Watson Twins Appreciate Jenny Lewis, Spontaneous Dance-Offs

Posted on Feb 8th 2010 3:00PM by Jillian Mapes
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ouring alongside and collaborating with acclaimed artists has been the norm for California folksters the Watson Twins in recent years. Some may even say it's the duo's claim to fame. The indie world took notice of Chandra and Leigh Watson after they sang back-up for Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis on her first solo album, 'Rabbit Fur Coat,' in 2006.

"Our album with Jenny was kind of where it all started coming together for us," Leigh Watson tells Spinner. "It happened strangely enough just because we lived in the same neighborhood and would end up on the same bills in Silverlake sometimes when she was with Rilo Kiley and we were singing back-up in a band called Slydell. It really unfolded organically, and the next thing we knew we were playing shows and making a record with her."

As for working with Lewis again, the Twins wouldn't necessarily pass on the opportunity. But the sisters Watson and Lewis have found themselves on opposite recording cycles for subsequent releases, including the new Watson Twins album titled 'Talking to Me, Talking to You.'

"The three of us still get together and sing together -- and love it," Leigh says. "With something as special as 'Rabbit Fur Coat,' you almost don't want to jinx it by trying to recreate it, but at the same time, I know I'd never say never when it comes to working with Jenny again.

Jenny Lewis isn't the only well-known collaborator the Twins have been lucky enough to work alongside. They've "road-dogged" with the likes of M. Ward and Billy Bragg, though they claim touring with Ben Kweller perhaps brought about their silliest tour story to date.

"We ended the Ben Kweller tour with everyone from each band having a dance competition," Chandra says. "We had 90 seconds of a Gwen Stefani song to strut our stuff. We were running late and it was the last night of the tour, and we find out there's like 200 people lined up outside of the club. We were going to have to cancel the dance-off, and Ben steps in and says, 'No way -- we're holding the doors and doing the dance competition.' The club literally held doors a half an hour so we could dance."

Hijinks were also in store for the Twins on their 2008 tour with English rocker Billy Bragg. "We had Halloween night off in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Billy says, 'We'll meet you in the hotel lobby in full costume to go out,' Leigh explains. "But none of us dressed up, because Billy is a total prankster and we thought he was pulling our legs. We get down there and he and his band are in full costume, and we didn't even bother."

Listen to 'Talking to Me, Talking to You'