Over the past month, I’ve written quite a bit about the Indianapolis, IN-based folk pop duo, Lily & Madeleine, and as you may recall, the act which is comprised of siblings Lily and Madeline Jurkiewicz can trace its origins to when the Jurkiewicz Sisters began singing together while in high school, uploading home videos of various covers songs YouTube. Those videos catgut the attention of Bloomington, IN-based producer Paul Mahern, who invited the sisters into his studio to record what would become their debut EP, 2013’s The Weight of the Globe when their class schedule permitted. Kenny Childers (Gentleman Caller) assisted by co-writing the material off the EP with the sisters; but it was video of the sisters singing in Mahern’s studio reached the front page of news aggregator Reddit — and as a result, Sufjan Stevens signed the Jurkiewicz Sisters to his label Asthmatic Kitty Records.
Adding to a rapidly growing profile, John Mellencamp asked the Jurkiewicz Sisters to contribute guest vocals to the soundtrack of his musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County. The duo’s self-titled full-length debut was released in February 2013, and received praise from a number of major media outlets including The New York Times, which praised the album for their extraordinary sibling vocal blend, “deep and seamless and relaxed.” Since then the Indianapolis-based sibling folk pop duo have released two more albums — 2014’s Fumes, which was released through Asthmatic Kitty and 2016’s Keep It Together, which was released through New West Records.
The Jurkiewicz Sisters kicked off this year with the inclusion of “Just Do It” on the first Spotify New Music Friday playlist of 2019 and the track, which was co-produced by Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuck, pairs Lily and Madeleine’s gorgeous and effortless harmonizing with a shimmering dance pop-like production centered around a sinuous bass line, twinkling keys, hand claps and fluttering electronics; but at its core, the song not only talks about taking chances, it talks of confidently coming of age as a woman — and demanding what you need and want from yourself and others. “Can’t Help The Way I Feel,” the sibling duo’s second single of this year was centered what may arguably be the tightest and funkiest groove on the entire album — but perhaps more interesting is the fact that the track features a razor sharp and infectious hook, handclaps, winkling keys. shimmering and arpeggiated organ lines and the Jurkiewicz Sisters easygoing yet gorgeous harmonizing. At its core, the song’s narrator is proud and defiant, openly saying that while her friends may disapprove of her love interest, she simply can’t help how she feels — even if the relationship isn’t good for her.
Co-written by Lucie Silvas and the Jurkiewicz Sisters, their third single of this year is the swooning and atmospheric “Analog Love.” Centered around shimmering steel pedal guitar, shuffling drumming, acoustic guitar and the Jurkiewicz Sisters gorgeous vocals, the track is a sweet love song that sonically seems to draw from honky tonk country and Phil Spector pop while evoking the sensation of the sort of love in which the world fades away, and for a few moments, it’s you and your love; but there’s also the underlying recognition that nothing lasts forever and as a result, there’s this desire to hold on to what you can for as long as you can.
Canterbury Girls, Lily & Madeline’s fourth, full-length album is slated for a February 22, 2019 release through New West Records, and the duo will be touring to support the album through February and March. The tour will include a February 21, 2019 stop at Rough Trade. Check out the tour dates below.
TOUR DATES:
Mon., Feb. 18 / Cafe Nine / New Haven, CT
Weds., Feb. 20 / The Saint / Asbury Park, NJ
Thurs., Feb. 21 / Rough Trade NYC / Brooklyn, NY
Fri., Feb. 22 / World Cafe Live Upstairs / Philadelphia, PA
Sat., Feb. 23 / Songbyrd / Washington, DC
Mon., Feb. 25 / Cat’s Cradle – Back Room / Carrboro, NC
Tues., Feb. 26 / Eddie’s Attic / Decatur, GA
Thurs., Feb. 28 / Zanzabar / Louisville, KY
Fri., Mar. 1 / Deluxe @ Old National Centre / Indianapolis, IN
Sat., Mar. 2 / Schubas Tavern / Chicago, IL
Sun., Mar. 3 / Turf Curb / St. Paul, MN
Mon., Mar. 4 / The Mill / Iowa City, IA
Weds., Mar. 6 / The Pike Room at The Crofoot / Pontiac, MI
Thurs., Mar. 7 / The Drake Hotel / Toronto, ON, Canada
Fri., Mar. 8 / Quai Des Brumes / Montreal, QC, Canada
Sat., Mar. 9 / Berklee College of Music: The Red Room @ Cafe / Boston, MA
