[Announcer] This program is brought to you in part by Santa Cruz Guitars Company and Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension Strings and the Santa Cruz Guitar PLEK Department.

And by Peluso Microphone Lab.

Additional support provided by these sponsors.

Hello, and welcome to The Life of a Musician.

Tonight's episode is recorded live from Church of the Perpetual Boogie.

Let's step inside and listen.

["The Blues Movin' In" instrumental music] ♪ I thought our love Would strengthen ♪ ♪ As it has So many times before ♪ ♪ But something has happened ♪ ♪ I can see it in your eyes ♪ ♪ I can tell My world is crumblin' ♪ ♪ And the blues are at my door ♪ ♪ The last letter That you wrote ♪ ♪ Was on a blue piece of paper ♪ ♪ That old feelin's back ♪ ♪ The clouds are moving in ♪ ♪ The beginning of the end Is near ♪ ♪ I feel love has Faded into darkness ♪ ♪ It seems I have no friend ♪ ♪ I feel the blues movin' in ♪ ♪ Oh it's not the words You wrote ♪ ♪ That made me sad And broken hearted ♪ ♪ That's put me in this Sad shape I'm in ♪ ♪ Between the lines Are mixed emotions ♪ ♪ And there's teardrops On the paper ♪ ♪ You said that's all I'll write today ♪ ♪ I'll close for now Old friend ♪ ♪ The last letter That you wrote ♪ ♪ Was on a blue piece of paper ♪ ♪ That old feelin's back ♪ ♪ The clouds are movin' in ♪ ♪ The beginning of the end Is near ♪ ♪ I feel your love Has faded into darkness ♪ ♪ It seems I have no friend ♪ ♪ I feel the blues movin' in ♪ [guitar music playing] ♪ My state of mind Is desperate ♪ ♪ And this hole That I'm sinkin' in ♪ ♪ Gets deeper as I'm Diggin' to get out ♪ ♪ Oh please give me The right answer ♪ ♪ To the questions I'm askin' ♪ ♪ Tell me you still love me ♪ ♪ That would turn My world about ♪ ♪ The last letter That you wrote ♪ ♪ Was on a blue piece of paper ♪ ♪ That old feelin's back ♪ ♪ The clouds are movin' in ♪ ♪ The beginning of the end Is near ♪ ♪ I feel your love Has faded into darkness ♪ ♪ It seems I have no friend ♪ ♪ I feel the blues movin' in ♪ ♪ I feel the blues movin' in ♪ ♪ I feel ♪ ♪ The blues movin' in ♪ [ending guitar chords] -Beautiful, y'all.

-[both] Thank you.

-Absolutely beautiful.

Great pickin', Josh.

[Josh] Thank you.

-Hello, everybody, and welcome to The Life of a Musician .

And I am truly blessed today to be with some of the most talented, amazing singers on the scene, The Church Sisters, Ms. Savannah and Sarah.

-Thank you.

[Brandon] Thank you all for coming.

We didn't forget you, Josh.

It's just you're behind her.

-Happy to be back here.

[Brandon] Very formal.

Thank you guys so much for coming.

-Thank you so much for having us.

-Yeah.

Holy Schnikes!

That was really good.

-Thank you.

Thank you.

-This is my first time getting to be up close and listen to you girls.

Wow.

-Thank you.

-Just wow.

-[Savannah] Thank you.

-[Sarah] Appreciate it.

-I have many, many deep, deep questions.

My first question is, how is it that you, I'm sitting here, right here, right next to you.

How is it that you girls can sing on such perfect pitch, such great harmony?

Where did that happen?

How did that happen?

-Well, we've been... Well, thank you, first of all.

We definitely hear the parts that we mess up, but, you know, that's just, that's how it always goes, right, when you're a musician.

But, you know, we've been singing together for a really long time.

I actually started singing when I was about five years old, around that time, and Sarah joined in when we were about 11.

And so, we're like, I think we were talking about, I'm 27 now.

We're 27.

And so, we've just sang together pretty much our whole lives.

And so, like, it's gotten to the point where she can watch me and know exactly what I'm gonna do.

I can watch her, know exactly where she's gonna go.

And so, we've just gotten really good at listening to each other and reading each other and just, you know.

-Yeah.

I remember when we were kids, being in our back room and just, you know, practicing and practicing and practicing.

I was like, well, what if I try to sing in a higher key and maybe that'll come together?

You see, I never, you know, watched anybody do it or, you know, looked at any lessons or anything.

It just kind of came natural to me, so.

[Savannah] Nobody, well, our mom sang when we were growing up, and so I definitely think that's where the influence comes from.

She was into all kinds of different music, country music, pop music, a little bit of rock and roll, like pretty much everything.

And so, we've got a lot of different music that we were listening to when we were growing up.

