how you guys feeling out there you got sound good you look great my name is
sound good you look great my name is
sound good you look great my name is Milani and I’m Serina
Milani and I’m Serina
Milani and I’m Serina we are songwriters musicians performers
we are songwriters musicians performers
we are songwriters musicians performers entrepreneurs and yes for those of you
entrepreneurs and yes for those of you
entrepreneurs and yes for those of you guys are wondering we are identical
guys are wondering we are identical
guys are wondering we are identical twins we hail from stencyl Jersey we are
twins we hail from stencyl Jersey we are
twins we hail from stencyl Jersey we are the daughters of a bluest loving father
the daughters of a bluest loving father
the daughters of a bluest loving father and a folk fanatic mother are there
and a folk fanatic mother are there
and a folk fanatic mother are there musicians in the house people that love
musicians in the house people that love
musicians in the house people that love music oh I should be everybody’s hands
music oh I should be everybody’s hands
music oh I should be everybody’s hands well people always ask us why don’t we
well people always ask us why don’t we
well people always ask us why don’t we first started music and we always like
first started music and we always like
first started music and we always like to reply it all started in the womb we
to reply it all started in the womb we
to reply it all started in the womb we have always been in love with music it’s
have always been in love with music it’s
have always been in love with music it’s always been a part of our lives we
always been a part of our lives we
always been a part of our lives we started classical piano at the age of
started classical piano at the age of
started classical piano at the age of five studied opera in our early teens
five studied opera in our early teens
five studied opera in our early teens and started songwriting soon after that
and started songwriting soon after that
and started songwriting soon after that so father’s how we were about 16 we met
so father’s how we were about 16 we met
so father’s how we were about 16 we met up with some local musicians and started
up with some local musicians and started
up with some local musicians and started playing really anywhere we could in New
playing really anywhere we could in New
playing really anywhere we could in New Jersey and York City we used to get
Jersey and York City we used to get
Jersey and York City we used to get kicked out of bars after that because we
kicked out of bars after that because we
kicked out of bars after that because we were way too young to be there but there
were way too young to be there but there
were way too young to be there but there was something about performing on stage
was something about performing on stage
was something about performing on stage where we felt so at home but that
where we felt so at home but that
where we felt so at home but that feeling would quickly vanish as we found
feeling would quickly vanish as we found
feeling would quickly vanish as we found ourselves studying for the SATs on the
ourselves studying for the SATs on the
ourselves studying for the SATs on the train ride home I remember looking at
train ride home I remember looking at
train ride home I remember looking at each other thinking why are you retaking
each other thinking why are you retaking
each other thinking why are you retaking this test all we really want to do is
this test all we really want to do is
this test all we really want to do is music we used to tell her mother that
music we used to tell her mother that
music we used to tell her mother that use it was the first thing we thought of
use it was the first thing we thought of
use it was the first thing we thought of waking up in the morning and the last
waking up in the morning and the last
waking up in the morning and the last thing we thought of going to bed at
thing we thought of going to bed at
thing we thought of going to bed at night I think she realized that that
night I think she realized that that
night I think she realized that that moment that we were hooked so about the
moment that we were hooked so about the
moment that we were hooked so about the time he graduated high school we decided
time he graduated high school we decided
time he graduated high school we decided to give our last year and senior year
to give our last year and senior year
to give our last year and senior year and pursue music full-time but while we
and pursue music full-time but while we
and pursue music full-time but while we knew we wanted to do music as a career
knew we wanted to do music as a career
knew we wanted to do music as a career we knew very little about what happens
we knew very little about what happens
we knew very little about what happens behind the scenes so this next song
behind the scenes so this next song
behind the scenes so this next song we’re gonna sing for you is about
we’re gonna sing for you is about
we’re gonna sing for you is about dealing with the frustrations of trying
dealing with the frustrations of trying
dealing with the frustrations of trying to make it in this industry as young
to make it in this industry as young
to make it in this industry as young female artists this is called get away
[Music]
[Music] Oh
get away that’s all we wanted to do we
get away that’s all we wanted to do we got to a point where we felt so
got to a point where we felt so
got to a point where we felt so suffocated and frustrated with everyone
suffocated and frustrated with everyone
