Q&A with Singer/Songwriters and Producers, KTJ & CARLY

Singer/Songwriters and Producers, KTJ & CARLY, return with another darkly introspective single on ‘Almost True’. Named Artists to Watch in 2020, the sisters achieved a massively successful 2019 with their first singles, ‘On Your Mind’ and ‘MOONLIGHT’, which garnered a slew of write-ups in publications.

They were hand-selected to play NAMM Dynaudio Unheard 2020 and recently partnered with Roland. The Berklee College of Music online students have performed to packed audiences at LA’s Hotel Cafe, and have signed on to  score their first feature film, “God Save The Queens.”

What are some of your earliest memories of music?

When we were little, we would all sit around the fire pit in the backyard while our Dad and Grandad played the guitar and we would all sing country, folk and R&B songs together and just have fun jam sessions when people would come to visit.  We still love doing that when we go back home.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?

It really depends on what kind of inspiration we have going into it. Sometimes we start by coming up with a melody, and then we will write chord progressions and vise versa. Other times, we will start production and then write lyrics and melodies on top of it. It really just depends on what we are feeling that day! Usually, we write with just the piano first and then produce later. Recently we go into the session with an idea already for a topic, then other times we just talk about our feelings and what feels right. That is the great thing about making songs, it's messy and scatterbrained in the best way possible. You get to take risks and try new things, as well learn a lot about yourself in the process.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?

We love it all. Performing, writing, interacting, and creating all brings us so much joy. However, there is something really special about performing live shows because of the interaction and feedback we get from the audience. Every show we always find new ways to improve our live set, and it's always so special because of the people who support us and the love we feel from them and for them.

What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?

After our first show at Hotel Cafe, a young woman came up to us and said, "I don't know if you’re religious or not, but I saw God shine through your performance, it was magical." That really touched us both and is something we will never forget.

If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?

EDM, R&B, & POP -- if possible we would also air stand-up comedians to tell some jokes etc. Those are our favourites, but truly there is not a genre of music we don't like. Country, pop, to musical theatre and reggaeton.  We feel like it’s important to appreciate all music genres in order to make a good song. One song can have so much influence from other genres, especially nowadays with the digital age of production.

Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show

Artists like Galantis, Kasbo, Medasin, Seibano Sey, Disclosure, Flume, Louis the Child
Ft. Comedians like Sarah Silverman, Anthony Jeselnik, Eric Andre, Ali Wong, Tim and Eric, Dave Chapell, and Kevin Hart.

What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?

Success to me looks like a life where our friends, family, and ourselves are happy, healthy, continuously improving, we're making music, and able to pay the bills at the same time. At the end of the day, we want to reach as many people as possible with our music and give people a safe space with it. We want to continue to learn and grow as artists, and make meaningful music with longevity!

One last thought to leave your fans with?

We are so grateful for their support and love, every single one of you! If you haven't yet, please check out our latest single, ‘Almost True’ and follow us on social media to stay up to date on new releases and upcoming shows!

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