And, you know, she'd sing around the house, and we would just listen to her.

And, you know, I think that's where we were inspired to first start singing.

And so, you know, I think if we get any of our talent, it's definitely from our mom.

You know, she's... she was a singer when we were growing up.

She doesn't sing as much now, but, you know, she definitely had the, had the voice back then, and definitely inspired us to start singing.

-It's always the mama.

-[Savannah] Yeah.

Yeah.

-For me, it was Grandma.

-[Savannah] Aww!

-Hanging clothes on the line, listening to her singing.

And for Bill Monroe, it was Mom, too.

So, you know, you've got that blood harmony, but you both, you know, to me, it's like, yeah, you sing a lot together, and you've got that family harmony, that blood harmony, but also, you love it so much that I'd say you probably just did it all the time.

You just... -Yeah, well, practiced so... -Yeah.

Yeah, it was, it was like one of those things, you know, like she said.

We, we would practice singing in our rooms by ourselves.

And then, you know, we finally got the courage to go to our mom and say, "Hey, look, we've been trying some, trying some music stuff and want to, you know, sing a song for you."

And we were going down the road.

-In fact, yeah, we were in the car.

She was driving the car.

I'll let you finish.

But she was in the drive, she was driving the car.

But, uh... -Yeah.

Yeah, she, like, almost wrecked the car.

- She was like, she said that, you know, she was just so shocked to hear us singing in harmony, you know, that's not something that... she had heard us do before.

And, you know, really, I was doing a lot of the singing around the house, and Sarah was kind of like, you know, doing her own thing, and... And so, we just kind of surprised our mom with it, and, you know, we were going down the road, and we said, "Hey, listen to this.

Check this out.

This is what we've been working on."

And she immediately entered us into a local talent competition, WAKG Rising Stars, in 2007, I want to say.

And, you know, it kind of just took off from there.

We entered the talent competition.

We did a live audition at the radio station, and we won in our age group, and, you know, we just started singing at churches local to the area, pretty much anywhere that would let us come and play, like, we'd, we'd go.

And, you know, we started to form a band, you know, we were friends with some musicians in the area and formed a band, and then we started traveling further and further away, and so it just kind of turned into this, this thing that, you know, we had no idea was going to happen.

-It's the amazing snowball monster that just keeps it rolling.

[Savannah] Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

-But, you know, another thing I wanted to ask, so, like, that first song that we did, and I said, you know, we've got to open the show on that song.

I was feeling such a vibe, such a groove with it.

So, when you're setting and you're picking material to do, is it both of you pick the material?

Do you try it out?

And when you're picking material, Part B of the question, what's something that you're looking for?

What's, you know, what's a Church Sisters sound kind of thing you're looking at?

-So, we try not to go for something that's, like, really, like, mainstream.

We kind of like to stay to our roots, which is like, Gospel, Bluegrass, you know, those type of things.

-Yeah, I would agree with that.

You know, we definitely are listening for, like, different parts of the song that are going to be, you know, cool for the harmonies.

Like, that's, like, one of the first things that we listen for is, like, how is this going to sound with just two vocal parts?

You know, I think we all collectively, like, you know, pick songs together as far as, you know, with the band as well.

Like, you know, somebody would be like, "Oh, this is a good song for you guys, you should try it out."

And we'll go take a listen to it, and we try to be, like, you know, very open to song choices.

And, you know, we even do songs that you probably wouldn't think that we would pick, like, a U2 song.

We do a U2 song.

I mean, and I wouldn't say it's not mainstream, because it definitely is.

It's, like, one of their more popular songs.

But, you know, it's just kind of, like, whatever we, like, really.

-Actually, I'm just going to show you how nerdy I've been listening to you guys.

So, it's, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

-[Savannah] Yeah.

-[Sarah] Yeah.

-[Savannah] Yeah.

-Love that rendition.

[Savannah] Thank you.

Thank you.

-Beautiful!

Beautiful sounding song.

And I wish we had rehearsed that now.

Yeah.

-[Sarah] Yeah, me too.

-[Savannah] That would have been a good one to try out.

-I would have sat here and played "A" note.

[Savannah] Perfect.

-And there we go.

-[Savannah] It's right in there.

-Yeah.

Well, that's amazing.

So, you guys basically just go through a process of just try it out, process of elimination.

You hear it, you dig it.

Move on.

Move on.

-Yeah, I mean, and we, I mean, I still listen to, like, all kinds of different music, and every now and then, I'll turn on the radio and just listen through.

If something pops up that I've never heard before, I'm like, oh, that might be a good song for us.

Like, it's literally like that.

It's just picking songs that I hear that I like.

And, you know, we write a little bit, but, you know, just here and there.

We've never, like, I've never been a fantastic writer.

-I've tried.