suffocated and frustrated with everyone around us we felt like we were being
around us we felt like we were being
around us we felt like we were being pulled in about a million different
pulled in about a million different
pulled in about a million different directions honestly we just wanted to
directions honestly we just wanted to
directions honestly we just wanted to escape from it all but how do you get to
escape from it all but how do you get to
escape from it all but how do you get to this point when all you wanted to do
this point when all you wanted to do
this point when all you wanted to do your entire life is play music well
your entire life is play music well
your entire life is play music well here’s how when we first started out we
here’s how when we first started out we
here’s how when we first started out we were very quick to trust people we
were very quick to trust people we
were very quick to trust people we didn’t know that much about the business
didn’t know that much about the business
didn’t know that much about the business so that automatically made us to be
so that automatically made us to be
so that automatically made us to be vulnerable we were quickly surrounded by
vulnerable we were quickly surrounded by
vulnerable we were quickly surrounded by managers and producers that didn’t have
managers and producers that didn’t have
managers and producers that didn’t have our best interest in mind
our best interest in mind
our best interest in mind they looked at us and saw a twin gimmick
they looked at us and saw a twin gimmick
they looked at us and saw a twin gimmick they saw a product more than human
they saw a product more than human
they saw a product more than human beings all we really cared about was the
beings all we really cared about was the
beings all we really cared about was the music and all they saw were dollar signs
music and all they saw were dollar signs
music and all they saw were dollar signs we have very little in point in the
we have very little in point in the
we have very little in point in the making of our recordings they wanted us
making of our recordings they wanted us
making of our recordings they wanted us pretty much just to come in and sing and
pretty much just to come in and sing and
pretty much just to come in and sing and then at some point it would send us a
then at some point it would send us a
then at some point it would send us a finished product we felt like we were
finished product we felt like we were
finished product we felt like we were letting these people dictate our careers
letting these people dictate our careers
letting these people dictate our careers into something that just wasn’t us our
into something that just wasn’t us our
into something that just wasn’t us our live shows were just as much controlled
live shows were just as much controlled
live shows were just as much controlled by other people they didn’t encourage us
by other people they didn’t encourage us
by other people they didn’t encourage us to play our own instruments and we just
to play our own instruments and we just
to play our own instruments and we just felt like we weren’t being ourselves
felt like we weren’t being ourselves
felt like we weren’t being ourselves they presented us as the chick singers
they presented us as the chick singers
they presented us as the chick singers and the band behind us they were viewed
and the band behind us they were viewed
and the band behind us they were viewed as the musicians and they controlled in
as the musicians and they controlled in
as the musicians and they controlled in arranging and cleaner songs even when we
arranging and cleaner songs even when we
arranging and cleaner songs even when we wanted to write more complex music they
wanted to write more complex music they
wanted to write more complex music they urged us to dump it down to be more
urged us to dump it down to be more
urged us to dump it down to be more radio-friendly
radio-friendly
radio-friendly it almost felt like we were chasing
it almost felt like we were chasing
it almost felt like we were chasing trends instead of finding our voices the
trends instead of finding our voices the
trends instead of finding our voices the business I was even worse we had
business I was even worse we had
business I was even worse we had producers demanding writing credits for
producers demanding writing credits for
producers demanding writing credits for songs they didn’t even write we even had
songs they didn’t even write we even had
songs they didn’t even write we even had a management contract without a lawyer
a management contract without a lawyer
a management contract without a lawyer looking it over yeah probably not the
looking it over yeah probably not the
looking it over yeah probably not the best way but what we were told was a
best way but what we were told was a
best way but what we were told was a two-year contract ended up containing
two-year contract ended up containing
two-year contract ended up containing automatic renewals for five years it was
automatic renewals for five years it was
automatic renewals for five years it was not good and we did not feel like they
not good and we did not feel like they
not good and we did not feel like they were with the right people we felt like
were with the right people we felt like
were with the right people we felt like we were falling further and further away
we were falling further and further away
we were falling further and further away from the music and we didn’t really know
from the music and we didn’t really know
from the music and we didn’t really know what to do for example they brought
