Not many bands can say they have been performing, writing, and evolving together for over 30 years with their friendship intact, but Sleater-Kinney can. Corin and Carrie of Sleater-Kinney sit down for a conversation with host Chloe Aftel to discuss their new album, Little Rope, a new side to the Portland-based rock band. Chloe shares the way their music in the 90s impacted her own life with their fearlessness, honesty, and emotional exploration, and the pair dive into the ways their creative process and sound have evolved since then. They talk about failure as a gift, how their songwriting has shifted in style but steadfast in honesty, and the challenges of hearing themselves grow up through their music.

Highlights:

• Carrie discusses the difference between music and TV fame after the success of Portlandia and the importance of maintaining a level of mystery;
• Corin and Carrie reflect on their early days touring with Pearl Jam;
• The band discusses their longstanding friendship, the role of humor and playfulness in song-writing and in friendship, and the value of communication in creative partnership;
• Their intentional choice to live in places where fame is not the primary focus in order to maintain privacy.

Sleater-Kinney is an influential American rock band known for their powerful sound, feminist lyrics, and dynamic performances. The band formed in 1994 in Olympia, Washington, with Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein on vocals and guitar and Lora Macfarlane on drums, followed by Janet Weiss. Their early work garnered critical acclaim for their raw, energetic sound and socially conscious lyrics that addressed issues like gender, sexuality, and politics. The band went on hiatus from 2006-2014 and has been releasing music ever since, including work with collaborators like St. Vincent. Their newest album, Little Rope, was released earlier this year and explores a new side of the classic band, proving their connection and songwriting prowess has only improved with time.

Chloe Aftel has spent her career working in commercial photography, photojournalism, and film. She’s an established name in modern photography with work featured in The New York Times, Mother Jones, Playboy, Dazed & Confused, Vogue Germany, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue & more. Chloe has photographed victims of sexual violence, reported on Covid’s impact on the trans community, and gained access as the first reporter in the Covid wards of the West Coast’s hardest hit hospitals. She has covered underground abortion providers, the impact of gender pronouns on daily life, and clergy abuse. Her first book, “Outside and In Between,” is an award-winning anthology covering gender non-conforming people across America.

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