gt.com: how does it feel to be back in New
York City?
MARIT: Well, it's both really good and
really weird. We were in Los Angeles during the terrorist attacks, and we haven't been
back since then. It's strange, and kind of depressing. At the same time, it seems like
people just realized that we need to be nice to each other, because we don't know what's
going to happen tomorrow. So, everybody on the street is smiling, nice to each other, and
they stop for you when you cross the street. I think something good has come out of it, as
well.
MARION: It's really great -- we haven't been her since February of last year, so
it's great to be back. We were here a lot before, and it became a second home. It's
wonderful to be here, because I missed all the shops and pizza!
gt.com: how did you come up with the title "The Big Room"?
MARION: When we were recording the album,
we all lived in the studio, and we all put a band together. We played at the same time. It
was like this big, big room, and we had a drummer, bassist, electric guitar, Marit on
guitar, and me on piano. That's why we called it "The Big Room,"
because that's where it all happened! It was one of those great things that you remember
for the rest of your life. We were like a family!
gt.com: your new album will drop in February -- do you have anything up
your sleeves in terms of promotion?
MARIT: We're starting to promote here,
but before Christmas, we did a month in Asia. We're almost 300,000 copies in Asia in a
month [for "The Big Room"], so everything's going good! We're going to
do a showcase in New York City this week.
MARION: Right now, we're doing tons of
interviews, and next week, we're going to do a show with the same guys we had in the
studio. We're looking forward to that! We're going to Mexico, Canada, and Singapore,
because we're going to the MTV Asia Awards.
gt.com: wow! are you nominated?
MARION: Yeah, we're nominated for "Best Group"...with *N SYNC, Destiny's
Child, Backstreet Boys, and Westlife. So many boy bands!
gt.com: do you plan on touring soon?
MARIT: We'd really want to! It's going to
be a promo tour first, and just doing acoustics. We'd love to bring our band on the road
and do a real tour, because tours are the greatest!
gt.com: you waited two years
before releasing a new album. was there a specific reason behind that, or did you just
feel you needed the time?
MARIT: Well, it was kinda just the time it took. "Shades of Purple"
was so special that we needed a lot of time to promote it, because it was released
worldwide all at the same time. Also, we write our own songs, so we needed time to do
that, too. We wrote this whole record, and then went into the studio and recorded it.
MARION: A lot of singers put their albums
out really quick, like Britney Spears. While she is out doing promotion, other people are
writing songs for her. When she is done with promotion, she can go into the studio to sing
the songs. While we have to go on promotion, write the songs, and then be in the studio
for two months, singing and taking care of all of the music. That's why it takes so much
more time, because we're really involved in the whole thing.
gt.com: which song on the album is the most special for you?
MARION: "Wanna Be Where You Are"
-- I wrote that song myself, and it's very personal to me. It kinda answers all the
questions like, "Do you have a boyfriend?" and stuff, and it's all
about how hard it is for us to have somebody and travel away from that person. It's very
close to my heart; I want to share it with everybody.
gt.com: pretend someone is
walking through the record store and they stumble across your new album, "The Big
Room." why should they buy it?
MARIT: You should buy it, because we hope that when you think of M2M, you
think of something real. And, when you buy this record, you're going to get to know and
understand us better and know what life is like for us.
MARION: I think you should buy it, because you can really identify with the lyrics
and it's a real album. Buy it, and give us a chance! See if you like it.
gt.com: the first single off of
your album is the catchy number, "Everything." is that based on a real boy?
MARIT: Yes, vaguely. It's based on an
experience Marion had. We kind of exaggerated it and wrote about it. He wouldn't call, so
now we're hoping he won't hear about it on the radio!
MARION: It's about a really sucky boyfriend that never calls you. You know how girls
are -- counting things to the hours. That's why!
gt.com: we know how that can be! how close to home are the songs you
write?
MARIT: They're pretty close. It's kind of hard to write about something you know
nothing about. So, we write about things we experience. But, we try not to be too
personal, not put names into it. "Jennifer" [track two on their
album] is not about anyone specific. It's just very hateable. You know, Jennifer
Anniston, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jennifer Lopez...they're all very pretty.
MARION: All of the songs are taken from experience. We try not to get too personal,
but it's like a diary for me. I write songs to get it out. Like, the song Miss Popular --
I think everyone can identify with having a girl at your school that's very popular, but
she's so mean to everyone. She picks on everybody. The song is really a message to those
girls -- that they should get their stuff together and realize that it's not the whole
world to be popular, and they should actually use the title for a good cause. Be nice to
people, get tons of friends...don't pick on people because they don't have the cool
clothes or the right hairstyle.
gt.com: very inspirational! if given the opportunity, who would be first
on your collaboration wish list?
