When my GoGirl's
editor, Annette Warner, asked me to consider Someone's Sister for
this quarter's "Go Girls in Headlights" feature I knew I'd be in
for some good music. As I suspected from my knowledge of Annette's
tastes in music, Someone's Sister is amazing! In fact, I was so
impressed by these two ladies that I felt awful that I had never
even heard of them! I'm supposed to help steer you all towards
young talented artists and I'm missing out myself!?
Thankfully the record is now set straight and my CD collection
is appropriately adjusted. Katherine and Georgia are
unquestionably among the cream of the crop in the indie music
world in both talent and perspective and I am honored to be help
introduce you to them. So, that said, I caught up with Someone's
Sister to find out more about themselves, their music, and their
refreshing perspective. Enjoy! -Mark Fisher
Mark: Hello ladies, how's life treating you these days?
Sisters: Great, thanks! We are so busy, but loving it.
Mark: I think your name is excellent because it works on
so many different levels and their so many possibilities for its
meaning. What do the words "Someone's Sister" mean to Katherine
and Georgia?
Sisters: "Someone's Sister" represents a few things for
us. Basically, despite our differences, we are all connected by
the fact that we are all someone's child, someone's brother or
sister- and we all face fear, joy, death, love, etc. It also
reflects the "big sister" mentality. We both had older sisters who
watched out for us as children and our name reflects that
"someone" to look out for you and lend a hand in hard times.
Mark: Let's talk about the CD, "Hand Me Downs" a bit
first. How did you approach the album? Since this is your
introduction to a whole world of music fans I'm guessing you had
an idea of what you wanted to say/establish about yourselves with
it.
Sisters: We did have an idea in our mind of what we
wanted to share, but we owe a lot to our producer, Karen Kane
(www.mixmama.com) for bringing our internal vision into a shape
that was so much more than the sum of it's parts. We began with
one powerful aim in mind. We wanted to stay true to the simple art
of the harmony of two voices sharing songs that were real to us.
We wanted our approach to be about who we really are.
Mark: Was there any in-studio bickering about whose
songs would make the album?
Sisters: Not at all. We were hoping to find a good
musical balance for the overall CD. While most of the songs are
written by one or the other of us, we collaborate on harmony and
overall flow - so we were both very involved in final product of
each song.
Mark: How has response been to your album been as
compared to any expectations you may have had for it?
Sisters: The response has been so overwhelming for us
both. We have met the most amazing people over the past several
months, played at some of our "wish list" venues, and had the
pleasure of seeing audience members singing along with us. We were
not prepared for the heart-warming feeling that gave us. There
have been times when the energy the crowd gave us back was so
powerful that our smiles could not contain it.
Mark: At the heart of it all, what is Someone's Sister
about? What do you want people to take from your music?
Sisters: We are about connection, personal awareness and
healing. The most amazing moment is when you see that look of
understanding in the audience - the reflection of, "I have been in
that place". We want to give our story away and hope that
listeners can find something within their own lives that connects
to us, like the message in the song, "New Shoes". We send out a
message of no matter where you have been, no matter what has
happened in your life, you have the right to "unfold" a new day
with love for yourself.
Mark: I noticed that you only wrote one of the songs,
"New Shoes", together. Do you plan to write more together in the
future or do you like being able to bring two individual voices
together on one CD?
Sisters: We have very different writing styles but are
always open to collaboration. We enjoy each other's creative
differences and appreciate the diversity of the sound we create
together.
Mark: Would you mind telling GoGirls readers a little
about that song and the thoughts/inspirations it came from?
Sisters: "New Shoes" is the story of our lives. We both
came from very different beginnings. The song is written from the
point of view of our two separate voices - two lives. We begin in
different places but as life rolls on, we both deal with similar
issues, similar paths to find the whole - merging into one voice
and one story in the end.
Mark: How do you approach the songwriting process- is it
something you work at to get "exactly right" or is it something
you like to capture the moment naturally with?
Sisters: (Katherine) Well, I will say that for me, the
song writes itself and does not happen quickly. It is a process of
watching something grow. It is done when it is done - and trying
to force it really does no good.
(Georgia) We are total opposites in this respect. I tend to go
with the natural inspiring "moment". I can come home after a
challenging day, grab the guitar, express the emotions and then
with the help of recording I can go back for framing the final
product. I have even caught myself in this mood on stage a few
times and done a bit of free singing verse.
Mark: I noticed that Georgia's proceeds from "Hand Me
Downs" will go to the prevention of child abuse. Usually when
someone does that (and more artists should!) there is a deep
connection with them. Would you mind telling me about why you
decided to do this and why it has been on your heart?
Sisters: Actually, as of now all of the money is going
to the creation of a foundation for the prevention of child abuse.
(Georgia) After having been through the healing process of
child abuse therapy, it seemed natural to offer up what we could
to help others along the way. We took Gandhi's quote "Be the
change you wish to see in the world" to heart and started doing
what we could. Child abuse is this "dark secret" that no one wants
to speak up about so we lend our voices to stopping the painful
silence through heart connection.
Mark: One of the things that really strikes me about you
as well is that you almost seem like you could care less about
even making your money back for all of this. You are one of the
purest sounding artists I have heard in a long time- like you are
just doing it because you love it and have no aspirations of
stardom. Am I off base there or is that truly the case?
Sisters: You are right. We are not in this for personal
fame and fortune. We have hopes to raise as many funds as possible
for the creation of the foundation and we would love to be heard
everywhere. However, mainly it is about reaching others and about
speaking out for those who might not be able to speak for
themselves. It really is freeing when you are not tied to the
money.
Mark: Which song do you feel best represents you as a
band on "Hand Me Downs"?
Sisters: Honestly, we could not choose one. Just as
every day you face new things, each song represents different
paths we have walked. The whole of "Hand Me Downs" represents a
first shared chapter for us. Just as the title suggests these are
the hand me downs from someone's sister. They each use to fit us
and we pass them off to the next person to try on for a while.
Mark: What's next for Someone's Sister? Do you plan to
tour at all? Record some more?
Sisters: We are keeping the roads busy playing in NC,
SC, VA, GA and soon Mississippi. We do plan to record another CD
soon- but we have to find the time for it to fit in between work
and shows!
Mark: Thanks so much for your time and for the great
songs you have put out there for fans. Do you have any parting
thoughts for GoGirls readers?
Sisters: Don't let the hours pass you by wishing your
life was different. You're the only obstacle to your dreams and
taking just one step to heal or change your world is better than a
thousand days of sadly wishing. To each reader that pauses - here
we want you to know that "Someone's Sister" cheers you on to be
your true self. Take hold of life with all of your love and might
so that you can begin doing what makes you truly happy- on a daily
basis.
Thanks so much to GoGirls for offering up such a wonderful
place for artists to share themselves, develop supporting
relationships and follow their dreams of music.
Check out Someone's Sister at http://www.someonessister.com/
