!

D