UCN’s 10 Questions with…The Rankin Twins

11 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on UCN’s 10 Questions with…The Rankin Twins

Texas duo The Rankin Twins recently released their full-length debut, Moonshine & Maybes. The ten-track album was recorded in Austin, TX and produced by Ken Tondre. With the ladies having been influenced by other strong female artists including The Judds and Dixie Chicks, the diverse disc blends country, bluegrass, pop, and a little bit of rock into a soulful offering.

Amy and April hit the road with their songs and have opened for Texas superstars Pat Green, Josh Abbott and Roger Creager. For more information and current tour dates, go to www.therankintwins.com.

The sisters took some time out of their busy schedule to answer a few questions for us:

1. ‘Holding Pattern’ is a duet with Drew Womack, how did the collaboration come about?
It started with Django Walker and quickly realized that we really wanted to make it a duet with a male and Drew was our first choice. We sent him the song and he wrote his own verse and now we have our 2nd Top 10 song in Texas!

2. How was the process of putting together and recording a debut album?
It was the most exciting thing in our career. It’s like a kid at Christmas having to wait to unwrap the best present… Lots of patience and hard work. Our producer Ken Tondre wanted to make sure all of the songs were worthy of being on the album, if they weren’t a potential “single” contender they didn’t make the cut. We wrote a ton with other writers to get a mixture of tunes for the album as well.

3. The album has country, blues, bluegrass, and rock influences. Does it come natural to blend styles?
When you are collaborating with different writers their styles and sounds are going to portray themselves differently so in a sense yes. We have such a love for all of those styles of music and wanted to make this am album that everyone could find something they loved on it.

4. What is your songwriting process like?
It’s an on-going process. Sometimes they start with a melody in mind, other times its a couple lines jotted down in our phones, or something off the cuff that day. You never know if you’re gonna write a really good one when you sit down or if you’re gonna have nothing to say.

5. Album closer ‘Rain’ is a very meaningful song. How do you approach writing that type of song?
[Amy] By yourself, in your bedroom, on a Sunday morning in the rain. That type of song came from the mood I was in that morning and I’m just so thankful it turned out to be a beautiful story. It was my very first sad song to write.

6. Which other artist(s) do you look up to, and why?
We really admire everything that the Dixie Chicks accomplished. Their music was life changing for us and we are still today their biggest fans.
Then there’s Sean McConnell who leaves it all on stage and pulls you in with every word to every song he sings. He makes it look effortless.

7. There seems to be more cross-over between Austin, TX and Nashville, TN then before. What do you attribute that to?
Both cities are great for music. There’s just something to be said about being able to tour and play your own music in one state alone. Both cities provide one another with such talented musicians

8. What is your favorite thing about life on the road?
We’ve always been road warriors. Every gig is different and you meet new fans and get to hear new music everyday. Sometimes the road to the unknown is exciting to be on.

9. What is your definition of success?
At the end of the day it’s about being happy with what you’re doing and what you’ve accomplished.

10. In the next five years….
We hope to become a household name

For more on The Rankin Twins, please visit www.therankintwins.com.

 

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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