By Lisa Wilton

Sara and Tegan Quin are two fast-talkin' teens.

 

And I mean, really fast-talking.

 

In a one-minute period, they can say close to 2,419 words between them. Approximately.

 

But the 17-year-old guitar-playing twins have a lot to talk about these days.

 

After winning Calgary's Garage Warz competition in April, the acoustic-pop duo have found themselves amidst a flurry of media interest.

 

"This is hard because we're, like, four weeks away from graduation and we're doing all these interviews," says the long-haired, eyebrow-pierced Sara.

 

"After we won (Garage Warz), we had to do all this stuff that interfered with our daily lives.... It's fine, it's really neat, but this isn't what we planned."

 

The plan, as Sara explains, was to bum around Australia for a year, maybe write a few more tunes in their bedroom and then emerge as a fully fledged musical outfit in about five years.

 

No such luck for the sisters, who have been "dragged kicking and screaming" into the Calgary music scene spotlight.

 

"I think all the big hype is from people seeing potential," says Sara.

 

"I think part of our image promotes the feeling that people have to take care of us. We're two girls who don't have a manager, who get chauffeured around by their mom because we don't want to get a license, we look like we're 13 ... and so people tend to take us under their wing.

 

"Most (musicians) take it step by step, but we've jumped 10 steps further than we ever thought we'd be this year, because people have been really supportive."

 

It really has been a whirlwind of activity for Sara & Tegan, who will have to put off studying for their finals for another weekend as they showcase their talents at the New Music West festival and conference in Vancouver this weekend.

 

If that's not enough, they have to rush back to Calgary to play their first big-time show, opening for Hayden Sunday at the Republik.

 

"He's so cool," swoons Tegan of the Toronto singer-songwriter. "We couldn't believe we got the show. His music is so great, I think he was another driving force behind our music. We thought, 'If he can put out a record with just him and a guitar, why can't we?"

 

Both girls say they sometimes feel fellow musicians dislike them and are jealous of all the attention Sara & Tegan have been receiving.

 

"I think a lot of Calgary bands who don't have success want it a lot more than we do," concurs Tegan, easily distinguished from Sara because of her short hair and stud below her lower lip.

 

"It's not one of our goals. We never said, 'Oh, I hope a bunch of big labels come find us.' I never even thought about it."

 

"We've been playing for three years," adds Sara.

 

"Probably just as long as other bands. We just haven't been playing bars and community centres.... But we've been struggling and breaking things to get where we are, and then went out and started playing. I think we've worked just as hard as any other band."