what to do for example they brought
what to do for example they brought Nickelodeon into the picture yeah we
Nickelodeon into the picture yeah we
Nickelodeon into the picture yeah we were about 17 at the time and
were about 17 at the time and
were about 17 at the time and Nickelodeon was interested in doing some
Nickelodeon was interested in doing some
Nickelodeon was interested in doing some kind of cutesy twin music TV series we
kind of cutesy twin music TV series we
kind of cutesy twin music TV series we were young so obviously we were iffy but
were young so obviously we were iffy but
were young so obviously we were iffy but at this point we were we wanted to seek
at this point we were we wanted to seek
at this point we were we wanted to seek out the advice from our New York City
out the advice from our New York City
out the advice from our New York City vocal coach Brett drew because he had
vocal coach Brett drew because he had
vocal coach Brett drew because he had been in industry for quite some time and
been in industry for quite some time and
been in industry for quite some time and he seemed to understand the ins and outs
he seemed to understand the ins and outs
he seemed to understand the ins and outs of having an artistic career now he
of having an artistic career now he
of having an artistic career now he eventually became our manager and still
eventually became our manager and still
eventually became our manager and still lives to this day because of instance
lives to this day because of instance
lives to this day because of instance just like this he made up his thoughts
just like this he made up his thoughts
just like this he made up his thoughts plain and simple
plain and simple
plain and simple Nickelodeon is a lucrative business
Nickelodeon is a lucrative business
Nickelodeon is a lucrative business so it’ll most likely lead to some fast
so it’ll most likely lead to some fast
so it’ll most likely lead to some fast money and probably a couple hits but
money and probably a couple hits but
money and probably a couple hits but five years from now you’ll probably end
five years from now you’ll probably end
five years from now you’ll probably end up on some reality TV show if you and
up on some reality TV show if you and
up on some reality TV show if you and your music want to be taken seriously I
your music want to be taken seriously I
your music want to be taken seriously I perhaps own another time he then added
perhaps own another time he then added
perhaps own another time he then added you only have one chance to make a first
you only have one chance to make a first
you only have one chance to make a first impression on the world now when he said
impression on the world now when he said
impression on the world now when he said that that hit us at that very moment our
that that hit us at that very moment our
that that hit us at that very moment our decision was easy we didn’t want to be
decision was easy we didn’t want to be
decision was easy we didn’t want to be the next teeny bopper one-hit wonders we
the next teeny bopper one-hit wonders we
the next teeny bopper one-hit wonders we wanted a lengthy career in music so we
wanted a lengthy career in music so we
wanted a lengthy career in music so we turned down the Nickelodeon opportunity
turned down the Nickelodeon opportunity
turned down the Nickelodeon opportunity we have been pretty naive before but we
we have been pretty naive before but we
we have been pretty naive before but we were not going to make this thing that
were not going to make this thing that
were not going to make this thing that sinks again we wanted to explore more
sinks again we wanted to explore more
sinks again we wanted to explore more musically other time greg was producing
musically other time greg was producing
musically other time greg was producing a band with his longtime friend and
a band with his longtime friend and
a band with his longtime friend and production partner Julian Hertz felt
production partner Julian Hertz felt
production partner Julian Hertz felt their whole approach to recording music
their whole approach to recording music
their whole approach to recording music was having a band in one room recording
was having a band in one room recording
was having a band in one room recording live now imagine this their only
live now imagine this their only
live now imagine this their only exposure to recording music is from
exposure to recording music is from
exposure to recording music is from behind a computer screen recording
behind a computer screen recording
behind a computer screen recording through machines barely having any human
through machines barely having any human
through machines barely having any human feel at all now
feel at all now
feel at all now place yourself in a room face-to-face
place yourself in a room face-to-face
place yourself in a room face-to-face with musicians feeding off each others
with musicians feeding off each others
with musicians feeding off each others ideas arranging things on the spot
ideas arranging things on the spot
ideas arranging things on the spot musicians actually making music together
musicians actually making music together
musicians actually making music together now it’s it’s funny because this concept
now it’s it’s funny because this concept
now it’s it’s funny because this concept seems so foreign to us even though most
seems so foreign to us even though most
seems so foreign to us even though most the music we admired had been made this
the music we admired had been made this
the music we admired had been made this way since the beginning of time
