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Hope For Agoldensummer, one of three Campbell sisters' current musical pursuits has been praised by The New Yorker, Southeast Performer magazine and Resonator magazine.

Cornbread jingles a start for musical sisterly duo

By: WHITNEY KESSLER

Posted: 11/21/08

Two sisters who always play live music in a town of Athens' size ought be fairly well-known, and Claire and Page Campbell are. They have outfitted acts such as Dark Meat, Hope for Agoldensummer, Creepy and most recently, Stereo Campbell. But behind the mics, guitars and harmonies, the 25 and 31-year-old sisters from Atlanta are far more interesting.

Q: How long have you been playing music together? What was the first project?

A: Page: Claire and I always wrote and sang little ditties together growing up. In our family, playing instruments and singing together has always been the favorite vocation.

Claire: Our first project was a jingle for Jiffy Cornbread. I think we composed it when I was around age 10 or 11. There may be a recording of this in existence, but I've not heard it. We were forced to perform this jingle at family functions and for guests at our parent's music parties. We two youngins would be nearly fast asleep in the attic, having meditated through the loud renditions of Byrds and The Band songs emanating from below, when Mom or Dad would wake us up to come downstairs and sing Jiffy Cornbread in our pajamas. We never made a dime.

Q: Where did the encouragement to be musical come from? Who have you been influenced by?

A: Page: Our parents and grandparents encouraged us all our lives, as did our friends and lovers. I think they all saw and understood that Claire and I are real sensitive and both of us are compelled to be self-expressive in a way which satisfies that need. While we love music for every reason obvious and otherwise, it is also a tool for us - the most comprehensive way that we were taught to communicate.

As for influences, needless to say, the main influence is heartache. Musical influences for me have changed over the years. I know the music that really gets to me, and while I hear these songs influencing my dinky little songs, I'm not so sure other people hear them. Claire and I had the recent experience of collaborating with a group of South Indian musicians who were on tour through the states. It has inspired so much in me.

Claire: We've been surrounded by guitar players since birth, but I had no interest in picking one up until I was 16.

Q: How is the music affected by your relationship?

A: Page: Claire is my No. 1, my partner and my main man. We are constantly drifting in and out of codependency, but I've never seen anything wrong with that. I always think of her when I write some lyrics. When I play a song alone, I always hear her pretty harmonies or try to compose one of her lilting, rainy day saw solos in my mind. I can't even imagine how to tell you how our relationship has influenced the music. There would be no music without it, I'm sure. We [are] tight as hell.

Q: Are there ever rifts between you about the music?

A: Page: I'm not kidding - we never fight! Isn't it bizarre?