I'm not fantastic at it.

Savannah has all the credit there.

-No, I mean, really, like, there's so many good songwriters out there that I'm just like, you know what?

I'm just gonna let you handle the songwriting part, and I will just, you know, sing it.

I'll sing it for you.

There you go.

-That's-- well, you never, you never know what will happen.

You never know what will inspire you or what is coming around the bend.

So right now, you're not writing a lot.

That's just, you know.

-Yeah, it kind of, I think that it's probably like that for a lot of writers, but, like, it just kind of comes in waves where you're, like, really inspired.

And then other times, you're just, you know, living life.

And that's just how it goes.

But, you know.

-It's all good.

So, what's the next song that you got for us?

I know it, but I just want to sound like I'm Bob Barker.

I'm introing you into the next line.

-Are you going to do "You Make Me"?

-So, this song actually was one that we wrote together.

I hate to throw my brother out like this, but... so we did a tour back in 2012.

We toured with Brandon Heath, Christian artist, and amazing experience.

First time we'd ever been on tour for, like, six weeks, like, full time.

And our brother at the time was in this relationship with this girl.

And he was just having a rough time because, you know, it was his first experience of being on the road for that long of a time and being away from her and, like, trying to deal with, you know, the sadness of that, being away from her and also, like, be present in the moment while we were on tour.

And so, we kind of took inspiration from his situation that he was going through at the time.

Of course, he's happily married now.

He was probably, like, 17 at the time or something, you know, but...

So we took inspiration from that and wrote this song.

But it's kind of just about how hard it can be as a traveling musician, being on the road, being away from your family, being away from people that you love, and, you know, what that can feel like, so yeah.

-Great, awesome.

Let's hear it.

["You Make Me" instrumental music playing] ♪ You make me but you break me ♪ ♪ You make me believe in Who I am ♪ ♪ I got you but I want you ♪ ♪ The miles that separate us Can't be fair ♪ ♪ Every road we travel Is the one that leads us home ♪ ♪ Every tear we cry is the one That makes us strong ♪ ♪ So long for a little while But know ♪ ♪ That you make me ♪ [melodic guitar chords] ♪ I see you I hear you ♪ ♪ A picture just can't Take the pain away ♪ ♪ Cause I want you And I need you ♪ ♪ I wish that you could Find a way to stay ♪ ♪ Every road we travel Is the one that leads us home ♪ ♪ Every tear we cry is the one That makes us strong ♪ ♪ So long for a little while But know ♪ ♪ That you make me ♪ [melodic guitar chords] ♪ I don't want to think about How we'll make it through ♪ ♪ But my life just ain't The same without you ♪ ♪ I don't wanna tell you That it's over ♪ ♪ But I don't want to Love you anymore ♪ ♪ But you make me ♪ [melodic guitar chords] ♪ Every road we travel Is the one that leads us home ♪ ♪ Every tear we cry is the one That makes us strong ♪ ♪ So long for a little while But know ♪ ♪ That you make me ♪ ♪ And it breaks me ♪ ♪ So long for a little while But know ♪ ♪ That you make me ♪ ♪ And it breaks me ♪ ♪ That you make me ♪ -Wow.

Wow.

Absolutely beautiful.

-Thank you.

-And you're not a writer?

-[chuckles] No.

No, I mean, I don't write often, I guess I should say.

I don't write often.

-Yeah.

And Josh had a hand in that, too.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Wow.

Beautiful.

Beautiful.

-You have to live it to write it, I guess.

-Yeah.

-Makes sense.

It's just fantastic, so... -[Savannah] Thank you.

-So kind of take me through that process.

So you guys got the song written, you got the chords down.

So now, when you bring the song to Sarah, is it just like you hear it, it's like, I got it.

Or is there a little bit of a...?

-I mean, sort of.

I mean, of course we have to go through it and practice it.

And when she picks a song, I'm like, oh, okay.

I mean, it fits everything that we do, so why not?

So... -But I think too, like, it's, I don't know if you're, if you feel this way or not, but when you do a song that is an original, for me, I have a hard time remembering the lyrics more so than other people's songs.

I'm like, what in the world is that lyric?

And I'll just... -That actually is true.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

I will just forget stuff.

And other people's songs, I'm like, oh, it's like I wrote it myself, and I can remember it like the back of my hand.

It's so strange.

-Yeah.

Your phrasing.

Is that something also that's just subconscious right now?

I'm about ready to just give up and quit and go on the road, doing something other than music.

If you tell me that you don't practice phrasing, you just naturally phrase so well together.

-I mean, it's just like we've been singing, like we said, we've been singing so long together, it's just kind of like we know what we're gonna do.

Like, I don't know if it's that twin... -Yeah, I forgot to mention.

I don't know if you knew that, but we are twins, fraternal twins.

