The story behind There’s A Tuesday’s new song ‘Margo’
Words by Hannah Powell. Images by Tom Grut.
Three years after the release of their second EP, There’s A Tuesday is redefining its indie-pop-darling status with a swathe of new music. Releasing their highly-anticipated new single ”Margo” last Friday, the indie-rock song marks the second-to-last teaser before the band’s debut album goes live.
But releasing ”Margo” on Valentine's Day, I ask? Members Nat Hutton (guitar, vocals) and Joel Becker (bass) laugh. “It’s just by chance,” Nat answers. “We actually wrote and recorded the song early last year.”
You can imagine how excited they are - she, Joel, and the band are ready to get the tune “off the bench”.
“I think with this song and all of the other songs on the album, they’ve been all waiting to come out,” Joel says. “Like Nat said, it’s been a slow process, but we’re finally doing it.”
“Margo” explores Nat’s experience of growing up closeted and queer. A far cry from swoon-worthy or rose-tinted love, the lyrics tell a story close to Nat’s heart - of pretending to be someone you’re not in a place that doesn’t fully accept who you are.
“The song delves into Margo, the straight alter ego, and the journey navigating between two different identities,” Nat explains.
“When I wrote it initially, it was with the idea that a couple of days before I was born I was supposed to be called Margo. I’ve used Margo for like, when I was in high school I was dating the captain of the rugby team and wearing dresses to balls that made me want to vomit,” she laughs.
Despite all of the depression and anxiety it would cause, Nat swallowed it down until she was choking on it. Writing a song, years later, invited the wound to heal.
“It’s been really cool seeing it come together, and it feels like closure on that part of my life. I’m really happy with who I am and where I am now.”
When it comes to making a song a winner, Joel loves it when Nat or Minnie brings a song to the band to work on together. “When we were shaping the sound, we leaned towards a more heavier rock feel than usual. We wanted the energy to reflect the emotions in a more dynamic way,” he says.
“Nat’s point makes sense, but for us it was about chanelling that feeling into something powerful. We wanted the energy to feel more liberating, rather than sad.”
Plus, it’s fun to play, he adds. For him, the song speaks to Joel’s experience as a teen trying to fit in.
“Growing up the biggest thing was trying to be cool. I remember my sister was always like, ‘why are you always trying to be someone you’re not, why are you trying so hard?’. I look back, and I’m like man, so true. But as a kid, you’re so scared of judgment, so you are going to conform…no one wants to be judged,” he says.
“I think the way Nat has written the song lyrically, it’s universal for everyone.”
With three new tracks ringing in a new era, what’s next for Nat, Joel, Gus, and Minnie? Awaiting dates on the album release, all they can do for now is tease. “What we’re putting out is music we are the most proud of, ever. And it’s music that is a good representation of the sound we’ve wanted to create for a long time,” Nat says.
“It’s such a big change in our music, and I feel like that’s why maybe it’s taken us a while to get it out. Because we want to perfect it and make it sound as ‘us’ as possible,” Joel adds.
Five years since the band came together, the upcoming album will represent an amalgamation of sound. Less pop, more rock, influenced by what all of the band members have been listening to.
All we can do is wait to find out.