Being the first time in Europe and with two dates in Spain, Camille and Kennerly, better known as HARP TWINS, bring their musical harp show in the middle of great expectation on the old continent. Close to their concert in Madrid with VOLFGANG TWINS, HARP TWINS give us the opportunity for an interview with TheMetalFamily magazine.
TMF: as an introduction, how is the European tour going? Have you come here before?
Harp Twins: This is our first-ever tour and trip to Europe! Our tour is going fantastically! We have felt so incredibly welcomed by our amazing audiences and listeners in Europe!!
TMF: for years, your musical versions with the harp have been attracting the attention of rock and heavy metal… Why do you like to play rock and metal versions instead of other musical styles?
HT: We were trained in classical Harp Performance for our University degrees. However, we have always loved performing music that one would not typically expect to hear on a Harp. We love rock and metal music, so arranging our own complex versions of songs by bands like METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, MEGADETH, BLACK SABBATH, etc! We especially love writing our own music with Nordic Celtic influences.
TMF: Do you remember what your first rock musical version was? What heavy metal bands do you like or would you like to perform with them?
HT: Our first rock cover with our Electric Harps was Dream On by AEROSMITH! We have created so many rock and metal covers and the list is almost endless!
TMF: Playing the harp shouldn’t be easy… And yet, you graduated with honors. Apart from the harp, do you play other instruments?
HT: The Harp is definitely not an easy instrument to master, but we love it and we are always learning and growing as musicians and performers. We are also classicaly trained in piano, we sing, and we play a little percussion.
TMF: What difficulties do you have when practicing the harp?
HT: The main difficulity is that we never have enough time to accomplish everything that we would like! We always have too many creative projects on our “to do” list.
TMF: Do you follow any daily rehearsal routine? Techniques, exercises, training…
HT: Our daily rehearsal routine changes every day because we tour a much of the year with our live show. When we are traveling for tour, we have to fit rehearsal into small segments whenever we have time. During tours, we often rehearse in the early morning or late at night in our hotel room! Between tours, we are constantly working on writing new music, recording, or working on the new songs for tours. Our fingers are always moving!
TMF: A few years ago, you put aside musical versions to create your own songs… Do you find it difficult to compose?
HT: We still release new covers! In fact, our newest release is QUEEN’S Who Wants to Live Forever (from Highlander). However, we have always found our greatest passion is writing original music. We began publically releasing our original music in 2017. We have 2 full original albums, numerous original singles, and another new original album coming soon! Our newest original album, Twin Destinies, has a Gothic Celtic feel! We did the album as a collaboration with a novel by New York Times Bestselling Author, Debbie Viguié! We do not find it difficult to compose because we love the process of writing music and lyrics!
TMF: in your albums we hear a lot of Celtic and Nordic musical influence… Why do these cultures call you so much?
HT: We are from the United States. However, our family heritage is Norwegian. We feel that the roots of Celtic and Nordic music feel ancient and call to the souls of people from all over the world! The Harp is also an especially fitting instrument for Nordic and Celtic music as it has roots in those cultures.
TMF: Along with the harp, you also sing… Why did you decide to play and sing at the same time?
HT: We started singing while playing our harps because we love writing lyrics for our original music! It is complex to sing and play complicated Harp parts, but we love the challenge!
TMF: on this European tour, you are presenting your latest album Twin Destinies… What makes this different from other works like Iceborn or the Harp Attack collection?
HT: Twin Destinies is our newest original album! It has a spooky supernatural feel that we call Gothic Celtic. The album has a companion novel that follows us as fictional characters that are seers with supernatural powers. The novel was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Debbie Viguié. The 2nd installment of the album and novel will be released in late spring 2024!
TMF: VOLFGANG TWINS have been with you for a long time… How did you meet? How did the collaborations come about?
HT: The Volfgang Twins have been touring with us as our featured drummers for several years now! They found our music and soon after we met, they began joining us on our tours, first as security help, and then joining us on stage! In addition to the live shows, we have written several original Nordic Rock songs with the Volfgang Twins incuding Ice Troll, Call of the Valkyries, Frost, and Sacred Mountain.
TMF: What do VOLFGANG TWINS contribute to your music and vice versa?
HT: When we write together, we all have input in the music. We think our harps add beauty to their music, and their contributions add power to our music. It is an instrument combination that no one would expect to work well, but it does!
TMF: You have had several concerts in Europe… In Belgium you have achieved Sold Out… How is the public receiving you on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean? Record sales, Marketing, live concerts…
HT: We have been so honored by the incredible support of our audiences in Europe! The venues, audiences, and support have been wonderful! We are already excited to return some day!
TMF: After each concert, you are offering Meet & Greet with the audience… What impressions are you getting from the audience? Support, admirations, gifts…
HT: We have offered free meet & greets with every audience of our European tour! We know that most artists only offer paid meet & greets but we love meeting our listeners! Our European listeners have been amazing! Many audience members have told us at meet & greets that they have been following our music for 8, 9, or even 10 years! To finally meet our European supporters and listeners has been a dream come true for us. We are truly humbled by the support and encouragment we are receiving!
TMF: After this European tour, what can you tell us in the near future? New songs, collaborations, albums…
HT: Directly after this European tour, we will be working to complete writing and recording the 2nd installemnt of our Twin Destinies original series! This novel will have a strong Celtic theme as the companion novel takes place in Ireland! Later this year, we will be writing new original songs with the Volfgang Twins as our goal is to have a joint original album!
TMF: of your entire discography, which song do you like the most? Is there a song that you are excited to play in front of an audience?
HT: Our favorite cover song top lay is IRON MAIDEN’S Fear of the Dark! Our favorite original song to play changes, but right now, we most enjoy performing our original songs Secrets of Sirens and Call of the Valkyries.
TMF: What do you like more, playing in big venues or small venues? If you had the opportunity to play at any important festival, what would it be?
HT: We love playing in venues of all sizes! Small venues are wonderful to connect personally with each member of the audience! Large venues and audiences have a wonderful energy!
TMF: Finally, HARP TWINS, any message for your fans and audiences who hope to see you soon?
HT: To our wonderful listeners in Europe: Please come out to one of our remaining European tour dates! We would love to meet you in person! Please continue to share our music with your friends and family so that our listeners in Europe will continue to grow and we will have a future opportunity to tour to Europe!
With this, we finish our interview with HARP TWINS, from whom we expect news soon. We thank you, again, for the time and willingness to grant us the interview. We hope to see more of them in future times, whether here or in the rest of the world, offering the best classic rock/metal with their great creativity and harpist ability.