(Legend is featured on their debut albums closing track, Leave It to the Sky.)
She learned to write songs and play guitar when he gave her a six-string for Christmas.
They both chased musical dreams to Nashville and found each other by chance in 2013.
Credit: Mary Caroline Russell
He was like, I think you’re able to make it in this town!
and setting me up with publishers.
To tell him thank you, I gave him a photo of an old, run-down juke joint piano.
He framed it and put it on his desk.
Three weeks later, Wilson walked through his door.
Thats why we ended up meeting.
After a few months spent as drinking buddies, they decided to team up and record together.
It seemed like both visions, combined, explains Wilson.
We went for it.
When the imprint they were signed to, I.R.S., folded, they got droppedbut they didnt quit.
Earlier this month they dropped their excellent albumBroken Peoplevia Third Generation Records.
[Laughs] Ill never forget it.
But Everything is Everything specifically inspired a part of the end of our song Brother, What Happened?
North: We set up a mic in the room and just went for it.
We had so much fun bringing that influence to this process.
Little Ghetto Boy, Donnie Hathaway
North:Donnie Hathaway is the Muddy Magnolias band.
When we drive and do road trips, thats what were listening to.
We were like, Where is that from?!
And then we realized: Little Ghetto Boy.
[North and Joplin both hail from Port Arthur, Texas, about 90 miles east of Houston.]
She was on every billboard while I was growing up, but I never listened to her records.
I was so emotional.
And with Cry Baby, its funny because [Jessy] and I were listening to two separate versions.
Wilson:I had never heard the Janis Joplin version.
I had a little band with my best friends and we performed it.
At the end, she does this thing where shes like, Cry!
and everyone sings in harmony.
When we went to record Why Dont You Stay?
that was right there in my head.
I feel like you’re able to definitely hear that influence.
This song is ridiculous.
I want to cut this on our next record[to Wilson] by the way.
[Laughs] Its so soulful.
We have pulled so much from that.
We have so many influences that are so broad, and people were trying to box it in.
And we were like, its cooler if were just everything.
Id just be singing all the words to songs and I hadnt lived a day in my life!
Didnt even know what I was singing.
We love everything about her.
She makes country cool.
The lyrics of it should be branded on peoples hearts.
Its what Jessy and I are living for together.
Its the mantra of what we believe in.
[Laughs] But this is beautiful song.
Its about someone who is trying so hard and theyre not giving up.
