The Veronicas are back! The 23-year-old twin sisters from down under have a new album and a new twist to their sound. The pop-punk influences on their award-winning debut album have been updated to an electro-dance sound that is bound to get you on your feet. We recently got the chance to ask the girls a few questions.
Heaviest: Hello – What’s your name and what do you do?
The Veronicas: Our names are Lisa & Jessica and we are a band called The Veronicas.
Heaviest What’s in a name? Is there any meaning behind The Veronicas?
The Veronicas: We grew up reading Archie comics and one of the characters in the story was a girl called veronica she was our favourite because she always got her way, and was kind of a brat. We like strong women, who know what they want. So we decided on the name the veronicas.
Heaviest Now most young bands can’t say they’ve performed together for as long as you two… How long have you been playing together?
The Veronicas: We have always performed together from a very young age (5) but we started to get serious about writing and recording when we were about 13. When we got our record deal at 18, we auditioned band members and chose our band as it is now. George, Paulie and Vik. And us.
Heaviest What is it like performing and touring with your sister? How do the both of you get along?
The Veronicas: We get along really well, we are always there for each other, sometimes when the constant late nights and early mornings get a bit tough we have a hissy fit and scream at each other then hug and make up. We wouldn’t have it any other way than to do this with each other.
Heaviest Does one of you carry the song writing responsibilities, or do you both work together?
The Veronicas: We work together and both contribute equally; we both have strengths that we work with. As twins we have a special understanding of each other and where the songs needs to go.
Heaviest The Veronicas have been hugely successful in your home country of Australia, how are fans in the United States receiving your unique sound so far?
The Veronicas: The U.S. fans are insane and know all the words even before the songs are released, our NY and LA shows were so much fun and we were blown away by the response of the fans.
Heaviest “Hook Me Up” and your lead single “Untouched” have exchanged your prior pop-punk stylings for a more sophisticated electro-beat feel.Why the change in style and how have your fans reacted?
The Veronicas: We were so proud and happy with the first album but for this one we wanted to try something different. We were watching a lot of electro pop bands in LA and on the Internet and really liked the sounds, so that’s the direction we decided to go with for this album. The fans have been so supportive and the feedback has been everything we hoped for and more.
Heaviest You had the opportunity to collaborate with some very talented songwriters while writing “Hook Me Up.” What was it like working with the likes of Shelly Peiken (Christina Aguilera) and the legendary Billy Steinberg (Madonna)?
The Veronicas: It’s been a dream come true for us; we admire and respect all the amazing people we have been working with. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to work with some of the best in the business.
Heaviest Do you have a favorite song from your new album? Why?
The Veronicas: Jess’s is “Take Me on the Floor.” It’s a bit cheeky and a bit controversial and a really cool dance track. Lisa’s is “Untouched.” Its just my favourite lyrics and has a special meaning for me. I love the string section at the beginning. Just a really pretty song with a lot of feeling.
Heaviest Do you find that “Hook Me Up” reflects your lives since you moved to Hollywood? Have you found that any one place that you’ve toured has influenced your music more than another?
The Veronicas: Not really. We draw our influences from all over and mostly from our own experiences.
Heaviest You guys have been touring both here in the US and back in Australia promoting your album the last few months. How is life on the road?
The Veronicas: We love touring. Meeting the fans and playing our music is our favourite thing to do, thats why we are in the business to get our songs out there live and rock out with the fans in different cities around the world. We love it.
Heaviest Care to share any funny or crazy stories from your recent tour?
The Veronicas,Jess: I couldn’t find my passport on the way to the airport to fly to NZ for promo. It was the end of tour and I was getting the flu and was so tired from the last night of tour. I had everyone running around looking for it in our bags on a truck ready to go to Sydney. After we missed the flight I found it in my carry-on bag, and record label people in NZ were so angry because we couldn’t fly out. In the end we had to cancel the promo and go home.
The Veronicas,Lisa: On our tour bus in America you aren’t allowed to do No. 2’s in the bus toilet but one night this girl came on the bus after the show and she went to the loo and did the No. 2, so the tour manager had to kick her off the bus because everyone was so angry at her for messing up our toilet.
Heaviest If we were to look on your iPod what would we find?
The Veronicas: Lots of really cool music: Michael Jackson, the Wahas, Under the Influence of Giants. Shiny Toy Guns, Dallas Green, The Follow, ACDC, Skyhooks, Dean Geyer, Rasmus, Muse, heaps of good music.
Heaviest We’d like to thank you for your time. Do you have any final shout outs to your fans?
The Veronicas: Look out for us in a town near you! We are touring soon with Natasha Bedingfield. Come check us out we would love to meet you all. Check out our myspace.com/theveronicas for updated information and theveronicas.com.