MARIT: To aim really high, somebody like Paul McCartney or Joni Mitchell would be
awesome! I'm a big fan of hers. There's so many that we like...Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, who
I know Marion really likes!
gt.com: which song from your new album do you think you could sing over
and over again and never get sick of?
MARIT: Right now, I'm not sick of any of
them, because we haven't promoted that much yet. I think "Everything"
is a song that is catchy, but it's not the regular chords that you get tired of when it's
inside of your head. It was on my mind for weeks when we wrote it!
MARION: I think "Everything" is one of those songs. Actually, we
were never sick of "Don't Say You Love Me" from our first album. We
loved singing that song; I think "Everything" is the same thing. It's
so much fun singing it -- we're having a blast every time we perform it!
gt.com: do you ever feel you have to portray a certain image in the way
you dress or the style of music you sing?
MARIT: Yes, I do, actually. I feel like I have to be myself. In some situations, it
might be more suitable to put on certain clothes because it fits better with the scenery
or the people around you, and it's kinda hard, because I always want to be myself. We've
had photo shoots that we've been forced to wear clothes that we don't like, because it was
the only clothes they had. And, the pictures turned out awful, because we looked
miserable. It's really important for us to be comfortable.
MARION: I think our image -- what we want to show out there -- is that it's
important to be yourself. That's what we do -- we wear the clothes we like, we're just
ourselves. We don't listen to anybody who tells us how we're supposed to be. There's a lot
of pressure in this business. It's not just about the music, it's about how you look, too.
That's kinda sad, I think. I just think it's important to wear the clothes you look good
in. I know I shouldn't wear those really, really low pants, because it just doesn't look
good on me, but it might look good on another person. It's important to get your style,
what you look good in, because then you'll feel good.
gt.com: that's a good message! are there any stereotypes you have heard
about pop music that you want to shut down right now?
MARIT: The one thing that is an entire lie is that there's something called "being
a star overnight." People have no idea what amount of work you have to put into
it. We're having tons of fun, because this is truly what we love doing, but there's a lot
of hard work involved!
gt.com: the first time you heard your song on the radio or saw yourself on
television...how'd that go?
MARIT: ::laughs:: I still can't stand to see myself on TV! I've seen our
videos only in the situations when I have to, like when we're in meetings, interviews, and
showing people. I hate it! But, on radio it's really cool, because all of these songs come
on, and all of the sudden, your song is on with the songs you heard many times! I think
the first time was on Radio Disney, and I just freaked out! We were screaming and
clapping our hands!
MARION: I remember the first time we heard "Don't Say You Love Me"
in our apartment in New Jersey, and I was watching MTV. I suddenly heard our
song, and I was like, "What?!" It was on the radio that was on in
another room! It's such a great feeling, because you work so hard for your music, and you
want people to hear it. When you see it on television or on the radio, you know thousands
of people are listening to the same thing!
gt.com: who do people tell you that you look like?
MARIT: ::laughs:: Actually, Michelle Williams on Dawson's Creek,
because of my hair when it's long!
MARION: I think Marit looks exactly like Michelle Williams! And, she gets so mad
when I say that! I'm getting a lot of weird things I don't agree with at all -- I've
gotten Alanis Morisette because of my hair. I have very long, curly, messy hair! My
friends say that sometimes my personality and what I do with my face reminds them of the Dawson's
Creek girl Joey. She does that thing with her hair behind her ears and the way she
rolls her eyes. When people tell me I look like Katie Holmes, I'm like kissing their feet.
I don't want them to think I'm like, "I totally think I look like this pretty
person!"
gt.com: we see the resemblances! do you plan on doing the transition from
music to acting? what would be your ideal role?
MARIT: I'm going to leave that to Michelle! I'm not a good actress -- I might be
interested in it later, but for now, it's just music.
MARION: Actually, I'm very interested in that. I've been acting since I was little,
and I've been in musicals and things like that. I really like it, but music will always be
my passion.
gt.com: so, what would be your ideal role?
MARION: I think a role where I can sing,
kind of like Whitney Houston in "The Bodyguard." That would be really
great to show my talent as a singer but still be in a movie. I love Lara Croft and those
kind of girls, too!
gt.com: what's the best gift a fan has ever given to you?
MARIT: This one guy made this compilation of songs on a mini disc by artists that
he knew I liked and artists that he thought I'd like and gave it to me. It was so nice! He
put down a reason for every song on why I should listen to it and why he thought I liked
it. It was a really good present!
