On their new, second album Don't Wait For A Sign, New York-born indie-pop duo Jeanines display a devotion to economy. Every song is under two minutes long, and the whole clocks in at 13 songs in 20 minutes.

"It's honestly just that I never wrote songs before the age of 27," admits Alicia Hyman, Jeanines' songwriter, in conversation with Anthony Carew on The International Pop Underground.

"I know that songs have verses and choruses and sometimes bridges, but it would never occur to me to add something else. Also, I don't really enjoy writing lyrics, so if a song has two verses, why would I add more? It comes off pretty well. People interpret it as I'm conveying a lot in a tiny little package, and it leaves people wanting more."

Inspired by cult twee-pop bands like Dear Nora and the Aislers Set, the duo —Hyman and collaborator Jed Smith— leans on that "high and bright guitar sound", songs sparkling with sunny melody.

"I always say that I write sad little folk songs," Hyman says, "and then Jed turns them into indie-pop gems."

Feature image: Tasha Lutek