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London sisters Holly and Coco Chant have two voices that harmonises together so well that it's it seems impossible to achieve unless they grew up close together. Check out their beautiful video for 'Sunshine' on Gigwise first below.
Taken from their debut album Sweetooth, first single 'Sunshine' is a heart warming introduction and would capture the imagination of anyone with an ear for the likes of Nina Simone, Edith Piaf and Dolly Parton.
Although currently based in Canning Town, London, the Chant sisters have had a wildly different upbringing. "Holly was born in Papua New Guinea where mum's from," says Coco. "Then we moved to Hong Kong and I was born there. Our dad is a civil engineer so we grew up in the Philippines, then Maidstone for ten years. After, we went to Sri Lanka. Then we came back to the UK once school was finished.”
Holly interrupts: “You forgot Switzerland!” “Oh yeah,” retorts Coco. “For a little bit we lived in Switzerland.”
This travelling has helped inform their technique and craft a style distinct from the current crop of folk musicians also touring. For instance, Coco began playing guitar at age 9 in Sri Lanka as people would sing with guitars in their village.
Their songs are intended to inspire thought and motivation. 'Sunshine' does just that, as the modern alt folk harmonies are accompanied by a stripped back acoustic guitar and subtle drum beat, that allows space for the listener to draw their own conclusions about the song's meaning.
Opting to hone in on the universal, their video plays on familial themes and cuts between the two signers performing and playing guitar in a dimly lit tunnel and nostalgic images of grandchildren at their grandfathers house in the countryside in a heart warming visual that accompanies the song beautifully.
'Sunshine' is out with an amazing cover of Arctic Monkeys’ ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ as a b side on 25 March via Sunday Best/ PIAS.
Their debut album Sweetooth is out on 3 June. Pre-order it here.
Xylaroo are on tour with Will Varley, remaining dates are as follows.
2 March Plymouth, The Junction
03 March Falmouth, MONO
04 March Southampton, Joiners
10 March, London, Scala
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