The Secret Sisters

The Secret Sisters are an American traditional country music duo, consisting of vocalists Laura and Lydia Rogers. The duo's music has been compared to artists like The Everly Brothers^[1] and Doc Watson.

History

Beginnings

Laura and Lydia Rogers are real-life sisters from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.^[2] With a love for music coming from both sides of their family (their grandfather and his brothers forged a group called The Happy Valley Boys), they grew up with a zeal for country music and sang songs with their family by country music artists such as Don Williams. The girls first learned to harmonize through singing a cappella at their hometown church.^[3] Laura and Lydia never considered a singing career as a duo. Laura went to Middle Tennessee State University to pursue a career in business, while Lydia was considered the "real" singer of the family.

2010: Discovery

Laura traveled to Nashville, Tennessee for an impromptu audition at Hotel Indigo where music business record executive Andrew Brightman and producer Dave Cobb were present, looking to create a new singing group. Lydia could not attend the audition, so Laura traveled by herself, where she auditioned with "Same Old You" by Brandi Carlile. Representatives from the audition soon asked her to come back to Nashville, to which she asked if she could bring her sister Lydia along. Lydia showed up later and they were asked to sing together,^[4] resulting in the formation of The Secret Sisters. The girls were soon flown to Los Angeles for their first time in the studio to record a couple of demos. For Laura, it was her first time in an airplane. The demos were produced and record companies began responding accordingly. Within weeks, they were assigned to Universal Republic and the song selection process for their debut album began.

Debut album

Their self-titled debut album consists of ballads, originals, and cover songs such as "Why Don't Ya Love Me?", "Why Baby Why", and the Frank Sinatra song "Somethin' Stupid". The album also includes two originals written by Laura Rogers: "Tennessee Me" and "Waste the Day". The album was recorded in two weeks at Blackbird studios. Their eleven-song debut was produced by Dave Cobb, who has worked with artists such as Waylon Jennings and Jamey Johnson, and also executive produced by T-Bone Burnett. The Secret Sisters brought in studio musicians such as steel guitar player Robbie Turner and pianist Pig Robbins. Also included on the album is a "cover" of the 60s rock song by then teenage singer Nancy Baron "I've got a Feeling", written by Wally Zober and C. Laverne.^[5][6] The album was also recorded with classic analog equipment.^[7] The production team and the Sisters utilized vintage microphones and classic recording techniques, down to the same type of tape they would have used fifty years ago. The album was released October 12, 2010. Laura tried to describe the experience by expressing:

"In so many ways we are still the same kids who would perform songs in our parents' room, when we sang about silver threads and golden needles and cold-hearted snakes, and all that. Even with everything that's happened getting that dream chance to make our own album, I really believe we've just found where we're supposed to be."^[8]

Other Tracks they feature on

They also recorded "Big River" & "Wabash Cannonball", at Jack White's studio - with Jack White on guitar. It was released as a 7inch single, also available from Itunes.

In February 2010, Dave Stewart came to Nashville to record his album 'Blackbird Diaries' featuring So Long Ago, Beast Called Fame, Magic In The Blues, All Messed Up with Martina McBride, Stevie Baby, Cheaper Than Free with Stevie Nicks, The Gypsy Girl & Me, One Way Ticket To The Moon with Secret Sisters, Bulletproof Vest with Colbie Caillat, Worth The Waiting For, The Well, Country Wine with Secret Sisters, Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

This was recorded at the 'Blackbird Studios, Nashville - and released in 2011.

Other work

The duo have recorded their second album in December 2012 & January 2013 at the Village Recording Sudios, Los Angeles, USA - with T Bone Burnett acting as producer. Their song "Tomorrow Will Be Kinder", inspired by the 2011 Alabama tornado outbreak, is featured on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games.^[9]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Album appearances

Music videos

Television appearances

• Late Show with David Letterman, November 2010
• Hootenanny, BBC Television, New Year's Eve 2010^[1]
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, March 2012
• Later...with Jools Holland, April 2012

References

External links

• Official website

This article uses material from the article The Secret Sisters from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.