Shook Twins

Shook Twins
Origin Sandpoint, Idaho
Genres folk, pop, indie rock,
Years active 2004-present
Labels Self
Website www.shooktwins.com
Members Katelyn Shook (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar,Laurie Shook (vocals, banjo), Kyle Volkman (double-bass), Niko Daoussis (bass, mandolin, guitar).

Shook Twins is a folk music group originally from Sandpoint, Idaho and currently based in Portland, Oregon, formed in 2004. The nucleus of the band consists of identical twin sisters Katelyn (guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, glockenspiel, telephone microphone) and Laurie Shook (banjo, guitar, upright bass, djembe, ocarina flute, tambourine, giant golden egg). Shook Twins primarily play as a quartet with Kyle Volkman (double-bass) performing as a regular member since 2009, and Niko Daoussis (bass, mandolin, guitar) performing as a regular member since 2012.

Their style of music is often referred to as "quirky folk,"[1] which incorporates acoustic instrumentation including banjo, guitar, upright bass, mandolin, ukelele, glockenspiel, djembe, and their signature golden egg. Twin harmonies layered on top of acoustic instrumentation are coupled with Laurie’s beatboxing and inventive use of a looping machine, and Katelyn’s repurposed telephone microphone. The use of electronics set their sound apart, creating an eclectic and eccentric blend of folk, roots, pop and fun. A Shook Twins staple is also the addition of choruses or lines from other contemporary songs (Edward Sharpe in Shook Twins “Toll Free,” for example) to their own songs, remix-style.[2] The band members have performed with or opened for Ryan Adams, Mason Jennings, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sarah Jarosz, Laura Veirs, Trace Bundy, Jonatha Brooke, Michelle Shocked, Crooked Still, Jason Webley, John Craigie, Elephant Revival, The Head and the Heart and many more.

They have performed at numerous venues across the American West. Festivals include High Sierra Music Festival, Oregon Country Fair, Mateel Summer Arts, Festival at Sandpoint, Northwest String Summit, Campout For the Cause, Sisters Folk Festival, Joshua Tree Roots Fest, Eugene Celebration and many more.

History

Katelyn and Laurie Shook were born in 1984 and grew up in Sandpoint in the Idaho Panhandle. At a very young age, the sisters started singing, joining the choir in fifth grade which they continued in high school. They developed their musical repertoire and talent throughout their teen years and subsequently enrolled at the University of Idaho at Moscow in 2002 to pursue radio/TV/digital media majors. In 2004, they both took a year off from college and played their first paid gig at a restaurant. Soon after they secured a regular gig at a winery and established themselves as the "Shook Twins".[3] The sisters played in and around Sandpoint and northern Idaho, releasing their first album "You Can Have the Rest" in 2008. Advancing their music career the twin sisters moved to Portland in December 2009, conceptualizing their 2011 release "Window." Kyle Volkman was an original member of the band joining in 2007 but left for a time and rejoined the sisters in Portland in 2009. Niko Daoussis (bass, mandolin, guitar) formerly of The Bucky Walters joined the band as a full-time member in 2012 and often performs as his solo act, Cyber Cambel. Other band members include: Anna Tivel (fiddle), Russ Kleiner (drums/percussion)

On April 6, 2012 an exclusive audio track "Hooks" was debuted on MTV Hive. "Hooks" will be released on Shook Twins forthcoming album tenatively scheduled for release in 2014. Shook Twins recorded in April/May 2013 with Grammy nominated producer Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Milo Green) due out 2014 at his renowned Bear Creek Studios in Woodinville, WA. A new song/video premiere from their forthcoming album debuted on Relix on 7/26/13 - "Holler It Down." On April 23, 2012 Shook Twins song "Rose" was featured in NPR's The Muse Mix: 100 Songs That Cry Her Name[4] Katelyn and Laurie Shooks side projects include partnering with fellow Portland musician Ben Darwish with the group "Morning Ritual" on his folk Opera, "The Clear Blue Pearl." A recent Live Studio session from Oregon Public Broadcasting was featured on OPB's website.

Shook Twins track "Growing Things" charted at #36 on Radio Paradise for top airplay - month ending Nov 13, 2013.[5]

Band members

Discography

External links

References

  1. ↑ Ham, Robert Time to Swim, "Willamette Weekly - The Girls With The Golden Egg, (March 27,2013).
  2. ↑ Black, Jessica The Shook Twins plus one: A Q/A with Katelyn Shook, Oregon Music News, (April 10,2012).
  3. ↑ Frye, Cory Time to Swim, Gazette Times - The Entertainer, (Sept. 14,2012).
  4. ↑ Teel, Eric. "The Muse Mix: 100 Songs That Cry Her Name", NPR.org, April 23, 2013
  5. ↑ Radio Paradise "Top Airplay Radio Paradise - Ending Nov 13, 2013", RadioParadise.com, Nov 13, 2013