Interview with Alaina Moore from Tennis

Patrick and Alanna performing at ACL 2012

Over the past weekend during ACL, I was able to interview the lovely Alaina, singer of husband and wife duo Tennis.
Ever since I first heard Marathon blaring from shop speakers, I have been in love with Tennis's beachy-sweet sound, heavy with dreamy pop melodies reminiscent of the 50's. It was beyond wonderful to meet Patrick and singer-keyboardist Alaina, who was gracious enough to speak with me for Youth Spin between interviews and prepping for the band's ACL set.

So you’re here at ACL. How does it feel?

I love it I’m excited to be here, any excuse to be in Austin is a good one.

Where are you from?

My band and I are based out of Denver.

When did you form?

We started playing about two years ago, we were in the whole myspace sound and dance, back in the glory days of myspace, when we released a song that way and somehow become a band out of that one demo online, so.

You’re songs have are very summery kind of, does that have anything to do with the name Tennis?

No actually, the name Tennis is totally trivial and irrelevant to everything, but… our first inspiration to write music was based on an experience that was spent living on a sailboat for a long period of time in which it was very summery and that was kind of the vibe and aesthetic, we were listening to a lot of Beach Boys and girl groups and Paul Simon and things of that nature, I was kind of rediscovering my love for that kind of music and that’s kind of what ended up shaping our sound later down the road.

If you had to describe your latest release as a parson, what kind of person would they be?

Moody, and … maybe multiple personality disorder. Actually for the lyrics in our latest album Young And Old, I was kind of thinking of a woman changing over time from youth to old age and I was thinking about how her perspective would change kind of the emotional ramifications and the maturity you would gain in that. So yeah, that’s how would describe it.

And lastly, what’s your favorite sandwich?

You know what? Of all time, peanut butter and jelly. It’s just too good... yeah.

cowabunga 60's bikini beehive fantasies

The Beach Party movies (1963-66)

Classic series of slap stick, musical surf movies featuring disney child stars, and some priceless 'action shots' on the waves before the age of green screen. If a Beach Boys album had to be illustrated by one quintet of 60's teen casted comedies, this would be that quintet!

Frankie and Annette: Ultimate teen heartthrob couple!

Shag (1989)

I love this movie! I saw it when I was pretty young, and though I was born in the 90's it seems to very much captures the essence of 1964. Also it makes me want to visit Myrtle beach with a group of headband-clad girlfrands.

Pastels <3 

Gotta love sixty-fied Phoebe Cates!

Luanne is my spirit animal.

Psycho Beach Party (2000)

The poster description pretty much sums it up. This is a pretty wacky watch, but still such an over-the-top fun screen gem! Part Gidget spoofaloo and all 100% eye candy.

Amy Adams!

Cutest swimsuit winner for sure.

I LOVE the colors in this

Nicholas Brendon (Xander from Buffy!!) is such a babe in this all the time.

As a thank you for reading my silly lil blawg, here's a silly lil beach mix! 

you can get it right hurr

inspiration: hot hot summer

 listen while you scroll

Here are some things I am excited about happening in summer:
rollerskating
bike riding round town
swimming
car rides with the windows rolled down + music playing
water balloon fights
late, sweaty shows
sleepovers
pizza with iced tea lemonade
paddle boarding
Thursday night swing dancing at the Fed.

I'm thinking of starting to write another movie, to occupy those long periods of time where I will be bored and alone (it happens every year. I call this 'summertime blues').

What are you excited about this summer?