By Peggy Ratusz
Since its Valentine’s month, I reached out to several area twosomes who make beautiful music together, both on and off stage.
Where and how they met
Nicole and Spiro Nicolopoulos (The Paper Crowns) met at a music store in California. Both instructors there, their relationship developed into a secret office romance. Multi-instrumentalist/songwriter, Eleanor Underhill’s (Underhill Rose) initial crush came and went, by the time she actually started dating guitarist/singer/songwriter Silas Durocher (Get Right Band). Drummer/percussionist Nancy Asch and pianist Beth Heinberg met in Boston 28 years ago. Their first encounter happened at an audition they both attended for a spot in a queer cabaret band. Nancy questioned Beth: ‘Can you commit?’ and that’s all she wrote. “We’re not entirely sure when we first met,” acknowledges cellist, singer-songwriter Melissa Hyman of The Moon & You, a duo she shares with husband, guitarist singer-songwriter, Ryan Furstenberg. Jazz musicians, Wendy Jones (vocals) and Rick Dilling (drums) met in 1991 but opposite trajectories prevented any true connection until 2010. Like Leigh Glass and Corey Bullman (guitarists/singer songwriters) of Devils in Dust, Wendy hired Rick to play drums for a recording and Leigh hired Corey to fill in on guitar for a show. Scintillating serendipity eventually ensued. Sometimes it’s musician friends who bring couples together. It was bassist Dave Mac that set romance in motion for parents of three boys, Marisa and Josh Blake. A drummer friend stoked the flame for two-year-old Eva’s mommy and daddy, who happen to be Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp.
Inspirations
The Nicolopoulos’s bonded over Jimi Hendrix. Both Strat players, they are drawn to his psychedelic sound and out of the box rhythm guitar artistry. “We constantly find ourselves inspired by the same artists,” says Dilling about him and Jones. They listen to recordings together and discuss what the other appreciates: vocal technique, feel, comping patterns or “the elusive sound of Tony Williams’ dang cymbals.” Wendy adds with a chuckle.” For Nancy and Beth? Joni Mitchell is their cat’s name, if that tells you anything. “We both dig her poetry, obviously, and Nancy has been obsessed with her since summer camp as a kid.”
Collaborations and Co-Writing
Eleanor and Silas collaborate together and with others. She says, “Anytime I’m collaborating, I’m more open and communicative and cautious of others feelings.” He says, “Collaborating brings certain things to the table: ideas or predilections, strengths and weaknesses that inspire me in different ways. It’s helpful to know what the final vision is, who’s in charge of steering the ship toward it. We are passionate about each other’s projects; but ultimately we respect the choice each one makes for their own art.” When Corey and Leigh co-write, “One of us has an idea for a song worked out. Then we work it together.” Leigh tends to be driven by lyrics and Corey pays attention to the arrangement. But for Melissa and Ryan, “It’s common for us to work out arrangements through experimentation onstage.” It’s important to them “to keep levity in our creative collaborations.” “I am the songwriter by default,” says Nikki Talley. “We arrange together so we know what each is hearing. Once we figure out the song skeleton we go to our separate corners and work out details appropriate for each tune.” Beth and Nancy “like to work with musicians who are good listeners, flexible and fun to be with.” Their co-creation with Beth’s sister Sarah Kim called The Honey Music Collective teams up talented female players and singers for showcases and dance party nights. Nicole and Spiro lift up the community indeed and in 2019 alone, hired 35 area musicians for their groups, Grateful Asheville Music Experience and the Very Jerry Band. Spiro says, “It keeps things fun and fresh to play with different people, oftentimes on the fly. Nicole looks “for people who appreciate working together and share a mutual respect.”
Touring and Delegating
Marisa Blake says, “I keep our family on schedule and Josh can fold some mean laundry. Our kids are lucky to have him as a father. He cares and he’s present.” Talley and Sharp say they don’t have time for burnout. “Being partners in all aspects of our lives 24/7 is tough. We unwind from the road when we come home to the mountains.” They split parenting duties, “Giving the other time to work on a song.” Seeing it through their daughter’s eyes has been a sweet, new perspective. Glass and Bullman admit, “We don’t always agree musically, but there is baseline trust in the other person’s vision. We make all decisions together (even though Corey says Leigh’s the boss and Leigh says Corey’s the boss.) For Wendy and Rick, “We check in with each other once a week over Sunday breakfast to confirm schedules. We’re a good fit.”
Special project
IamAvl is the brainchild of Josh Blake and is a platform that integrates video production, in-studio recording sessions (Echo Sessions) and live performances into one seamless channel for the creation of high-quality content. Established in 2012 (Marisa was pregnant with their youngest) with the intention to preserve, promote the growing music culture in WNC, which Josh noticed starting to take shape as a modern day cultural renaissance. Marisa joined the team a few years later. “My role revolves around Echo Sessions. I am the host, camera operator and facilitate hospitality. Josh manages daily operations, works with bands and venues getting live-streams and productions setup, and dreaming the endeavor into the future. IamAvl would be nothing without the crew that has been working for years to put the local scene
on the map.”
How it feels to perform together on stage
Hyman and Furstenberg say, “Our onstage partnership is a microcosm of the larger relationship; we get an intensive in communication, helping each shine even if it means getting out of the way.” Nicole proclaims, “There’s nothing more satisfying then playing together in an organic way where we’re both aware of our dynamic and can take the music to nuanced spaces.” Beth and Nancy gush, “It’s the best feeling in the world when the audience is right there with you. Sometimes that’s a crowd of nursing home residents; other times dancing fools in a crazy loud bar.” “We’ve been playing so long together that if feels completely natural,” explains Leigh Glass. “However, there are times when it gets mushy, particularly during an autobiographical tune we wrote together about falling in love.” Rick feels pride when he performs with Wendy. “I like observing the reaction of the audience when Wendy sings a ballad.” For Wendy, “He knows how to challenge me and make me sound good. What’s not to love?” Mrs. Blake comes clean, “If we are being honest with the lovers out there, it’s not always perfect. Josh and I butt heads sometimes when we are recording or if I am writing a tune and he makes a suggestion I don’t like. But in general, we both feel lucky to make art together.” Eleanor’s wise words, “One of the challenges about being in a relationship with another musician is that you’re always talking about your work. One of the best things about being in a relationship with another musician is that you’re always talking about your work.” Talley’s poignant perspective, “There are moments when I shut my eyes and let the music wash over me. It becomes more than a gig. It’s religion; knowing the sounds enchanting you are being made by your love, is beyond words.”