When did you start to get interested in music?

Nicole: Music has always been one of the most important things in my life. I’ve loved singing since I was a toddler. There was no ‘Row Your Boat’ for me; I was memorizing lyrics, imitating Alan Jackson and Barbra Streisand. My mother had music playing constantly; even before I ever thought about ‘pursuing’ music, I would come home from school every day, blast the stereo and ‘practice’ singing. I dabbled in song-writing in high school and imagined myself in music videos, but when it came to actually pursuing it, that came to me through musical theatre. My final year of high school, I decided it was something I couldn’t live without. When I chose musical theatre as my path in life, I moved to Toronto to attend school for musical theatre and things took off from there.

Armand: I think I was 4 when I was given my first guitar. I had no idea how to play, but my parents bought me a toy microphone and speaker so I could play rockstar and put on concerts whenever family was over. If you’re all reading this, I’m sorry for putting you through that! But from that moment on, I loved music, I loved the thrill of performing for others, and I loved creating.

If you were an advertisement, which would your slogan be?

Both: The lovechild of musical theatre and country.

Which is the part you enjoy the most about music?

Nicole: I love that it’s a universal language that communicates so much, instantly, simply, perfectly. I love the story-telling within it, how it produces such strong emotions and permits us to feel them, not just individually but collectively, which fosters understanding and connection and care between people. Music is so natural, so powerful; music is the answer to everything.

Armand: For me it’s the connection it allows me to have with someone I don’t know. That we can both listen to a song and somehow just know what someone else might be going through. And for those we’re closest with, it’s an amazing way to bring us even closer. We both bonded over music – frankly, without it, I don’t know if we would have found that spark that ignited all of this. There’s just something intrinsic about it that creates a bond between two people that’s unique from one person to the next.

Most artists say that through their art they learn more about themselves, heal injuries… In which aspects has music helped you?

Nicole: Music has often served as an escape from difficult moments in my life, but in particular…I went through a lot of trauma over the last year, so much so that I was actually unable to listen to most music. It’s always been such a big part of who I am, and it was ripped away from me. But through songwriting, you can take that pain and put it outside of yourself; it stops being your pain and becomes the pain of the person in the song, and you can examine it objectively and tell their story instead. Something you’ve written, because of the analysis and the craft that goes into it, allows you to play through and sing those words without them tearing you apart. And there’s a pride in that and a sense of fun in making music, even if it’s a sad story. And that makes it feel good. Writing music has, in many ways, given me back that part of myself.

Armand: The last year, year and a half, have been extremely challenging for both of us for a variety of reasons. But again, it’s one of those really special things that allows you to find someone who understands you because of music. This whole album has been about healing from one experience to the next. Some songs were easy and fun to write, and others took an emotional toll on both of us. But in the end, there was this amazing catharsis when we finished a song about those struggles. And even if it meant we were emotional wrecks after writing and playing a new song, it was always for the better.

What does music mean to you?

Armand: How much time do you have? It’s a cliché statement but it’s still one of my favorites: “music is what feelings sound like”. Music is one of the most beautiful ways to express emotion – we get to feel happy, sad, hurt, angry, joyful, and remorseful – every feeling in the book. To me, music is feeling. I can’t imagine a life where that feeling doesn’t exist.

Nicole: It’s everything. Music enhances every moment in life, whether in a joyful, celebratory way, a cathartic way, a language of connection, an escape to turn to, a beat to give you drive and pump you up, words that ring of truth, that teach you something about yourself or about the world. Music is like the soul of the universe; I would say it’s what makes us human, but it transcends humanity, it is everywhere. It’s what makes existence beautiful. Personally, it has saved me more times than I can count. And engaging in music is what makes me happiest.

Who are your idols?

Armand: in music or in life? While everyone is definitely an idol, when it comes to music there are a few songwriters that have a unique way with words and a guitar that leaves them out of the mainstream, which is unfortunate. I started performing solo after watching Chris Carraba from Dashboard Confessional do his thing. Listening to people like Matt Nathanson, Paolo Nutini and of course Taylor Swift. These people are songwriting machines and it inspires the writing bug in me that’s for sure.

Nicole: Oh wow! There are so many. I love Barbra Streisand. I love Reba, Garth Brooks… I love Pink. I love Meatloaf. I love performers with a sense of fun who are not afraid to be 100% who they are. I like songs that fight through the pain and find hope or at least a fighting spirit, like in Punk or Southern/Hard Rock. I love the story-telling and the values and the romanticism in country music; I love “epic” songs, songs that can be interpreted many different ways, songs that make you feel good, songs that make you feel powerful. I love songs that make you laugh.

If you didn’t like music, what would you like to do?

Nicole: Acting is a close second for me, of course, but if it were not in the performing industry at all, I would say veterinarian, preferably zoological.

Armand: Nicole and I met through acting – we’ve spent a ton of time on stage together, so getting to continue my love of performing would be my second choice.

Do you consider that nowadays there are more or less opportunities for new artists? Why?

Nicole: In a way, there are more opportunities, because now you have more control to be a self-starter and manage yourself, with streaming services and things like YouTube and even Tiktok, you don’t have to have much clout or even money to make a name for yourself and reach a much larger audience.

Armand: The industry has changed so much. Before it was shopping your CD around hoping someone important would listen and “discover” you. Now, it’s all about discovery, but it’s about running your own business. It’s a lot more work, it’s a lot more frustration, but there’s also so much more potential for where you can find an audience. I love having my friends and family listen to music I create, or that Nicole and I create together. But when we have a handful of people in the UK or in Spain or Australia listening in, it feels like way more than playing for strangers at your local bar.

What would your idyllic life as an artist be like?

Armand: I think it’s safe to say that creating and performing for a living would be at the top of both of our lists. I think I speak for the two of us when I say that this wouldn’t be a bad gig to have as a full time job, and even better once we start to see live music happen again.

Nicole: For me, it would be being able to support myself on performing alone, and touring. I love touring more than any sane person should.

Armand: I second that!

Nicole: I love living in hotels for months, long car/plane rides, and being a new place every day. Travel and performing are my two favourite things, so an ideal life for me is one where I am constantly performing and constantly on the move.

Armand: A go-to saying for me is “home is where your stuff is”, and if all we had left was music, then I’m more than happy to live wherever it takes me.