Sisters J may tread familiar musical territory, the sibling singing duo, but they are traveling through with a style that’s all their own and remarkably mature for such young vocalists. The flawless timing demonstrated in their harmonies isn’t solely a product of the studio and production shepherding – it’s a honest reflection of two skilled singers working in spot-on concert with one another. This is, undoubtedly, a skill they’ve been perfecting since early childhood and, as such, their ongoing musical dialogue with one another is far more developed than two vocalists who don’t share familial bonds.
“Clearly” moves the sisters, Lily and Elisabeth, into far more outright pop than they’ve yet released. It’s an unreserved success. The upper register highs that both sisters are able to achieve are balanced throughout the track and the song also gives them ample opportunities to show off other layers of their voices. There’s no question that “Clearly” is primarily a vehicle for spotlighting their vocal talents, but no one will mind. The brilliant mastering of Clearly by the genius craft of Ted “Theo” Perlman puts this song in a category of its own.
It doesn’t mean the arrangement is an afterthought. The refreshing muscle and detail of the song’s music create an interesting counterpoint to the sister’s voices and has enough familiarity that it likely helps listeners connect even more with the cut. Their sincerity is beyond question. There is a plethora of top-tier technical singers out there capable of hitting every hung in the vocal register and yet when they turn their voices toward songs, they invariably sing every line with the same intent.
Not so here. Sisters J approaches their singing with an almost spiritual focus determined to inhabit its message and convey it to their audience. It results in a polished, but never lifeless, finished result. Every key emotional cog works toward the same end and there’s zero evidence of the sisters or the musical backing veering off course. Self-indulgence is nil and musicality is a priority. It’s an increasingly rare confluence of attributes and dispatched with immense self-assurance.
These sorts of talents, in a lesser presentation, would come across as too pristine, akin to butterflies pinned under glass. Soul radiates from each line of Sisters J’s “Clearly” without ever sounding like a studio creation. This song is malleable enough, as well, to prove as effective in a live setting, given the proper arranging for the stage, and it’s a further mark of the durability of the material Sisters J are releasing.
It’s tantalizing to consider what the future holds for these two. “Clearly” flings the door open wide to possibilities that didn’t exist before its release without ever breaking too much with the reputation they’ve thus far established. They’ve extended an invitation to listeners with this release – a new chapter in their musical journey begins and they want listeners to follow along. The new single “Clearly” shows that’s a safe bet as Sisters J, Lily and Elisabeth Jackson, are poised to reach new levels with this release. It’s the first time that I’ve heard their music, but it will not be the last.
Claire Uebelacker