As all years foretold

To hear the rings that change

Oh sing, oh sing, my soul

Oh, When I come back, come back

Oh, Will you be there, be there?

“Dreams”

Original by The Cranberries

The Native Sibling are a brilliant duo who bring a glorious and harmonious sound to the table. Their new record "Hammer is Heart" comes alive this Fall as the group proves they are a heavy mainstay in the world of Folk music and beyond. We had the absolute pleasure to chat with The Native Sibling as they discuss their new record, the process and beyond. Dive in below!

1. What is the inspiration behind your latest record and did you draw the piece from a personal place?

"Hammer is Heart" is about resilience. Kaylee and I spent a lot of time together touring, playing shows, and traveling after the release of our first album. We found that the abundance of new experiences gave us so much to write about. It comes from a personal place and how we have dealt with the up and downs of the past few years. Being family always adds in a element of closeness and mutual understanding through these times and I feel lucky that we get to write about them together. -Ryan

2. When creating new songs, how long did it take to accomplish from start to finish?

This record has songs that mostly took years to come to fruition. A lot of ideas can come about quickly, but the start to the finished recording is a serious journey. It includes working on ideas separately, together as a band, with our producer, and with other musicians to get most songs to where they are on the album. -Kaylee

3. At what age did you realize that music is a career you wanted to pursue; what was your 'ah-ha' moment?

 I was probably about 12 when it really clicked for me. I started out playing bass and had a great mentor that helped me hone some skills. A few years later, I started playing electric guitar and that opened the doors wide open. I would sit in my bedroom and learn punk songs, playing along to the CD until it was worn out. I began playing in bands in 7th grade - mostly covers of Black Flag and Misfits. For better or worse I really haven't been able to put it down since then. -Ryan 4. Who are your musical inspirations; what artists inspired you to start your career and find your musical passion? Ryan and I definitely have some overlapping influences such as Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Neil Young. For me as a singer - there were a couple of pivotal moments. Seeing Brandi Carlisle on MTV in high school changed my world. In addition, discovering Lisa Hannigan and Damien Rice play was formative inspiration. A few more favorites are Samantha Crain, Dawes, and Lake Street Dive.  -Kaylee

5. What other treats do you have in store for us This year? Can we expect more videos or a full tour?

We are working on tours right now. We can't wait to play theses songs more live and see a reaction and connection first hand. There's a great group of photographers and videographers here is Seattle that are willing to follow us down the rabbit hole on video ideas. We've always had a lot of fun coming up with new locations and ways to shoot live video. It's so refreshing to take a guitar in the woods or an old dock by the lake and play the songs in a new environment. You never know what you’re going to capture.  More of those to come soon. -Ryan

Connect with The Native Sibling via:

Seattle-based brother and sister folk duo Ryan and Kaylee Williams, aka The Native Sibling, have always exhibited a wonderfully rustic vocal blend that distinguishes their work from the throngs of other acoustic guitar-toting troubadours. The duo’s previous album, Letters Kept to Ourselves, chalked up millions of plays on Spotify and secured them a Daytrotter session along with a 'best of' iTunes album placement upon release.

Instead of resting on their singer-songwriter laurels, the pair have returned with a moody track that is clearly pushing in a new direction. Voices and versus are volleyed back and forth as the minor key melodies unwind, and then, out of the darkness emerges a triumphant chorus, enhanced by a half-time beat and the duo’s unmistakable harmonies. Reflecting on the songs inception, Kaylee notes,

“How to Win' was conceived during my time working in Pioneer Square in Seattle. I experienced a lot of confusion and heartbreak living in such an urban area and wrote the song as a call to action to acknowledge the brothers and sisters around you. I brought it to Ryan as a slow, somber piano ballad and we worked through the arrangement together, changing up the groove and tempo. It was the first song we started recording for the new LP, and it felt like a horse leaving the gate. It set the mood for us and we hope that it sets a tone for the new record.”

It’s interesting to note that the two grew up with very different musical preferences, and never considered joining forces until they bonded one night, singing pub ballads in Ireland. It seems they are just beginning to reconcile their musical differences on the forthcoming sophomore LP Hammer is Heart, and it’s a beauty to behold.