way since the beginning of time
way since the beginning of time obviously we were intrigued with this
obviously we were intrigued with this
obviously we were intrigued with this that we asked Greg and we can do some
that we asked Greg and we can do some
that we asked Greg and we can do some recordings together now this was a
recordings together now this was a
recordings together now this was a complete 180 thrust but we immediately
complete 180 thrust but we immediately
complete 180 thrust but we immediately felt at ease when he encouraged us to
felt at ease when he encouraged us to
felt at ease when he encouraged us to play our own instruments and teach the
play our own instruments and teach the
play our own instruments and teach the new players our own songs now these new
new players our own songs now these new
new players our own songs now these new players were old friends of Greg’s and
players were old friends of Greg’s and
players were old friends of Greg’s and one of them being will lead the bass
one of them being will lead the bass
one of them being will lead the bass player to the David Letterman band to be
player to the David Letterman band to be
player to the David Letterman band to be completely honest we were a little
completely honest we were a little
completely honest we were a little nervous going in before him actually let
nervous going in before him actually let
nervous going in before him actually let me rephrase that we were very nervous
me rephrase that we were very nervous
me rephrase that we were very nervous going in
going in
going in just because he’s one of the most
just because he’s one of the most
just because he’s one of the most respected well-known musicians out there
respected well-known musicians out there
respected well-known musicians out there but we ran through the song a couple
but we ran through the song a couple
but we ran through the song a couple times and we were in absolute heaven I
times and we were in absolute heaven I
times and we were in absolute heaven I mean every single bass part we could
mean every single bass part we could
mean every single bass part we could even imagine he played something
even imagine he played something
even imagine he played something better after about the second time
better after about the second time
better after about the second time through she turned to us and said do you
through she turned to us and said do you
through she turned to us and said do you like what I’m play is there anything
like what I’m play is there anything
like what I’m play is there anything that you want me to change obviously
that you want me to change obviously
that you want me to change obviously that caught us off guard the man who’s
that caught us off guard the man who’s
that caught us off guard the man who’s played with everyone under the Sun is
played with everyone under the Sun is
played with everyone under the Sun is asking us for our opinions needless to
asking us for our opinions needless to
asking us for our opinions needless to say we were on cloud nine for about a
say we were on cloud nine for about a
say we were on cloud nine for about a week now I know this seems like a very
week now I know this seems like a very
week now I know this seems like a very small interaction but to us it was
small interaction but to us it was
small interaction but to us it was hugely impactful even told Greg this
hugely impactful even told Greg this
hugely impactful even told Greg this afterwards and he said why are you so
afterwards and he said why are you so
afterwards and he said why are you so surprised you guys are the artists this
surprised you guys are the artists this
surprised you guys are the artists this is your project
is your project
is your project and he wants to play your songs exactly
and he wants to play your songs exactly
and he wants to play your songs exactly the way that you heard it it was for the
the way that you heard it it was for the
the way that you heard it it was for the first time that we actually were
first time that we actually were
first time that we actually were surrounded by people that weren’t just
surrounded by people that weren’t just
surrounded by people that weren’t just seeing dollar signs they were seeing the
seeing dollar signs they were seeing the
seeing dollar signs they were seeing the music we get chills every single time we
music we get chills every single time we
music we get chills every single time we remember that you know life is an
remember that you know life is an
remember that you know life is an endless series of turning points but
endless series of turning points but
endless series of turning points but that is one we will always remember it
that is one we will always remember it
that is one we will always remember it finally felt like we were coming back to
finally felt like we were coming back to
finally felt like we were coming back to the music it was around this point that
the music it was around this point that
the music it was around this point that we decided to part ways with the people
we decided to part ways with the people
we decided to part ways with the people that we were working with beforehand and
that we were working with beforehand and
that we were working with beforehand and sometimes that could go smoothly and
sometimes that could go smoothly and
sometimes that could go smoothly and sometimes you need to hire a process
sometimes you need to hire a process
sometimes you need to hire a process server it was not easy and trust me
server it was not easy and trust me
server it was not easy and trust me that’s what it took to get out of our
