Key Change: Tatiana Maslany on "Faceshopping" by Sophie

Key takeaways

Tatiana Maslany uses music as a crucial tool in her acting and personal process, helping her explore and embody complex characters.
Sophie’s song 'Faceshopping' deeply resonates with Tatiana as a symbol of rebellion, multifaceted femininity, and artistic authenticity.
The episode underscores the importance of artistic freedom, embracing multiplicity and transformation as vital to creative work.
Music continues to serve as a source of strength and inspiration for Tatiana, especially in processing personal loss and maintaining her artistic integrity.

Summary

Introduction to Tatiana Maslany and Her Artistic Approach

The episode begins with an introduction to actress Tatiana Maslany, highlighting her versatile roles, particularly her work in 'Orphan Black' where she played multiple distinct characters, and her role as She-Hulk in the Marvel Universe. Tatiana discusses how she uses music as an emotional and motivational tool in her acting process, emphasizing her deep connection to music in her creative work.

The Significance of Sophie’s “Faceshopping”

Tatiana shares her experience of discovering Sophie’s song 'Faceshopping,' which resonated with her deeply at first listen. She recounts how her brother introduced her to the track in a car ride, and how the song’s mixture of industrial sounds with pop femininity spoke to her identity and artistry. The song became a symbol of her own multifaceted identity and creative exploration, representing rebellion, strength, and a complex femininity that she aspires to embody.

Music and Identity, Acting, and Transformation

The conversation explores how Tatiana uses music to access different aspects of her personality for acting. She explains how specific songs help her delineate characters and how her role in 'Orphan Black' involved playing multiple versions of herself, almost like living through different identities. Tatiana emphasizes the importance of artistic expression being unbounded by obedience or conventional expectations, advocating for artistic freedom.

Sophie’s Impact and Personal Loss

Tatiana reflects on Sophie's profound impact on her life and her work, as well as the deep personal loss following Sophie’s passing in 2021. She discusses her ongoing relationship with Sophie’s music, especially how she listened to it intensely after her death as a process of mourning and celebration. Sophie’s inventive sound continues to inspire Tatiana’s artistry, and her music remains a vital part of her creative toolbox.

Themes of Transformation, Identity, and Artistic Freedom

Throughout the episode, themes of multiplicity, transformation, and self-discovery are central. Tatiana relates her acting roles to her personal identity, discussing how music facilitates her emotional and creative shifts. She values being specific in her artistry, sometimes risking alienating audiences to remain true to her unique expression, highlighting her desire for authenticity and artistic integrity.

Show notes

My guest today is the actor Tatiana Maslany. One of the things I find so compelling about Tatiana and her career is that the roles that she plays often contain multitudes—literally. She played over 10 different characters–clones, but with distinct personalities–in the TV show Orphan Black. And in the Marvel Universe, she played She-Hulk, who also had the very different alter ego of Jennifer Walters, a lawyer. And right now, she’s starring in the show Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed on AppleTV. When Tatiana prepares for her roles—and the roles within the roles—she often uses music to inspire and motivate her. Today, I got to talk to Tatiana about a song that’s been really important to her and her process. And that song is “Faceshopping” by Sophie.

If you’re not aware of Sophie’s music, she was an incredible, groundbreaking electronic artist from the UK. She was trans, and she passed away far too young, in 2021. But even in a short time, she made a big impact. In addition to her own music, she also produced tracks for Charli XCX, and Madonna, and more. In 2018, she released her breakthrough Grammy-nominated album, Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, which dealt a lot with her trans identity. And that’s the album that has the song “Faceshopping.”

For more info, visit songexploder.net/tatiana-maslany.