The Watson Twins are the soft spoken southern group who has gained popularity backing Jenny Lewis on her recent tours. I got a chance to talk to one half The Watson Twins about working with Jenny, being a food twin and their new album, Southern Manners.
Buy Southern Manners
Daniel Robert Epstein: I saw you guys on Letterman the other night.
Leigh Watson: Yes, that was pretty funny [laughs].
DRE: How was it?
LW: A very strange experience. It was great. It seems surreal and it happened very quickly and it was fun. I feel like maybe they didnt mix us so good. It seemed like Jenny was really far in the front with the instruments and everyone else was a hundred yards back. But it was fun just to be on it and have that experience. It was a good time.
DRE: Did Dave come up and shake your hand like he normally does?
LW: He did and I cant believe they didnt show that. Dont they normally show that?
DRE: Sometimes they run out of time.
LW: Yeah, they must have. He came over and he said he really enjoyed it and Paul Shaffer said he was very impressed.
DRE: Thats nice.
How did the two of you hook up with Jenny?
LW: We met her about six or seven years ago through Blake [Sennett] of Rilo Kiley. We were in a band back then and we played shows with Rilo Kiley just because we were all part of the Silver Lake scene that was blossoming at that time. Blake heard us play one night and just started talking with us. We became friends and a few months later he asked us if we would sing on Rilo Kiley B-side. So we sang with Jenny on that and it went on from there. With this record, she was doing a show so she asked us, listen, Ive got some songs and Im looking for backup singers if you guys would be interested. We said that we would of course so we got together and it just really came together really easily.
DRE: Do the two of you write anything for her?
LW: No. Jenny comes in with a song and her comments were like Do your thing. Do what it is you guys do because thats why I asked you to sing with me. She knows stylistically what we do as backup singers so she never tells us anything.
DRE: You must be getting a whole new audience traveling around with her.
LW: Yeah, its been really cool. Were definitely very thankful that she has allowed us to be a part of this amazing record. It has been very cool for our solo EP because it is getting into the hands of people who are enjoying it and who may never have heard it had we not done this album with Jenny.
DRE: I dont usually associate the kind of music you guys do with the audience thats picking up on it.
LW: It is definitely more mature music. It is something that can be accepted across a large age range. I feel like that with Jennys record as well The thoughts and emotions in it are universal and although it might not be specifically the sounds that a younger audience is used to hearing but the lyrics are something that everyone can understand.
DRE: Have you and your sister always worked together?
LW: Pretty much. We both write on our own but the songs are collaborative in a way that we would individually write songs but we come together and they take shape in a group setting.
DRE: Who first put you two together?
LW: We sang in a lot of church choirs growing up. We also had a group. There were four of us that all sang together. That was where we learned how to sing with other people and harmonize and anticipate movement of voice.
DRE: Is there something that each of you has that compliments the other or is it just like minded thinking and singing?
LW: Just as siblings we complement each other while within a working relationship. But I also feel like our working relationship works really good because of the people that we are. My sister is definitely the one at the front of the ship and the one going, Come on we got to do this. Im more of a laid back person about most things and I think if she didnt have me saying things like Hey relax and if I didnt have her going, Come on we got to do this it wouldnt work. We would have never made the record. We did it all ourselves and we recorded it in our friends studio.
DRE: What is the writing process between you?
LW: We write separately then come back together. We have had some collaborations that have been quite fun. A lot of the content is so personal and that is something that is great because were best friends as well as sisters so I know what the material is in reference even though it might be hidden in a metaphor. I know a lot of the experiences and the emotions behind it just from being her partner in crime for so many years. So even though we dont write together, weve already written these stories, just in our lives.
DRE: Have you toured much for your own album?
LW: Were hoping that once things calm down a little bit, that well be able to head out on the open road with our stuff.
DRE: What are the prospects for a band like yours overseas?
LW: Right now, for us were getting ready to go to Europe with Jenny. So hopefully therell be some interest us. But right now we dont have any distribution anywhere but in the States. We also have some interest in Australia as well, so were hoping we will get distribution over there as well. We havent had a huge push on our record because weve been so busy with Jennys record and thats where our priority is right now.
DRE: Since the two of you are getting to play bigger places with Jenny, are you getting the rock music experience without being responsible for the whole thing?
LW: Yeah, but the show is really just a fun show and not necessarily a rock show. It is like electrified folk. People arent going crazy. They are definitely quiet when they need to be quiet and very respectful of what we are doing and very praiseful. It is a great, experience to be on stage where we can enjoy ourselves. One of the things I love about backup singing is that the pressure is not on you.
DRE: Can I ask some dumb twin questions?
LW: Sure.
DRE: Can you guys read each others minds?
LW: No, only when it comes to food.
DRE: What foods are your the favorite?
LW: Well I had a really weird experience one morning. I was craving a sun-dried tomato bagel. I called Chandra and I was like, My mouth was watering and I just cant quit thinking about sun-dried tomato bagels. She was like, Im eating one right now. We have weird food things. But other than that, I think you spend so much time with somebody, weve started to really resemble each other.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Buy Southern Manners
Daniel Robert Epstein: I saw you guys on Letterman the other night.
