Twin Sister Interview: SXSW 2010

Euphoric. Happy. Serene. Just a few of the warm and fuzzy feelings you're left with after bearing witness to the dreamy, hypnotic aesthetic that is the essence of Brooklyn-based folk-pop band, Twin Sister. Luminescent vocals and carefree guitar riffs can only begin to characterize the sound coming from this female-fronted quintet, whose music almost immediately emotes a sort of soft light and melodic warmth around those lucky enough to listen. Ready to embark on their first-ever U.S. tour, drummer Bryan Ujueta chatted with Spinner for a bit before hitting up their first stop on the map - SXSW in Austin, Texas.

How did you guys form the band?

Twin Sister has been around since the summer of 2008, but we've known each other since we were fairly young. We're all from Long Island and grew up in nearby towns. We were in different bands as kids and kind of moved around a lot, but it wasn't until a couple of years ago that we were all ready to give it a go. Over time we realized that we were each other's favorites!

How would you describe your sound?

We try to keep it natural and just see what comes out. It's very warm and easy.

Who are your musical influences?

We have a pretty wide range. Eric [Cardona] grew up listening to a lot of folk music, he's a great acoustic guitar player and loves Nick Drake. We all love Bjork. We just love artists that stand on their own, people who are just great individuals and have strong opinions on what they want. I think we respect that more than anything.

How did you choose your band name?

Andrea [Estella] is also a visual artist, and 'Twin Sister' is the name of one of her paintings. It's a huge painting that has two twin sisters riding on a goldfish's back. Eric wrote a song about it, and when we were deciding on a band name, we just went through old songs that we weren't really playing anymore. It was the one name we all could agree on.

What's in your festival survival kit?

We have tons of underwear and socks. And dry shampoo, soaps, maybe some fruit.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

I guess I can say for maybe half the band, it would be Bjork. Dev [Gupta]'s would be Hannah Montana, but that might be illegal.

What's your guiltiest pleasure?

We like some pretty cheesy '70s rock sometimes... and the Black Eyed Peas.


Tina Smithers is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.