that’s what it took to get out of our
that’s what it took to get out of our last contract but once we were out of it
last contract but once we were out of it
last contract but once we were out of it we felt free and reborn but with this
we felt free and reborn but with this
we felt free and reborn but with this new path came a price if we were going
new path came a price if we were going
new path came a price if we were going to be playing with the big boys we knew
to be playing with the big boys we knew
to be playing with the big boys we knew we had to step up our game we had to
we had to step up our game we had to
we had to step up our game we had to bruisers prove ourselves as serious
bruisers prove ourselves as serious
bruisers prove ourselves as serious songwriters and musicians actually in
songwriters and musicians actually in
songwriters and musicians actually in charge of our own careers so we wrote
charge of our own careers so we wrote
charge of our own careers so we wrote brand new music except
brand new music except
brand new music except a song that we played for you earlier
a song that we played for you earlier
a song that we played for you earlier and with these new songs we stripped it
and with these new songs we stripped it
and with these new songs we stripped it down to just the two of us played
down to just the two of us played
down to just the two of us played anywhere and everywhere we could as a
anywhere and everywhere we could as a
anywhere and everywhere we could as a duo phases like open mics restaurants
duo phases like open mics restaurants
duo phases like open mics restaurants bars you name it we played it but the
bars you name it we played it but the
bars you name it we played it but the more that we played the more we
more that we played the more we
more that we played the more we perfected our instruments and started
perfected our instruments and started
perfected our instruments and started shaping our sound
shaping our sound
shaping our sound we were adapting more of a rock and soul
we were adapting more of a rock and soul
we were adapting more of a rock and soul feel and it was at this time we brought
feel and it was at this time we brought
feel and it was at this time we brought on Greg Drew and Julian Hertzfeld on as
on Greg Drew and Julian Hertzfeld on as
on Greg Drew and Julian Hertzfeld on as our managers as well as our producers
our managers as well as our producers
our managers as well as our producers because we felt these guys could help
because we felt these guys could help
because we felt these guys could help make our newfound vision a reality we
make our newfound vision a reality we
make our newfound vision a reality we can’t stress how important it is to have
can’t stress how important it is to have
can’t stress how important it is to have a solid foundation to your team
a solid foundation to your team
a solid foundation to your team obviously we can say that from
obviously we can say that from
obviously we can say that from experience
experience
experience they constantly push us towards
they constantly push us towards
they constantly push us towards excellence in both our music as well as
excellence in both our music as well as
excellence in both our music as well as our career they introduced us to some
our career they introduced us to some
our career they introduced us to some incredible musicians in addition to
incredible musicians in addition to
incredible musicians in addition to Willie they brought on board Tommy man
Willie they brought on board Tommy man
Willie they brought on board Tommy man down who’s played with Bryan Adams Jim
down who’s played with Bryan Adams Jim
down who’s played with Bryan Adams Jim Hines who’s played with Brian Wilson of
Hines who’s played with Brian Wilson of
Hines who’s played with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys as well as Oscar
the Beach Boys as well as Oscar
the Beach Boys as well as Oscar Rodriguez and chris gothner who tour
Rodriguez and chris gothner who tour
Rodriguez and chris gothner who tour with a great big world now we have the
with a great big world now we have the
with a great big world now we have the honor to play with them on a regular
honor to play with them on a regular
honor to play with them on a regular basis and they are not only extremely
basis and they are not only extremely
basis and they are not only extremely talented musicians but extraordinarily
talented musicians but extraordinarily
talented musicians but extraordinarily humble human beings they not only pushed
humble human beings they not only pushed
humble human beings they not only pushed us to be better instrumentalists and
us to be better instrumentalists and
us to be better instrumentalists and musicians but better band leaders now as
musicians but better band leaders now as
musicians but better band leaders now as we progressed the career path we saw for
we progressed the career path we saw for
we progressed the career path we saw for ourselves was crystal clear
ourselves was crystal clear
ourselves was crystal clear we don’t want backup dancers we don’t
we don’t want backup dancers we don’t
we don’t want backup dancers we don’t want to wear skimpy outfits and grind
want to wear skimpy outfits and grind
want to wear skimpy outfits and grind onstage we want to be taken seriously we
onstage we want to be taken seriously we
onstage we want to be taken seriously we need to be in control of our own music I
need to be in control of our own music I
need to be in control of our own music I mean we didn’t take all those lessons
