Creative reflection; Tegan and Sara ready to head to studio.

Byline: Richard Duckett

The indie rock-pop identical-twin duo of Tegan and Sara are writing songs and planning a return to the recording studio for album No. 6.

Which doesn't mean they aren't still touring extensively. The Canadian born Quin sisters - Tara Rain Quin and Sara Kiersten Quin (vocals, guitar, keyboards) - along with band members Edward "Ted" Gowans (guitar and keyboards), Shaun Huberts (bass guitar, synth bass, keyboards) and Johnny "Five" Andrews (drums) return to The Palladium for a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday.

But as Sara put it, "I've got the writing bug again." And the touring schedule has been slimmed down. There's a trip coming up down under in Australia right at the end of the year. But the U.S. schedule announces a break for itself by the middle of this month.

Time for more writing for both Tegan and Sara, and reflection.

For one thing, for the first time since she was about 13, Sara, now 28, said during a recent telephone interview that she is single again, "and happily so."

Both sisters have long since said that they're gay, although the lyrics of their songs, while often dealing with love, are something someone of any persuasion can relate to.

"I'm in a band and I write music. But to write about a love life is petty weird when you don't have one," Sara continued. Similarly, "I can talk about politics but I don't feel the calling to write a political song."

So, instead, "I've tried to put myself in the place of someone different." Which, in turn, has led to reflections about her parents.

They were their early 20s when the twins came into the world. Sara's conscious recollections of her parents go back to when she was around 5. That was when her parents were at the same age as she is now.

"I've been thinking about them," Sara said.

Happily, they are good memories - and it isn't too hard to discern how Tegan and Sara got music under their skin and got into music.

The sisters have said they picked up an electric guitar when they were 15 and started recording everything. Winning a competition helped get them a record label and a tour in support of Neil Young when they were 19. They have been headlining in their own right for several years.

Their musical arrangements and textures are subtle, as are the lyrics. At a stop of the Unlimited Sunshine Tour at The Palladium in 2006, Tegan and Sara followed a decibel-popping performance by Gogol Bordello. As then Telegram & Gazette columnist/reviewer Scott McLennan noted, Gogol Bordello "leveled the house."

"Tegan and Sara had the unenviable task of carrying the momentum with its clever, though much quieter, repertoire. To their credit, twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin did not get lost in the shuffle as they more subtly worked their way into the crowd's consciousness. `Where Does the Good Go' and `Walking With a Ghost' were solid bits of shimmering pop craft," McLennan wrote.

But the sisters can rock, too. And they are tough. Sara is easy to talk to, but she doesn't mince her words.

Tegan and Sara's parents were divorced when they were young children. Their mother was a single mom for a while, and then a stepfather would later come into their life. Nevertheless, their parents have remained friends.

"I've been mining those experiences," Sara said.

"We were very close-knit. My mom and dad were independent people and passed that on to Tegan and I. I have so much respect for them."

Sara recalled that growing up in their home in Calgary, "There was always tons of music around. They were very musical. I think I always knew I wanted to perform. Although I was very introverted and shy, Tegan and I could hold attention at an early age."

When the sisters were writing songs at 15, "it started to click that we could make music."

However, there was some naivete at first. The Neil Young tour was not an enriching experience, at least financially. "I was broke and we were terrified." Sara said. In support of their first album, "We were taking Greyhound buses (to gigs). I would get on the phone with press and they would say, `Isn't this great?' And I would say, `Actually, no, this is not great.'

"Once we had a couple of years under our belt, I thought, `Oh my God, we're doing it. Even now, even with success, you think how long can you do this? I would never take any of it back. Now it's hilarious telling stories. It made us have a thick skin. It made us very grateful for everything. Now, oh my God, this seems so easy."

So Tegan and Sara's parents, whose support has included going on the road with them, can rest a little easier.

"At first they were traumatized that we were going to be musicians," Sara said. "I think they're very gratified that we're not doing meth and sleeping on someone's couch."

Their most recent album, "The Con," was nominated for the "Alternative Album of the Year" award at the 2008 Juno Awards.

Sara said that a concern of the current fall tour is that fans may have already seen them perform in support of "The Con." So they are planning to offer something different tomorrow.

"We're very conscious people don't want to come out and see the same show," Sara said. That said, the dialogue and banter of the sisters on stage can make each show different. However, the performance will include older but still good material and B-sides of hits fans may not be familiar with. The visual material will be new. Even the band's merchandise on sale at The Palladium will have something different. In other words, plenty of thought, as always, has gone into matters.

"We want to make the whole thing an experience," Sara said. "We want to make it as interactive as possible."

Doors open 6 p.m. Saturday. Also appearing will be City and Colour, and Girl In A Coma. Part of the show will also likely include Tegan and Sara collaborating with the opening acts, Sara said.

Tegan and Sara

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester

How much: $30. Call [phone]

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) tegan and Sara will performk at 7 p.m. tomorrow at The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester. Tickets are $30. (2) Tegan and Sara's most recent album, "The Con," was nominated for the "Alternative Album of the Year" at the 2008 Juno Awards.