1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?
One of the defining moments for us as a duo was the first time we sat down together to play music. We shared songs we had both been working on and started to incorporate one another as we went. From a young age, music had played an incredibly important role in both our lives. Although we'd both considered playing music professionally as a sort of unachievable dream, our relationship with one another seemed to open up a whole world of possibility.
2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?
We've got a whole slew of albums that have played on heavy rotation during our endless hours in the car. The first would be Brandi Carlile's newest release "Bear Creek" which is a really lovely, floor stomping good time. Another is Krystle Warren. She's an incredible singer-songwriter with a voice like nothing you've ever heard. Also (potentially embarrassing, we know), Abba Gold (their greatest hits CD) has been played maybe a little more often than we'd like to admit.
3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?
Hannah: We recently had the opportunity to play a show in an outdoor ampitheater on top of a mountain at Promontory Resort in Park City, Utah. It was almost painfully beautiful and the crowd was attentive and kind. As we sang one of our last songs, the sun set over a mountainside. The whole experience affirmed everything about what I want from my life as a musician. I was in an amazing place for the sole purpose of sharing the music Maggie and I wrote together. Is there anything better?
Maggie: We played a show at Smith College (where we both graduated from) at the tail end of my senior year. We had enough time to rehearse with two friends who sang with us on a couple of songs during the show, and it came together quite nicely. When we arrived to set-up, the room started to fill up and I felt overwhelmingly supported and super excited to play for what felt like everyone I had gotten close with over the past four years.
4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?
Although music can be an incredibly important force in peoples' lives, we get a little frustrated with the concept that music can "change the world". Any given song can, of course, mean everything to someone. Indeed, both of us feel that certain songs have impacted our lives. That said, music as an art is just that - an art. Is art an important, necessary part of the human condition? Absolutely. But, we don't want to take ourselves too seriously or convince ourselves that our music could alter the course of humanity.
5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?
Technology in this day and age makes it a LOT easier to make music in the same way that it makes many aspects of day to day life easier. We have the ability to record an entire song and never be in the same room together (which we've done often). Of course, the internet also makes it incredibly easy to distribute our music in ways that wouldn't have been possible ten or fifteen years ago. When we first started playing covers and working on originals, feedback from our Youtube audience really bolstered our confidence level. One thing that's a little off-putting about the technological advances in the music industry is the ease with which one can record and alter digital recordings. It's hard to trust that a recording reflects an artist's actual ability to perform well live.
6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?
Hannah: I might have to be a pair of those rain boots that kids wear that have little frog eyes/faces on them. Just because those are really practical footwear, but also kind of whimsical.
Maggie: I would probably be a beat-up pair of Keds that should have been replaced years ago.
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