The Watson Twins are on the verge of something huge. Probably best known for "Rabbit Fur Coat," their 2006 release with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley, the Kentucky-born indie-folk duo composed of twins Chandra and Leigh Watson is now releasing their first full-length album, "Fire Songs."
Now working with Vanguard Records, a long-established company that's been home to such folk artists as Joan Baez and Mindy Smith, the girls are having their first experience in working out a cohesive record.
"[It's a] journey that can be experienced as a whole instead of just separate songs," Leigh said in an interview with The Eagle.
Their first single, "How Am I to Be," is a sweet, upbeat jam featuring tinkling bells and an old-school jangly guitar supporting the girls' smoky vocals and haunting harmonies. "Fire Songs" shows impressive diversity, ranging from Santana-esque guitar licks that open the seductive "Map to Where You Are" to a slow, sad, distinctly Watson cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven."
The Watson Twins' self-described "down-home" style can be seen through the way they recorded their latest album on a two-inch tape in Elliott Smith's old studio. Leigh expressed her love for the analog method, calling it a pure form of recording but also adding that she and her sister would like to look into experimenting digitally at some point.
When asked what it was like to share musical autonomy with her sister, Leigh explained that she and Chandra write separately but also push each other to grow and develop as artists.
"Because we're so close, I don't feel hesitant to share something with her," Leigh said. "She knows the possibilities and potential of my work; I can have an idea, and she can go there with me."
Not only do the sisters share a close bond with each other, they also have several ways of keeping directly in touch with their fans. The band has a Twitter page, updated at least once daily by the girls themselves, that features personal updates on what they're up to. A post upon their arrival in Arizona for their first show reads, "Made it to Tucson. Me gusto me gusto! Burritos and beers!"
Leigh said the Internet is a great way to keep in touch but also acknowledges that there is a "fine line between what you're having for lunch and what people really care about."
For fans who don't need to keep tabs on the girls' daily lives but want to keep up with them can also visit their blog, which is written by Chandra, although Leigh said the posts are less about music and more about projects their friends are working on.
"It's a really great form of old-school grass-roots promotion that we're really into," she said.
The future of the Watson Twins lies in experimentation. Leigh describes their current progress as "all over the place" but assures that they will begin to record at the beginning of next year.
"We want another project with a different sound, and we want to explore the genres that affect us," she said. They will also be attempting to write together for the first time.
Always open to experimenting with their style, the girls are changing up their band's lineup for this tour, taking a keyboardist on the road for the first time. According to Leigh, finally playing the album songs live has been a new and gratifying experience. In addition to "Fire Songs" and a few old favorites from their 2006 EP "Southern Manners," this tour's set list will also include a cover of the 1971 Bill Withers classic, "Ain't No Sunshine."
The Watson Twins will perform with Jones Street Station and Ben Kweller at the 9:30 club Thursday.
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
