written by Maria Arroyo
My Sister, My Brother is a three-piece band that started in Nashville, Tennessee where they came together to create their self-titled album, My Sister, My Brother. The band consists of Garrison Starr, Sean McConnell, and Peter Groenwald. They all met at a songwriting retreat in Nashville, where they instantly connected.
“When we started writing and especially when we started singing together, it was like, ‘Wow. This is not normal. This feels very natural,’” McConnell says. “It feels like singing with a sibling you’ve sung with for a long time. Very quickly, it became a special collaboration.” This EP is reflective of the undeniable bond that they have with one another while creating something that takes on a deeper and more emotional meaning.
These three didn’t mean to create this group, but it just sort of happened. They realized how easy it was for them to connect with one another, and really feed off of each other’s energy. They were a comfort for one another. “Hopefully this music makes people feel less alone––brings them a little hope in a time when they might need it,” Sean says, which makes Garrison laugh out “Who doesn’t like crying to a sad song?”
Their opening song, “Nothing Without You”, is a beautiful contemporary ballad with almost perfect harmonies and overall lovely sound. The group describes this song as one for “confessions of brokenness with arms outstretched.” Right off the bat, I realized just how special this EP was for me personally. I have a younger brother, so I think subconsciously I was already relating to their EP in a more sentimental way. There’s a minimal accompaniment in this song, but it works so well with the intimate atmosphere that they created. The same can be said for “Don’t Know How to Love You” as far as the instrumentation is concerned. They did not add a whole lot of layers to the song, but what they did have was just perfect. The melodies were pure and beautiful, and I felt they capture everything that they wanted to say in their song.
“Drive You Home” ended up being my favorite song off the album. The message it told was so clear and simple: no matter the time or place, call me and I’ll be there. Again, this was another song that was easy for me to relate to because it’s something that I feel is true with siblings. We can’t live without each other, and there isn’t anything in the world that we wouldn’t do for one another.
“Forever Now” introduced some more instrumentation in the mix for a fuller sound. It was a solid mix of contemporary meets soft rock, and they did it very well. Their last song, “Honest”, really hits close for me. Once again, their harmonies are as beautiful as can be, and the buildup of emotion is so great, that I couldn’t help but tear up just a little.
This has become an album of safety and security for me. I love everything about it, and the execution couldn’t be better. The messages were real and honest, and being able to tie it back to someone who I care for deeply really made it all the better.
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