Macedo (musical group)

Macedo

Michelle and Melissa Macedo at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards

Macedo is a musical group consisting of identical twin sisters Michelle Alicia Macedo[1] and Melissa Ann Macedo.[1]

Early life

The Macedo family hails from Goa, India. Twin sisters Michelle and Melissa were born on June 3, 1988,[1] in Pasadena, California. Growing up in a musical family, the sisters began playing piano at the age of three. Michelle began playing classical guitar in middle school. She is the duo's main songwriter and began writing at an early age. Melissa is responsible for the vocal harmonies and melodies.[2] Growing up, the girls' musical influences included Zero7, Feist, Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, and Billie Holiday. They attended an all-girls Catholic High School in Pasadena, where Michelle wrote most of the tracks for her solo album La Luna.[3][4]

Musical career

2007-2010: La Luna (Michelle Macedo)

In her first year of college, Michelle recorded and produced her debut independent solo album entitled La Luna, released by OutTake Records in Boston, Massachusetts.[3] She recorded it in ten hours and played every instrument on the album. The two sisters separated for the first time when they attended separate universities. Melissa attended Barnard College in New York City where she earned a B.A. dual degree in Human Rights and Theater. Michelle attended Emerson College in Boston, where she earned a B.F.A. in Acting.[5]

2010-2011: Flags & Boxes

In 2010, Michelle and Melissa Macedo founded MoonGold Records, and now release their music through their label. While apart, Michelle wrote their first album Flags & Boxes.[6] The album was recorded mostly in Boston with producer Kush Mody and engineers Nils Montan and Andrew Oedel at the Emerson College radio station—WERS.[7] Songs on the album were inspired by the girls' experiences in college as well as their travels through London, the Netherlands, and Argentina.[5] Each of the sisters are accomplished vocalists and multi-instrumentals,[8] Michelle's songwriting was honored at the Malibu Music Awards in 2011. While playing live, Michelle plays the piano and guitar, and Melissa plays the violin and adds vocal harmonies. After the release of their first album, Maria Menounos of Extra told 944 Magazine that Macedo was her favorite musical group.[9] Their music is known for its vocal harmonies and use of a range of instruments, including organs and French horns.[10] In terms of critical response to their first album, Macedo's songwriting has been praised for its "unadulterated honesty" by Billboard Discoveries.[11] The album was reviewed in an article from Vogue India.[9]

2012-2013: Work on Second Album and Awards

In 2012 Macedo began recording their 2nd album. Michelle was also nominated for Best Female Singer/Songwriter at the L.A. Music Awards in the same year. The duo was nominated in March for a Hollywood Music in Media Award.[12]

2014: Paper Doll

Met with praise, Michelle and Melissa Macedo released their EP "Paper Doll" on February 4, 2014. A single from the EP, "Your Skin", was premiered by WNYC's Soundcheck. Soundcheck praised the single, saying "And with whipsmart lines like "I handed you a sentence you would never forget" and later, "I'm about to kiss my worst critic", "Your Skin" proves to be an equally catchy and emotional break-up kiss-off anthem.".[13]

Another single from the EP, "Like Me Most", was premiered by LadyGunn Magazine. LadyGunn describes their music, "While they look great on screen, it's their music that shines through the most. They have been compared to Fiona Apple meets Regina Spektor and at times have R+B influences and hooks that make you sing them out loud, full volume like you are saying all the things you never could to an ex.".[2]

The third song featured was "17", which was premiered by Paste Magazine. Paste says the twins are known to be completely opposite in personalities; "The sisters may look alike, but that’s where the similarities end: each brought her own personality to their work, the result is a lesson in duality and teamwork (and a damn nice sounding one, at that).".[14]

Acting career

Michelle and Melissa began their acting careers at an early age in the film Fires Within in 1991.[15] In 2007, Michelle appeared in the lead role of Eve Vaughn in the made-for-television movie Age Appropriate, directed by Jason Perlman. While at Emerson, she starred in Kevin Bright pilot Browne at Midnight as a middle-eastern international student.[16][17] The twins have also appeared together on television shows, including "One Day", as characters Tick (Melissa) and Tack (Michelle).[17] [18] Melissa was featured in a Pantene Pro-V commercial which also featured three songs from Flags & Boxes.[19]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "California Births, 1905 - 1995". Familytreelegends.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "SONG PREMIERE: Macedo / "Like Me Most" ++ Live Performance of "Paper Doll"". Ladygunn. 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Michelle Macedo". All Music. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Feature Client: Michelle Macedo | Songtrust". Blog.songtrust.com. 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mike Ragogna (December 21, 2011). "Antony Bitar's Holiday Download, Chatting with Gary Clark Jr. and Macedo, Plus a James Mee Anthem". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ Gerard Ucelli (November 23, 2011). "MACEDO Interview (Broken Records Magazine)". Broken Records Magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ Will Engel (April 9, 2012). "Part III of Michelle Macedo interview". LA Music Examiner.
  8. ↑ "FEBRUARY & MARCH 2012 SONICBIDS "ARTISTS 2 WATCH"". Skope Magazine. February 9, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Junior's Cave Music Interview with Macedo Early Spring (April 2012) Edition Music Now Spotlight". Blogs.juniorscave.com. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Cool female duo lays down blues laced jazz". The Courier. January 5, 2012. p. 5A. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ "News". Macedomusic.com. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Music Awards Los Angeles | Music Awards Hollywood". Hmmawards.org. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  13. ↑ Katzif, Michael (2013-12-12). "Macedo's Twin Chemistry Unfurls A Raw Kiss-Off Anthem - Soundcheck". Soundcheck.wnyc.org. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  14. ↑ "Song Premiere: Macedo - "17" :: Audio :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  15. ↑ "Fires Within (1991)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  16. ↑ "Michelle Macedo". IMDB. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Melissa Macedo". IMDB. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Michelle Macedo". IMDB. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Meet Hair Hero Melissa Macedo". Bellasugar.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.

External links