interview by Marie-Pauline Cesari
photographies by Yaël Temminck

The Lemon Twigs are an American pop rock band from Long Island, formed by brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario. We caught up with them just before the start of their concert at the London Calling Festival the 20th of May, which marked the start of their European tour. The brothers are cool and relaxed, and despite the jet lag, they were all smiles as they answered all our curiosities. Playful and looking like they'd stepped straight out of a Celine campaign, the Lemon Twigs set the Paradiso on fire that night.

For the readers who don’t have the chance to know you yet, can you introduce yourself in a few sentences and describe your musical style? 

Brian: The Lemon Twigs is a unique blend that draws inspiration from the melodic and catchy sounds of the ’60s and ’70s. Our latest album embodies a soft rock vibe, evoking the reminiscent tones of Simon & Garfunkel, with a subtle touch of Arthur Russell and elements reminiscent of the style of Moondog.

Michael: Our music is predominantly acoustic, adorned with intricate arrangements that showcase our attention to detail. The harmonies we create are a key aspect, adding a beautiful and captivating layer to our compositions.

Why The Lemon Twigs and what is the story behind your name?

Michael: There is no story! (laughs) We’ve been a band since I was 14 and Brian was 16, and Brian was the one who came up with the name “The Lemon Twigs.” It simply stuck with us over the years. But, the name doesn’t hold any particular meaning. It doesn’t originate from a poem or have any connection to poetic inspiration.

Brian: ­­­Maybe the worst poet of all time would’ve written The Lemon Twigs. (laughs) There’s no hidden symbolism or reference to the changing colors of the seasons. It embraces the abstract nature of the human mind and the unique forms of poetry it can create. We simply created this name, embracing its enigmatic essence.

How did your musician father influence you and what are the guidelines he gave you to write a good song.
Do you still have time to play with him, like when you were kids? 

Brian: Our father’s influence on our music and his guidelines for a good song revolved around structure, melody, and appeal. He valued melodies with intrinsic value, uniqueness, and catchiness. If a unique melody was lacking, a strong rock and roll feel would suffice. 

Michael: We still play music together, mostly on acoustic guitars, jamming to Beatles songs. However, we don’t get as many chances to jam with rock instruments anymore, sadly. 

Besides your dad, who are your musical heroes and how did they influence your style?

Michael: There were artists like Brian Wilson, The Beatles, Roy Wood, Leonard Cohen, and Dylan, Jeff Lynne… Specifically, we looked up to figures like Brian Wilson, McCartney, and Roy Wood who had the ability to independently create and layer their music, much like Todd Rundgren too. They served as inspirations for our approach, emphasizing the art of layering and building upon musical elements.

Your music is often described as eclectic. How do you manage to integrate different influences while maintaining a coherent core and your own style?

Brian: It seems that whether it sounds or feels the same depends on our voices, given our different experiences. It’s hard to define the exact mood, you know? Essentially, the emphasis is on a strong melody, but apart from that it’s certainly consistent because it’s still us (laughs) singing and writing.

Can you tell us about your composition process and your collaboration as brothers? Not too complicated to work between brothers? 

Brian: Sometimes, our collaboration as brothers can be complicated, especially when it comes to the composition process. There are moments when the honesty between us can be brutally honest, and tensions can escalate. We can get really mad at each other and express our discontent without holding back. On the one hand, it allows us to be direct and straightforward in expressing our preferences and requesting changes. However, it also means that even minor criticisms can upset the other person easily (laughs).

Michael: I have to be careful with my words… We sometimes find ourselves walking on eggshells around each other, trying to avoid unnecessary conflicts. 

Brian: But it’s important to note that my brother’s reaction to my feedback seems more sensitive than mine! Despite our differences, I believe I’m a better guitar player than him, but for some reason, he has more control over the decision-making process (laughs). 

What were your main sources of inspiration for your new album, “Everything Harmony”? How does it differ from your previous albums? 

Brian: Essentially, our approach was to gather softer, with more acoustic songs, and only a couple of exceptions that had a more upbeat tone. We decided to focus on those songs and explore their potential. This direction differs from our previous works in the sense that we have always had that softer side, but now we are fully embracing and showcasing it. The influences for this album are the ones we mentioned earlier, including artists like Arthur Russell and Simon Garfunkel… These musicians played a significant role in shaping the album’s sound and style. 

Michael: We wanted to capture a particular atmosphere that resonated with the overall tone of the album. Our goal is to consistently create songs that possess strong lyrics and music, suitable for acoustic performances, while also presenting them in different musical arrangements. We aim to dress them up differently each time, bringing a fresh perspective to our compositions.

You mentioned spirituality and taking music lightly. Why is it important for you not to take music too seriously?

Brian: Well, I suppose when it comes to the music itself, the aim is to create a sense of joy and euphoria while playing it. It’s easier to express genuine emotions when you’re singing a melody that you genuinely enjoy. There’s always a dichotomy present in our songs, where we express sadness but in a comedic manner.

Managing this duality is something we’ve always done. Many people share this perspective, but we take it to an extreme extent. We find humor in the saddest things that happen to us, and the touchiest subjects in our lives often become the basis for our funniest jokes. The absurdity and disbelief that arise from experiencing something incredibly bad make it even more humorous.

Michael: There’s a closeness between those intense low feelings and the euphoric ones. When you cry intensely or laugh hysterically, there’s a similar sense of experiencing something extreme. It’s like you’re feeling something profound at both ends of the emotional spectrum.

Can you tell us more about the song “Every Day is the Worst Day of My Life” and its inspiration? How do you manage to express sadness through comedy in your music? How do you manage to balance this duality in your songs?

Brian: Well, that song gives me a feeling like, “Oh great!” You know what I mean? It’s like the feeling of hating Mondays, just like Garfield. It’s like, you can’t believe that something ridiculous happened. It’s just absurd. That’s how I perceive it.

Michael: Some people question why our songs are often labeled as sad, but to me, they’re not really that sad! They’re more on the side of being ridiculous.

Why have you chosen to be actively involved in making your own music videos? 

Brian: Yes, we were very hands-on during the filming process. Brian and I had only one crew member. On three out of the four occasions, it would be the camera person and the two of us. Sometimes, one of our girlfriends would assist us. That was the setup for three of the projects. However, for one of them, we had a high level of trust in one person, so we allowed him to take creative control, and it turned out really well.

Michael: Especially on this album! We have been more involved than ever before. We would discuss and plan the shots we wanted, providing directions on where we wanted to go and what shots to capture. 

You caught the eye of Hedi Slimane. Does fashion an important part of your life and are there any brands you would like to work with? 

Michael: Yes, Hedi Slimane has taken photos of us, and that was really cool! We would be open to a new collaboration. But we haven’t been asked to do anything particularly extreme for now, like modeling for a brand for example.

Brian: It’s worth mentioning that we don’t pay much attention to fashion trends. We don’t have favorite brands and we don’t follow what designers say. Our style is mainly influenced by vintage clothes from the 60s and 70s. That’s our statement, vintage! (laughs)

What are you listening at the moment? 

Brian: Lately, I’ve been immersing myself in Bach’s “The Art of Fugue,” particularly his last pieces. 

Michael: I’ve been enjoying Roy Wood’s “Boulders,” and discovering the music of The Leopards!

Any plans for this summer?

Brian: Hum… focus on recording! We have plans to visit the beach, perhaps Montauk out east on Long Island. It’s a part of Long Island we haven’t spent much time in, so it would be nice to explore. But for the most part, our main focus is on recording.