-I figured, yeah.

-And so, it's like, you know, we were in the womb together, so, like, we know each other well.

You know, we sing the same way, we talk the same way.

We grew up in the same household.

So it's like, you know, it's just a family thing, I think, too.

-Yeah.

With that being said, folks, I'll be selling vacuum cleaners at your door or insurance in the future, 'cause I quit.

-No, no.

-That's fantastic.

- Well, your feel work on that was awesome, too.

Yeah.

Love it.

-So, can you tell me a little bit about, you know, this next song that's coming up.

And just kind of pretend that I am a dude who doesn't know how to sing that harmony, that it's amazing like you, because I am.

And it's just... it's just wonderful.

It's a wonder just listening to what you're doing.

But for the folks at home and, you know, people like myself, you know, what is going through your minds when you pick this particular song and how you're going to format it?

And Josh and you guys sounded so great when I listened to it, I was like, I'm just not going to play.

I'm just going to listen to you guys do it.

So, can you give us just a little peek behind the curtain on...?

-Well, like I said, we started in Gospel music.

We grew up in church.

We actually grew up in a Primitive Baptist church.

And so, there's, like, no music in the church.

It's just voices singing together.

And so we grew up on a lot of hymns, and we have always loved Gospel music and singing at church and everything.

And this one just kind of stood out to me.

It speaks to my heart, you know, whenever I'm in a low place in life, you know, God just reminds me who He is and that He's always with me.

And no matter what, that no matter what I face, you know, it's a constant reminder for me that God's always with us, and will be there, no matter what.

And so, I think that's one of the reasons that I like this song so much.

It's a beautiful song.

You know... -[Brandon] It's absolutely.

-It's a comfort song.

-It is a comfort song, yeah.

I mean, that's one thing that we can cling to, is our faith.

And, you know, the world is getting more wicked every day, and it's getting more dark every day.

And, you know, I think that's one of the things that we need to hold on to the most, is our faith.

And, so that's why I picked it.

I really like it.

-Hey, that's good enough for me.

That's good enough for me.

And Mr. Josh plays some amazing guitar on that.

-Thank you.

It's easy to play behind such beautiful singing.

-Well, thank you.

-I don't have to do that.

-I'd lose my place.

I'd get stuck listening, and I'd forget to play.

-It's happened a lot.

-But I'm going to just sit over here and smile and wave the guitar backwards and forth.

But I just, you know... Will you please bless us with this wonderful rendition?

["In The Garden" instrumental music playing] ♪ I come to the garden alone ♪ ♪ While the dew Is still on the roses ♪ ♪ And the voice I hear ♪ ♪ Falling on my ear ♪ ♪ The Son of God discloses ♪ ♪ And He walks with me ♪ ♪ And He talks with me ♪ ♪ And He tells me I am His own ♪ ♪ And the joy we share ♪ ♪ As we tarry there ♪ ♪ None other has ever known ♪ [melodic guitar chords] ♪ He speaks And the sound of His voice ♪ ♪ Is so sweet The birds hush their singing ♪ ♪ And the melody ♪ ♪ That He gave to me ♪ ♪ Is in my heart still ringing ♪ ♪ And He walks with me ♪ ♪ And He talks with me ♪ ♪ And He tells me I am His own ♪ ♪ And the joy we share ♪ ♪ As we tarry there ♪ ♪ None other has ever known ♪ ♪ And the joy we share ♪ ♪ As we tarry there ♪ ♪ None other has ever known ♪ -It's my show.

I can clap if I want to.

-Thank you.

-Y'all got some tears forming up in my eyes.

Thank you so much.

That was absolutely beautiful.

Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

I know everybody back home is... that's going to be a blessing to a lot of people.

Thank you all so much for being here.

And before, before I get too misty and, you know, when the cameras turn off, I'll go have a... have a little moment, but... thank you, folks, for joining us on The Life of a Musician .

And I want to thank Savannah and Sarah and Josh very much, especially for being here.

And this is some music that I'm, this moment, I'm going to remember this musical moment for at least the rest of my life, so... -Thank you so much for having us.

It's been an honor to be here.

-Well, bless you.

Thank you.

And folks, thank you for tuning in.

And this is just the interview portion.

Stay tuned for the next episode where we cut these young ladies loose without me.

And God bless, and be well.

[Announcer] Thank you for being a part of our show.

We look forward to seeing you on the next episode of The Life of a Musician.

-♪ I come to the garden alone ♪ ♪ While the dew Is still on the roses ♪ ♪ And the voice I hear ♪ ♪ Falling... ♪ [Announcer] This program is brought to you in part by Santa Cruz Guitars Company and Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension Strings.

And the Santa Cruz Guitar PLEK Department.

And by Peluso Microphone Lab.

Additional support provided by these sponsors.