For Aly & AJ, Sisterhood Has Always Been The Priority

 

23
Sep

Alyson and Amanda Michalka had many career developments: They were young actors, they broke out as musical duo Aly & AJ in the mid-2000s, they changed their name to 78Violet, and they returned. as Aly & AJ while pursuing acting separately as adults—but through it all, there is one inseparable constant: sisterhood.

“It was everything to us; that’s the foundation of our band,” AJ, the younger of the two, told ELLE.com. “For us, the goal is really to make sure that our sisterly friendship is preserved over the years. Aside from music being an important part of our lives, it’s our friendship. “

It’s safe to say that has been and is part of the band’s enduring appeal. That complex and rich relationship between sisters has had a special place in art and popular culture throughout history, from the literary families in Pride & Prejudice and Little Women to the groups music today like Chloe x Halle and Haim. In the midst of the thinking years, Disney millennials used it in the form of guitar singing, and Aly & AJ splashed on the beach, who demonstrated their relationship through light. pop-rock compositions, harmonies and chords. Seeing not just one girl but two shining together – not to mention they look great on stage – it’s no wonder they’ve stuck with us all these years, even if we don’t realize it. that.

Aly, who is two years older, says the partnership is key. “It would be really weird to do this alone. I won’t lie,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for solo artists because it looks like it’s going to be a really, really hard job.”

In May, Michalkas, now in his thirties, released his first album in 14 years, a tap to the rhythm that gets you up and gets you out and then into the sunshine (one lyrics on “Don’t Need “Nothing”) – boasting themes of sisterhood, healing, and joy, while being enveloped in a sunny vintage California atmosphere. It follows their recent EPs Sanctuary (2019) and Ten Years (2017), and their 2007 album Insomniatic (the album features a “Potential Breakup Song”). Despite the album’s timely optimism, most of the songs arrived before the pandemic and took about six months to write. Although, after the start of the quarantine, they adjusted some of the lyrics to reflect the present moment. (“St Gast” was even written entirely on Zoom.) But for the most part, the tracks were recorded at Sunset Sound, the iconic Hollywood recording studio.

The sisters recently announced that a deluxe version with four new songs will be coming in early 2022. “I think deluxe is difficult, because many people end up writing too much for one record and then there they have some uncertain tone. wonderful; They may end up being ignored. And I think this luxury is really, really powerful. I’m glad people heard the rest,” AJ said. The first addition, a captivating single called “Get Over Here,” was dropped last Friday. (That was also originally written in 2019.) The duo plan to drop the rest of the new songs over the next five months, Aly said. They then embarked on a tour from late February to May with scheduled stops around the world and across the US.

So yes, Aly & AJ is still on the rise. Even on our call, they’re in the middle of their first official New York Fashion Week (tours and filming schedules have prevented them from attending in the past), jumping from the boisterous show from one show to the next including Collina Strada, Monse, and Peter Do. Dressed in chic coordinated suits and dresses, the sisters looked a bit different from their first-timers to NYFW, but native Californians still had to adjust to the Manhattan scene. “It was really fun,” Aly said, “But it was also very different from the nightlife of the Los Angeles experience.” At least they don’t have to be brave alone.