Biography
Before forming the folk-pop duo the Weepies, singer/songwriters Deb Talan and Steve Tannen had each put out solo work. Their initial encounter occurred during a performance by Tannen in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while he promoted his first album, Big Señorita. Sharing admiration for one another’s compositions, they began collaborating on new tracks, which led to the development of the Weepies’ lighthearted, acoustic-driven style. An independent release titled Happiness came out in 2003, followed by their signing to Nettwerk Records two years later. In December the label issued a digital preview of Say I Am You, an album the pair had cut inside a leased house in Pasadena, California, with the physical version arriving the next March.
Talan and Tannen spent the balance of 2006 performing live shows. Upon returning to California, their 2007 schedule included marriage, the creation of fresh songs, contributions to Mandy Moore’s Wild Hope, and the birth of their child. Hideaway appeared the year after, though they limited their touring to prioritize caring for their son. Frequent placements in television programs and ads maintained visibility for their music. Further songwriting resulted in the 2010 arrival of Be My Thrill. Following a period devoted to family expansion and Talan’s recovery from breast cancer, the pair reentered the studio in good health during 2014. There they completed Sirens, a collection of sixteen songs that came out in the spring of 2015. Remote contributions from several musicians enhanced the record even as Talan could not journey far, among them guitarist Gerry Leonard, known for his work with David Bowie; bassist Tony Levin from King Crimson; drummers Matt Chamberlain of Pearl Jam and Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello & the Attractions; and keyboardist Rami Jaffee of the Wallflowers.
Talan and Tannen spent the balance of 2006 performing live shows. Upon returning to California, their 2007 schedule included marriage, the creation of fresh songs, contributions to Mandy Moore’s Wild Hope, and the birth of their child. Hideaway appeared the year after, though they limited their touring to prioritize caring for their son. Frequent placements in television programs and ads maintained visibility for their music. Further songwriting resulted in the 2010 arrival of Be My Thrill. Following a period devoted to family expansion and Talan’s recovery from breast cancer, the pair reentered the studio in good health during 2014. There they completed Sirens, a collection of sixteen songs that came out in the spring of 2015. Remote contributions from several musicians enhanced the record even as Talan could not journey far, among them guitarist Gerry Leonard, known for his work with David Bowie; bassist Tony Levin from King Crimson; drummers Matt Chamberlain of Pearl Jam and Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello & the Attractions; and keyboardist Rami Jaffee of the Wallflowers.
Albums
