Biography
The Watson Twins, identical siblings Chandra Watson and Leigh Watson, blend country roots with modern Americana sounds. Kentucky natives, the pair headed west to Los Angeles during the early 2000s. Their profile rose sharply after contributing vocals to Jenny Lewis’s first solo outing in 2006. Once signed to Vanguard, they issued the full-length Fire Songs in 2008, followed two years later by Talking to You, Talking to Me. Relocating to Nashville in 2014, the sisters refined their intertwined harmonies across Americana and indie-leaning projects such as DUO in 2018 and Holler in 2023.
Raised in Louisville, Chandra and Leigh began harmonizing as children by imitating their mother’s habit of singing favorite songs at home. In 1998 they left Kentucky for Los Angeles to pursue music professionally. For several years they served as backing vocalists in a well-known local ensemble and became regulars in the Silverlake circuit, sharing stages with Orphan Train, Joe Firstman, and Rilo Kiley. The sisters also started composing original pieces and adapting outside material to fit their distinctive blend, sometimes performing under the moniker Black Swan.
Already familiar faces in the L.A. scene, the Watson Twins gained further momentum when Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley asked them to add harmonies to her solo debut. The resulting 2006 album Rabbit Fur Coat achieved notable indie success and drew comparable notice to the sisters themselves. Capitalizing on that exposure, they self-released the eight-track EP Southern Manners, which allowed greater scope to interpret rural American music. The recording sold briskly on tour as they headlined and supported acts such as Magnolia Electric Co. throughout the region. After inking a deal with Vanguard Records, the duo delivered their debut long-player Fire Songs in 2008. The next year they recorded a version of the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” for the True Blood soundtrack, and in 2010 they followed with the sophomore album Talking to You, Talking to Me. Their 2011 EP Night Covers applied a Laurel Canyon country approach to material by Sade, the Black Keys, and Bill Withers, while the 2013 full-length Pioneer Lane presented original, family-focused folk songs produced by Russ Pollard.
The sisters returned to the South in 2014, settling in Nashville where they developed new songs and supplied backing vocals for numerous artists including Kings of Leon, the Shins, Orville Peck, Shooter Jennings, Billy Bragg, and Willie Nelson. On 2018’s DUO they reunited with Russ Pollard, co-writing every track and delivering all parts in unison to create a singular collection of originals. Early 2023 brought the honky-tonk single “Two Timin,” produced by and featuring Butch Walker; it appeared on the live-in-studio album Holler.
Raised in Louisville, Chandra and Leigh began harmonizing as children by imitating their mother’s habit of singing favorite songs at home. In 1998 they left Kentucky for Los Angeles to pursue music professionally. For several years they served as backing vocalists in a well-known local ensemble and became regulars in the Silverlake circuit, sharing stages with Orphan Train, Joe Firstman, and Rilo Kiley. The sisters also started composing original pieces and adapting outside material to fit their distinctive blend, sometimes performing under the moniker Black Swan.
Already familiar faces in the L.A. scene, the Watson Twins gained further momentum when Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley asked them to add harmonies to her solo debut. The resulting 2006 album Rabbit Fur Coat achieved notable indie success and drew comparable notice to the sisters themselves. Capitalizing on that exposure, they self-released the eight-track EP Southern Manners, which allowed greater scope to interpret rural American music. The recording sold briskly on tour as they headlined and supported acts such as Magnolia Electric Co. throughout the region. After inking a deal with Vanguard Records, the duo delivered their debut long-player Fire Songs in 2008. The next year they recorded a version of the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” for the True Blood soundtrack, and in 2010 they followed with the sophomore album Talking to You, Talking to Me. Their 2011 EP Night Covers applied a Laurel Canyon country approach to material by Sade, the Black Keys, and Bill Withers, while the 2013 full-length Pioneer Lane presented original, family-focused folk songs produced by Russ Pollard.
The sisters returned to the South in 2014, settling in Nashville where they developed new songs and supplied backing vocals for numerous artists including Kings of Leon, the Shins, Orville Peck, Shooter Jennings, Billy Bragg, and Willie Nelson. On 2018’s DUO they reunited with Russ Pollard, co-writing every track and delivering all parts in unison to create a singular collection of originals. Early 2023 brought the honky-tonk single “Two Timin,” produced by and featuring Butch Walker; it appeared on the live-in-studio album Holler.
Albums
Singles
Live