MARION: A fan in Singapore gave me this miniature of a grand piano, and it was a
music box. It was really cute! But, I lost it. It was very sad. I had this big box, and I
was carrying it all over Asia -- we were there for months, and I think I lost it at an
airport. It was really sad, because it was the best gift I've ever gotten!
gt.com: how sweet! marion, your hair style is adorable! what's your
secret?
MARION: I don't do anything with it! My advice is that you shouldn't do too much
with your hair. One of my girl friend's colors her hair all the time, and it gets very
thin and fuzzy when you color it a lot. I don't wash it too much, either, because that
also ruins your hair. I put some mousse in it, and I usually cut layers in my hair, and I
get more curls. When my hair was all the same length, it would get so heavy that I
wouldn't get curls because of all the weight.
gt.com: have you ever forgotten a line on stage or messed up with the
instruments? how do you cover that up?
MARIT: Well, Marion and I mess up all the time! But, I don't think people ever
notice. We know each other so well in the songs. So, we'll just pretend that it was meant
to be, especially in a live version. Marion is so good at making up lyrics! I've done some
guitar mess-ups, and I hate doing it! I'll go home and just practice until three in the
morning, so I know it by heart.
MARION: Well, one time I was playing the guitar, and the solo was on one string, and
that one string broke. I was freaking out, but the bassist in our band started playing the
solo on his guitar. So, he saved the whole show!
gt.com: you've traveled worldwide, so this question might not be a cinch
-- where is your favorite place to perform?
MARIT: That's very hard! We've had a lot of good concerts. It's fun in Asia,
because we have outdoor shows, and we have like 10,000 people showing up. It's craziness
over there. But, it's also nice when we can be here, like when we were on tour with Hanson
last fall, and we got to play 3,000 seaters. It's nice, because you can connect to the
audience, and it's not just a black curtain.
MARION: And, they all know our songs in Asia. That's what we're working on --
getting the people in the United States to know us.
gt.com: what do you do when you take a break from music?
MARIT: I don't think I ever take breaks from music, because music is what I do in
my spare time, too! I'll finish a day, go home, and write music on my guitar.
MARION: I love going to the movies! I love being in someone else's world, not
thinking about anything you do. I had this movie kick when I was home at Christmas. I
watched like twenty movies! My favorite was Shallow Hal. I was with my friend at
the movies, and I laughed so hard! They were all so embarrassed. And, we all saw Pearl
Harbor, and I cried. When I cry, I make this sound. And, they were like walking the
other way out of the movies, like, "We don't know you." I was like,
uh-oh!
gt.com: marion, you learned to play guitar for this album. did it come
naturally for you, or was it a difficult thing to learn?
MARION: Actually, we have never told
anyone this, but when Marit and I were thirteen, we both took guitar lessons. Marit was
practicing everyday, and she was so good, but I really didn't feel like the guitar was my
thing. So, I stopped playing guitar and she kept going, because I loved the piano. Then, I
started playing with Marit again, and it was a lot of fun! We came up with this whole new
thing for me -- I have a baby guitar. Maybe you heard that in the record in a song called
"Don't?" I played the guitar for that and a few other songs. I even
played the drums for one song, but it didn't make the album for some reason...I'm working
on it, though!
gt.com: tell us an annoying and unique quirk about each other.
MARIT: Marion can be very loud! She's hilarious when she's tired. She gets into
this trance where everything she does is funny. And, I can just look at her and laugh --
she has this thing about her!
MARION: The annoying part of Marit is that she's always in her own world -- she
doesn't have any sense of direction! When we're walking in the airport, she suddenly just
turns to the right and keeps walking. We're like, "Marit, we're walking this way!"
She doesn't hear me and just walks. You see her guitar case just bouncing up and down on
her back. That's how I find her in the crowd! I'm like her mom when it comes to that. But,
the good thing about her is that she is a very nice person. I was really sick yesterday
and lying in bed, and she was like, "Oh, can I do anything for you?"
She went and bought me a phone card so I could call home and everything! She's very
caring!
gt.com: what do you want to say to all your fans out there?
MARIT: I really hope you check out our new record, "The Big Room."
I hope that when we get to go on tour, you'll come and check us out doing a live show.
That's one of the things that we enjoy the most -- meeting our fans at shows.
MARION: Thank you so much for the support and giving us a chance of all the artists
out there! I hope you like our songs and identify with them. When I write songs, they make
me so happy, and I hope people can get the same thing out of them!
gt.com: hey, we're happy to have you back in America!
 M2M
has fans all throughout the world. Check them out through the eyes of the Aussies:
www.m2m-australia.com!
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