Life-Changing Art: Victoria Legrand (Beach House)

What piece of art changed your life? How did it affect you?

A crucial part of my life was when I lived in Paris and was exposed to silent theater. It was all about making things out of nothing, trying not to over-embellish. I saw a lot of things and was taught a lot of things that moved me, that were epic and intense. I learned that what is right in front of you can be the greatest source of inspiration. When I moved to Baltimore, I think the beginning of Beach House was like that. Meeting and working with [bandmate] Alex [Scally] was very much like that. Our work in Beach House shows that you can make big things out of little things.

The new Beach House CD, Teen Dream (see cover art above), comes out today on Sub Pop. It's excellent, and you can read a review in the current issue of Baltimore. 2010 figures to be a break-out year for the local duo, who recently performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and at Sundance. They'll be touring Europe in February and March, playing Coachella in April, and returning home for a show at 2640 on May 8.