Biography
The Chapin Sisters operate as a modern folk duo whose sound draws from the American singer/songwriter tradition yet delivers material that feels immediate, lively, and emotionally resonant. Their signature vocal blend follows the lineage of family harmony ensembles, evidenced by a full album honoring the Everly Brothers, while their repertoire spans country and folk conventions alongside inventive reinterpretations of recent pop material. They set the foundation for their updated folk approach with the 2008 release Lake Bottom LP and the 2010 album Two, introduced a country inflection on 2015’s Today’s Not Yesterday, and displayed a refined, roots-oriented style on the singles “Bergen Street” and “All Through the Night.”
The ensemble originated in Los Angeles during 2004 with Abigail Chapin, Lily Chapin, and Jessica Craven comprising the original roster. Abigail and Lily are the daughters of longtime folksinger Tom Chapin and nieces of the late songwriter Harry Chapin. Their mother, Bonnie Broecker, had earlier been married to filmmaker Wes Craven; Jessica, the daughter from that marriage, served as the sisters’ stepsibling. The three grew up together in New York City and contributed to several children’s recordings Tom Chapin made during their childhood, while Jessica also supplied voice-overs for occasional commercials. Only after relocating to Los Angeles in 2004 did the siblings begin treating music as a serious joint pursuit.
Performing in close three-part harmony and frequently supported solely by acoustic guitars, the Chapin Sisters earned notice for both their thoughtful, reflective originals and their clever handling of outside material, turning songs by Madonna, the Smiths, and Britney Spears into gently acoustic readings that offered fresh perspectives. Their first recording, a 2006 demo EP containing their widely requested take on Spears’ “Toxic,” was followed in 2007 by a split LP with Winter Flowers issued on Manimal Vinyl. Plain Recordings released Lake Bottom LP, the group’s debut full-length, in spring 2008.
Jessica Craven departed later that year, leaving Abigail and Lily to continue as a duo. They joined She & Him, the project of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, for tours that included both backup vocal duties and opening slots; the same pair later enlisted the Chapin Sisters to sing on the 2014 album Classics. Two, the duo’s second LP, appeared in September 2010. The 2013 tribute A Date with the Everly Brothers collected fourteen songs associated with the brother duo, while Today’s Not Yesterday, recorded with a complete studio band and released by Smith Music Group in 2015, presented Americana- and soft-rock-leaning originals shaped in part by the sisters’ return from Los Angeles to New York.
In 2018 the Chapins issued the five-song EP Ferry Boat, containing two compositions by Abigail, two by Lily, and one written for them by Hillary Hawke. That year they also cut a version of Fred Neil’s “Dolphins” with Cass McCombs and subsequently appeared on his albums Heartmind (2022) and Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children (2023). Additional vocal contributions can be heard on recordings by Gary Louris, Diana Jones, Lavender Diamond, Beachwood Sparks, and Lara Downes, and their songs have featured in episodes of Suburgatory, Bones, and Life & Beth. Following a recording hiatus, the duo returned with the digital single “Bergen Street” in March 2023, followed by the Americana track “All Through the Night” in August 2023 and “Wasting Your Time” in June 2024.
The ensemble originated in Los Angeles during 2004 with Abigail Chapin, Lily Chapin, and Jessica Craven comprising the original roster. Abigail and Lily are the daughters of longtime folksinger Tom Chapin and nieces of the late songwriter Harry Chapin. Their mother, Bonnie Broecker, had earlier been married to filmmaker Wes Craven; Jessica, the daughter from that marriage, served as the sisters’ stepsibling. The three grew up together in New York City and contributed to several children’s recordings Tom Chapin made during their childhood, while Jessica also supplied voice-overs for occasional commercials. Only after relocating to Los Angeles in 2004 did the siblings begin treating music as a serious joint pursuit.
Performing in close three-part harmony and frequently supported solely by acoustic guitars, the Chapin Sisters earned notice for both their thoughtful, reflective originals and their clever handling of outside material, turning songs by Madonna, the Smiths, and Britney Spears into gently acoustic readings that offered fresh perspectives. Their first recording, a 2006 demo EP containing their widely requested take on Spears’ “Toxic,” was followed in 2007 by a split LP with Winter Flowers issued on Manimal Vinyl. Plain Recordings released Lake Bottom LP, the group’s debut full-length, in spring 2008.
Jessica Craven departed later that year, leaving Abigail and Lily to continue as a duo. They joined She & Him, the project of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, for tours that included both backup vocal duties and opening slots; the same pair later enlisted the Chapin Sisters to sing on the 2014 album Classics. Two, the duo’s second LP, appeared in September 2010. The 2013 tribute A Date with the Everly Brothers collected fourteen songs associated with the brother duo, while Today’s Not Yesterday, recorded with a complete studio band and released by Smith Music Group in 2015, presented Americana- and soft-rock-leaning originals shaped in part by the sisters’ return from Los Angeles to New York.
In 2018 the Chapins issued the five-song EP Ferry Boat, containing two compositions by Abigail, two by Lily, and one written for them by Hillary Hawke. That year they also cut a version of Fred Neil’s “Dolphins” with Cass McCombs and subsequently appeared on his albums Heartmind (2022) and Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children (2023). Additional vocal contributions can be heard on recordings by Gary Louris, Diana Jones, Lavender Diamond, Beachwood Sparks, and Lara Downes, and their songs have featured in episodes of Suburgatory, Bones, and Life & Beth. Following a recording hiatus, the duo returned with the digital single “Bergen Street” in March 2023, followed by the Americana track “All Through the Night” in August 2023 and “Wasting Your Time” in June 2024.
Albums
Ferry Boat
2018
Today's Not Yesterday
2015
A Date with the Everly Brothers
2013
Two
2010
Oh, Hear The Wind Blow
2010
Lake Bottom Lp
2008
The Chapin Sisters E.P.
2006
Singles
