| Chapin Sisters | |
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The Chapin Sisters: Abigail (left) and Lily (right) performing in San Diego, California on December 7, 2009 |
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| Background information |
The Chapin Sisters are an American folk pop musical group consisting of sisters Abigail Chapin and Lily Chapin, and formerly their half-sister Jessica Craven. Abigail and Lily are daughters of folk singer Tom Chapin and nieces of the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin. Their half-sister Jessica Craven's father is director Wes Craven.
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The sisters grew up in New York, but in 2004 all three had relocated to Los Angeles that they began their band, at the urging of their half-brother Jonathan Craven. Before they had ever played a show together or considered themselves a band, their slow, acoustic version of Britney Spears' song "Toxic" gained attention and radio play around the country.
Spurred by the sudden interest in their singing abilities, they put a collection of songs and on March 18, 2008 they released their debut full-length album Lake Bottom LP on the Plain Recordings label. Initially it only released on vinyl records, but was soon placed on compact disc.
Many of the music critics were positive, as "they haunt the interstices of folk, pop, and blues, and play seductive games with the knife-edge of heartache. Their soft harmonies and dark sidelong lyrics fit perfectly into a new folk aesthetic that is more twisted than freaky." according to popmatters.com, and "their music blends the harmonies of traditional sister-acts with a modern lyrical sensibility." FLAVORPILL of San Francisco wrote "The one virtue the Chapin Sisters shares with classic sister acts of old becomes apparent when they sing together: that shiver of spotless, familial unity that makes every syllable woundingly poignant."
In early 2010 Jessica took a "leave of absence" and left the band to spend time with her newborn baby, and Lily and Abigail, now a duo, set out on tour with the folk pop duo She & Him, consisting of M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel, singing back-up vocals, and opening many of the shows as well.
On September 14, 2010, Abigail and Lily released their second full-length album "Two" on their own label, Lake Bottom Records. It was co-produced by Louie Stephens of Rooney and Jesse Lee of Gang Gang Dance.[1]