Leigh Watson: Yes, that was pretty funny [laughs].
DRE: How was it?
LW: A very strange experience. It was great. It seems surreal and it happened very quickly and it was fun. I feel like maybe they didnt mix us so good. It seemed like Jenny was really far in the front with the instruments and everyone else was a hundred yards back. But it was fun just to be on it and have that experience. It was a good time.
DRE: Did Dave come up and shake your hand like he normally does?
LW: He did and I cant believe they didnt show that. Dont they normally show that?
DRE: Sometimes they run out of time.
LW: Yeah, they must have. He came over and he said he really enjoyed it and Paul Shaffer said he was very impressed.
DRE: Thats nice.
How did the two of you hook up with Jenny?
LW: We met her about six or seven years ago through Blake [Sennett] of Rilo Kiley. We were in a band back then and we played shows with Rilo Kiley just because we were all part of the Silver Lake scene that was blossoming at that time. Blake heard us play one night and just started talking with us. We became friends and a few months later he asked us if we would sing on Rilo Kiley B-side. So we sang with Jenny on that and it went on from there. With this record, she was doing a show so she asked us, listen, Ive got some songs and Im looking for backup singers if you guys would be interested. We said that we would of course so we got together and it just really came together really easily.
DRE: Do the two of you write anything for her?
LW: No. Jenny comes in with a song and her comments were like Do your thing. Do what it is you guys do because thats why I asked you to sing with me. She knows stylistically what we do as backup singers so she never tells us anything.
DRE: You must be getting a whole new audience traveling around with her.
LW: Yeah, its been really cool. Were definitely very thankful that she has allowed us to be a part of this amazing record. It has been very cool for our solo EP because it is getting into the hands of people who are enjoying it and who may never have heard it had we not done this album with Jenny.
DRE: I dont usually associate the kind of music you guys do with the audience thats picking up on it.
LW: It is definitely more mature music. It is something that can be accepted across a large age range. I feel like that with Jennys record as well The thoughts and emotions in it are universal and although it might not be specifically the sounds that a younger audience is used to hearing but the lyrics are something that everyone can understand.
DRE: Have you and your sister always worked together?
LW: Pretty much. We both write on our own but the songs are collaborative in a way that we would individually write songs but we come together and they take shape in a group setting.
DRE: Who first put you two together?
LW: We sang in a lot of church choirs growing up. We also had a group. There were four of us that all sang together. That was where we learned how to sing with other people and harmonize and anticipate movement of voice.
DRE: Is there something that each of you has that compliments the other or is it just like minded thinking and singing?
LW: Just as siblings we complement each other while within a working relationship. But I also feel like our working relationship works really good because of the people that we are. My sister is definitely the one at the front of the ship and the one going, Come on we got to do this. Im more of a laid back person about most things and I think if she didnt have me saying things like Hey relax and if I didnt have her going, Come on we got to do this it wouldnt work. We would have never made the record. We did it all ourselves and we recorded it in our friends studio.
DRE: What is the writing process between you?
LW: We write separately then come back together. We have had some collaborations that have been quite fun. A lot of the content is so personal and that is something that is great because were best friends as well as sisters so I know what the material is in reference even though it might be hidden in a metaphor. I know a lot of the experiences and the emotions behind it just from being her partner in crime for so many years. So even though we dont write together, weve already written these stories, just in our lives.
DRE: Have you toured much for your own album?
LW: Were hoping that once things calm down a little bit, that well be able to head out on the open road with our stuff.
DRE: What are the prospects for a band like yours overseas?
LW: Right now, for us were getting ready to go to Europe with Jenny. So hopefully therell be some interest us. But right now we dont have any distribution anywhere but in the States. We also have some interest in Australia as well, so were hoping we will get distribution over there as well. We havent had a huge push on our record because weve been so busy with Jennys record and thats where our priority is right now.
DRE: Since the two of you are getting to play bigger places with Jenny, are you getting the rock music experience without being responsible for the whole thing?
LW: Yeah, but the show is really just a fun show and not necessarily a rock show. It is like electrified folk. People arent going crazy. They are definitely quiet when they need to be quiet and very respectful of what we are doing and very praiseful. It is a great, experience to be on stage where we can enjoy ourselves. One of the things I love about backup singing is that the pressure is not on you.
DRE: Can I ask some dumb twin questions?
LW: Sure.
DRE: Can you guys read each others minds?
LW: No, only when it comes to food.
DRE: What foods are your the favorite?
LW: Well I had a really weird experience one morning. I was craving a sun-dried tomato bagel. I called Chandra and I was like, My mouth was watering and I just cant quit thinking about sun-dried tomato bagels. She was like, Im eating one right now. We have weird food things. But other than that, I think you spend so much time with somebody, weve started to really resemble each other.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
courtneyriot:
The Watson Twins are the soft spoken southern group who has gained popularity backing Jenny Lewis on her recent tours. I got a chance to talk to one half The Watson Twins about working with Jenny, being a food twin and their new album, Southern Manners....
monica:
i love these ladies!