“Open When” is the ethereal debut single from newcomers SistersJ. Elizabeth and Lily Jackson are real life sisters who have been singing together for as long as they can remember. Music has always been a part of their lives, Elizabeth just got her degree in music education with honors and Lily just graduated as salutatorian and has ranked third in the nation with her vocal solos. They came together to form SistersJ and are currently working with the best of the best in Nashville. “Open When” is their powerful new single that sets them apart from other artists with their distinct vocals and honest lyrics. “Open When” is a beautifully crafted love song about the struggles of being away from your significant other. SistersJ put their distinct spin on it by providing ways to uplifts ones spirit from the woes of heartache. SistersJ have made a timeless classic with “Open When.”
WEBSITE: https://www.sistersj.com/
Dreamy keys lead us into the first verse of “Open When” before the track opens up for the vocals to come in. The vocals are front and center, soft yet powerful, and extremely otherworldly. While SistersJ vocal range is off the charts, their vocal performance is highly personal. You can hear the emotional journey they go on from beginning to end. You can hear the resignation, hope, and wisdom peppered throughout the harmonies of “Open When.” There’s a maturity to the perspective that “Open When” takes that grounds the floaty nature of SistersJ’s vocals. The balance between the grounded nature of the lyrics and the high-flying melodies overwhelm listeners in a wave of hope. It’s not often that love songs with less-than-sunny subject matters find a way to shine a positive light on heartache but “Open When” does.
The lyrics of “Open When” not only paint a picture for listeners but also highlight the profundities of love. “Make no mistake, we can’t fool ourselves/Nothing we can do about the distance/The miles between us, a part of me is missing,” is how “Open When” begins. SistersJ effortlessly capture the essence of longing and the harsh reality of being in a different place than your partner. The next verse is where the title comes into play, “I wrote you a letter, for everyday we’ve been together/Open each one when you think of me.” These lyrics are set against floral melodies that brighten the mood and speed up in tempo when the chorus comes along. SistersJ vocal performance adds to the weight of the lyrics and makes the reminders to open the letters when they’re feeling down even more evocative and vulnerable.
It is the production of “Open When” that made my jaw drop however. It should come as no surprise, since SistersJ are based in Nashville and working with some of Nashville’s finest producers and songwriters. The vocals are crisp and syncopated but never feel detached from the melody. With such powerful ethereal vocals it could be easy for the vocals to overtake the mood of the track but instead your swept into the energy of “Open When” the moment you press play. It oozes positivity by addressing the tough feelings that accompany distance. SistersJ don’t try to sugarcoat anything, instead they use their enviable vocals to make you break out of any depressive state you may have slipped into. Through backing keys and rich melody “Open When” is brought to life with ease.
Claire Uebelacker