VIDEO: P.E.I. pop-country artists Ava and Lily celebrate milestone with big goals ahead

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The pop-country harmonies of Ava and Lily fill a recording studio in Charlottetown as the dual sisters practise for his or her first massive dwell present of the summer season.

The 19-year-old daughters of Dave and Sue Rashed shall be performing on the Cavendish Seaside Music Competition on July 6 earlier than taking to the highway for levels from New Brunswick to Toronto within the subsequent a number of weeks.

Their arduous work inside and out of doors of the recording studio is taking part in off in 2023 – the 12 months that additionally marks the tenth anniversary of their first present.

“We’ve all the time liked to sing collectively. Ever since we had been in our excessive chairs we’d be singing, not talking phrases however buzzing alongside and singing,” says Ava says as she and Lily took a break from practising with their band to speak with SaltWire about how they began a decade in the past and what their future holds.

“We simply fell in love with it,” mentioned Lily, referring to that first present again in 2013.

Music at dwelling

Nonetheless, lengthy earlier than that first time on stage in entrance of an viewers on the Confederation Centre of the Arts – a youth summit to cease cyberbullying – their musical future was already being formed at dwelling.

Lily mentioned her earliest reminiscence is of her and Ava spending time of their father’s basement recording studio. Dave is the keyboardist for P.E.I. multi-platinum-selling Eighties band Haywire, and the women used to get him to file them singing with the mic,” Lily mentioned.

“It was enjoyable and we all the time liked to do it.”

Ava mentioned as she bought older, her curiosity began to segue into songwriting, including that drew her and Lily even nearer.

“It’s such a private expertise. It’s one thing to do along with your sister and helped us develop into finest pals over time.”

As they bought older and carried out in additional exhibits, they began to lean on any recommendation coming from their father’s expertise recording and touring throughout Canada. He has develop into their mentor, they mentioned, shelling out steerage on what paths to remain on and which to stray from.

“He’s all the time telling us to practise what we don’t know and to not deal with issues we’re comfy with,” Lily mentioned.

Greatest pals

Ava and Lily say they’ve been finest pals perpetually, and it’s not arduous to inform. The sisters full one another’s sentences and construct on one another’s ideas and not using a second’s hesitation, all of the whereas smiling and laughing and looking forward to the subsequent response.

Additionally they mentioned they actually don’t have disagreements about something. The pair may debate who’s carrying a sure outfit for a present or who will get to make use of the hair straightener first, however that’s about all.

The sisters decide up most of what they study by listening to different music. Neither Ava nor Lily learn music; the multi-instrumentalists play guitar, piano, mandolin and fiddle of their exhibits.

When requested in regards to the greatest change since their first efficiency as nine-year-olds, each are fast to say they really feel rather more comfy in entrance of individuals.

Within the early years, the sisters would write out a script when it got here to interacting with the viewers between songs. Now, they simply say no matter feels pure.

The longer term

This 12 months, the sisters gained Music P.E.I.’s New Artist of the Yr and had been chosen to be part of Music P.E.I.’s Golden Ticket program, which led to the discharge of their present single, “I Gained.”

It’s all a part of a build-up towards a objective that exhibits no indicators of slowing down but.

Ava and Lily have spent the previous two years, together with their Grade 12 12 months at Colonel Grey Excessive Faculty, attempting to construct up their social media following and specializing in their songwriting and music with the objective of getting seen and making it a full-time job. Ava and Lily need to tour the world.

Their songs and movies can be found on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and Soundcloud.

“Now, you sort of must make it by yourself, so it’s essential develop your fanbase first earlier than a label will even take a look at you or think about taking part in your music,” Ava mentioned, including they typically produce their very own music movies and add them to platforms.

One present on their schedule stands out, Honey Jam in Toronto on Aug. 15. Fifteen feminine acts from throughout Canada had been chosen to carry out in entrance of an viewers that can embody brokers from main labels.

“It is going to be a good way to make connections taking part in in entrance of key folks like brokers,” Lily mentioned.

It’s all about constructing to their objective of realizing their dream.

“I might love us to journey with our music and get our songs on the market,” Ava mentioned.

Do you know?

• Ava and Lily will carry out July 6 at Cavendish Beach Music Festival, July 22 at Sussex Fundy Fest in New Brunswick, Aug. 4 at Bote Music Fest 2023 in Cape Tormentine, N.B., and Aug. 17 at Honey Jam in Toronto.
• In 2019, Ava and Lily appeared on Nickelodeon’s new expertise present, “America’s Most Musical Household,’’ the place they competed till the semi-final spherical in Los Angeles.
• Ava and Lily are the great-granddaughters of Canadian County Music Corridor of Fame artist Charlie Chamberlain.

Dave Stewart is a reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @DveStewart.