Vocalist Suzanne Santo and guitarist Ben Jaffe came together as the jazzy, twangy, rollicking duo honeyhoney. Jaffe had previously composed music for television and film before a mutual acquaintance introduced him to Santo by bringing him to one of her solo performances; at the time Santo maintained an acting career that featured appearances on Law & Order and Blind Justice. The pair soon began casual songwriting sessions that revealed a strong creative connection. Once they adopted the name honeyhoney, Kiefer Sutherland emerged as an early champion and placed the band on Ironworks Music, the imprint he ran alongside musician Jude Cole.
The Loose Boots EP marked honeyhoney’s first studio release in early 2008. While touring with fellow Ironworks act Lifehouse, the musicians also carved out time to complete their full-length debut. First Rodeo appeared later that year and showcased an array of influences spanning crossover jazz, neo-soul, and engaging alt-country. Local Natives member Raymond Richards produced the follow-up, Billy Jack, which surfaced in October 2011 through the band’s own honeyhoney label in partnership with Lost Highway. The duo subsequently joined the roster of the esteemed roots music imprint Rounder Records, where their third album, produced by Dave Cobb and titled simply 3, arrived in April 2015.