mean we didn’t take all those lessons
mean we didn’t take all those lessons growing up just to lip-sync to backing
growing up just to lip-sync to backing
growing up just to lip-sync to backing tracks we actually enjoyed playing our
tracks we actually enjoyed playing our
tracks we actually enjoyed playing our own instruments and writing our own
own instruments and writing our own
own instruments and writing our own songs and leading a band you know
songs and leading a band you know
songs and leading a band you know looking at today’s world it’s almost
looking at today’s world it’s almost
looking at today’s world it’s almost discouraging to see what they
discouraging to see what they
discouraging to see what they form is for women today and don’t get me
form is for women today and don’t get me
form is for women today and don’t get me wrong not everybody’s like that
wrong not everybody’s like that
wrong not everybody’s like that but there’s almost an acceptance from
but there’s almost an acceptance from
but there’s almost an acceptance from the public of just shrugging it off
the public of just shrugging it off
the public of just shrugging it off saying oh that’s just the way things are
saying oh that’s just the way things are
saying oh that’s just the way things are but that needs to change we need more
but that needs to change we need more
but that needs to change we need more strong women in this business more girl
strong women in this business more girl
strong women in this business more girl kings more Joni Mitchell’s more Aretha
kings more Joni Mitchell’s more Aretha
kings more Joni Mitchell’s more Aretha Franklin’s these women were not just
Franklin’s these women were not just
Franklin’s these women were not just performers and singers but they were
performers and singers but they were
performers and singers but they were musicians and songwriters as well you
musicians and songwriters as well you
musicians and songwriters as well you know we just feel like there’s there
know we just feel like there’s there
know we just feel like there’s there needs to be more of this message of
needs to be more of this message of
needs to be more of this message of empowerment and we need female song
empowerment and we need female song
empowerment and we need female song writers who write less songs about being
writers who write less songs about being
writers who write less songs about being an object and more songs about being
an object and more songs about being
an object and more songs about being objective ones that are more proactive
objective ones that are more proactive
objective ones that are more proactive as opposed to reactive ones that have
as opposed to reactive ones that have
as opposed to reactive ones that have their own lives and points of view and
their own lives and points of view and
their own lives and points of view and these are the women we try to surround
these are the women we try to surround
these are the women we try to surround ourselves with every day and it’s
ourselves with every day and it’s
ourselves with every day and it’s honestly what our industry needs more
honestly what our industry needs more
honestly what our industry needs more and more women that are charged of their
and more women that are charged of their
and more women that are charged of their careers and confident enough to say no
careers and confident enough to say no
careers and confident enough to say no when it’s needed now we realize this may
when it’s needed now we realize this may
when it’s needed now we realize this may be swimming against the current but we
be swimming against the current but we
be swimming against the current but we found people to swim with us take what
found people to swim with us take what
found people to swim with us take what makes you unique and use it to stand out
makes you unique and use it to stand out
makes you unique and use it to stand out from the crowd take advantage of your
from the crowd take advantage of your
from the crowd take advantage of your frustrations and write a song about it
frustrations and write a song about it
frustrations and write a song about it realize that you’ll have to put in the
realize that you’ll have to put in the
realize that you’ll have to put in the work to get where you want to go because
work to get where you want to go because
work to get where you want to go because as our parents taught us early on the
as our parents taught us early on the
as our parents taught us early on the harder you work the luckier you get and
harder you work the luckier you get and
harder you work the luckier you get and it doesn’t matter who you are or what
it doesn’t matter who you are or what
it doesn’t matter who you are or what business you’re in trust your gut and
business you’re in trust your gut and
business you’re in trust your gut and follow your vision but most importantly
follow your vision but most importantly
follow your vision but most importantly just have fun and take pride in the work
just have fun and take pride in the work
just have fun and take pride in the work that you do now as a fellow Jerseyan
that you do now as a fellow Jerseyan
that you do now as a fellow Jerseyan Bruce Springsteen one said don’t take it
Bruce Springsteen one said don’t take it
Bruce Springsteen one said don’t take it as dump too seriously
as dump too seriously
as dump too seriously take your work as seriously as step
take your work as seriously as step
take your work as seriously as step self thank you thank you
self thank you thank you
self thank you thank you [Applause]
”
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