Avenue Beat | Interview | Stingray Rising Stars

What is your earliest artistic memory?  

Sam: My earliest artistic memory isn’t exactly a memory because my mom just told me this story so many times, and now it feels like a memory, you know! When Savana and I were like five we would get pulled around in my wagon by my mom, and we would just sing at the top of our lungs. I would be singing some wholesome song I learned in Sunday school, or something, and Sav would be singing some dirty rap song she learned from her older sisters blasting it in their rooms! And I just think that sums us up. But really, the first musical memory I have is trying out for musicals at the local community theatre!

What is your favorite cover that you have done?  

Sami: In high school we did a cover of Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” for a variety show. We did the key changes by moving the capo up on the guitar, and it made me laugh almost every night.

What does pop music convey like no other music genre?

Sami: I know it’s kind of simple, but I think pop music conveys the current zeitgeist. It’s always changing and reflecting what’s on people’s hearts at a given moment.
Savana: Brutal honesty. I think pop music gives you the freedom to explore things the most candidly because there aren’t many rules or lines you have to fit into.

What is your best or funniest memory on stage? 

Sam: The best memory I remember on stage is when we were on tour with Mason Ramsey (The Yodel Kid) and literally nobody knew who we were, but they loved our last song, “Delight,” so much they all put their hands up and started singing along and waving their hands in the air and us softies all started crying and could barely finish the song. We probably sounded like shit, but it was so cute, and we really miss live shows… 😭😭😭😭

What’s it like working together?

Sami: It comes so naturally at this point, I guess we don’t really think about it. We’ve been so close for so long, so we know how to talk issues out. But we always seem to be on the same page about important stuff. It’s a little creepy sometimes.

What is your favorite song of all time? 

Sam: My favorite songs of all time UGH I have so many different favorite songs of all time depending on the week… One that comes to mind immediately is “Hard Place,” by H.E.R. That line “If I had to choose, my heart or you, I’m gunna LOSEEEE” I would 100% get those lyrics tattooed on my body.
Savana: “The Grand Hotel” by Regina Spektor, and “Honey” by Kehlani.

What song do you love performing the most on stage, and why?  

Sam: I feel like we would enjoy performing “F2020” the most on stage, but we’ve never gotten to really play it out at a show ever! SADNESS! Or maybe our new song “Woman” or this unreleased one called “Stupidmouth”! We did that for a TikTok performance once, and it was really fun! I miss SHOWSSSSS.

If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing right now?

Savana: Probably something with videography or graphics.

Which musician(s) would you like to collaborate with?  

Savana: Kacey Musgraves is always my answer, lol. Just gonna keep putting it out there in the universe until it happens.

What is one thing that your fans don’t know about you (a fun fact)? 

Savana: I love spam, lol.

What is the best advice that you have ever been given? 

Savana: Water is the key to life, deadass. Haha!

What’s coming up for you in the next weeks and months? 

Sam: I hope in the next few months we get to release a shit ton more music and maybe do some super dope collabs with some artists that we love and admire and actually worship! MUSIC! More music!
Savana: NEW MUSIC! NEW MUSIC! NEW MUSIC!

Advice for getting through the quarantine?

Sami: Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies! I must have tried out a dozen different things: baking, knitting, embroidery, painting. It’s nice to have something low pressure to do other than spiral.