At first glance it’s hard to tell the New York-based guitar-and-harp duo, the Callen Sisters, apart. The slender singer-songwriters finished each other sentences like only sisters could, while sipping tea in a Hoboken coffee shop last week. But while Jessa, 26, is a classically trained harpist with a flair for the ethereal, Beth, 25, is an edgy folk-rock guitarist. The product of them both is pure musical revelry.
“Siblings can really compliment each other,” Jessa said. “They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and they can blend so well.”
The duo has blended an inspiring style of music since the tender age of twelve, when they first began playing together, “pretending to be Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love.”
Now the Callen Sisters play the Goldhawk, 936 Park Ave. in Hoboken, on Thursday, May 21.
Sulky and serene
The Callen Sisters have been called Tori Amos or Fiona Apple-esque, and their sulky and serene arrangements are often complex and emotional. After mourning the loss of their mother five years ago, their music is unafraid to deal with loss, love and life. Their evocative voices can be angelic on Jessa’s more classically inspired offerings, or yearning and lustful on Beth’s loose and moody tracks.
“The best time to jab your sister is in front of a crowd of people.” – Beth
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“We love pretty melodies with lush harmonies,” Jessa said. “But with an edge,” Beth added.
After years of playing together, working together, and living in the Upper East Side together, the sisters have since moved away, living 15 minutes apart in Westchester, New York.
“At first it was difficult to play together,” Beth said. “It felt like we were trying to outshine each other. But now, we are really blunt with our critiques and are close enough to say whatever we want.”
“It can be too easy to push each other’s buttons,” Jessa said, “especially when we were living together.” Now the women are working on a sophomore album due out in early 2010.
“We crack each other up on stage,” Beth said. “We make fun of each other a lot. The best time to jab your sister is in front of a crowd of people. I feel really, really lucky that it’s my sister I’m playing with and not someone else.”
An unusual instrument
According to Jessa, the harp is a “mystical” instrument and one of the oldest found in recorded history.
“It’s like playing a piece of history,” Jessa said. The instrument is rested on the player’s shoulder, while the hand and fingers pluck the strings.
“Harpists are known for living a really long time,” Jessa said, “into their 90s. It has a lot to do with the tones of the instrument going right into your body.”
Both women said they believed in the healing powers of music and especially the harp.
“That’s why I really play with her,” Beth said.
For more information on the Callen Sisters, please visit: www.thecallensitsters.com, or check them out at the Goldhawk, 936 Park Ave. in Hoboken on Thursday, May 21.
Sean Allocca can be reached at current@hudsonreporter.com