Photo by Gabriel C. Pérez
Harmony, in every sense of the word, is about connection, and when it comes to vocal harmonies, very little approaches the audible connectedness of family singing together. Indiana-based siblings Lily & Madeleine began singing with one another as teenagers and quickly caught the public’s attention after releasing their DIY videos on YouTube. Since their grassroots beginnings, their career and their music has sailed into the stratosphere–releasing their third album, Keep It Together back in February.
While the haunting depths of Lily & Madeleine’s harmonies are inextricable from their sound, the new record has left the youthful sparseness of their self-titled debut. You can hear the beginnings of a change in their second album, Fumes, but in Keep It Together the sisters float together further into expansive and unknown soundscapes. Electric instrumentation and intricate production amplify their folk-pop sound, but rather than drifting apart in the denser sonic environment, the vocal harmonies feel richer than ever before.
Lily & Madeleine were joined by Shannon Hayden on mandolin, cello, and electric guitar, and Kate Siefker on drums and sampler in Studio 1A. Listen to the full session at the bottom of the page.
—Ryan Wen