The Watson Twins

For two decades, The Watson Twins' entwined voices have taken them across the world. They double down on those road-warrior roots with Seeing Double, a live record that captures the critically-acclaimed duo onstage in their adopted hometown of East Nashville, backed by an amplified band and their own southern songwriting.

For a group whose songs have helped shape the sound of modern-day American roots music, Seeing Double gives The Watson Twins an opportunity to showcase the full range of their catalog. The album's career-spanning track list features material from five of The Watson Twins' releases, including Southern Manners EP (2005), Fire Songs (2008), Talking To You, Talking To Me (2010), DUO (2018), and HOLLER (2023). There are honky-tonk songs, vintage-sounding country ballads, high-spirited soul standouts, and contemporary Americana anthems, all fueled by the identical sisters' close harmonies and laced with contributions from bandmates Russ Pollard (Everest, Sebadoh), Steven Cooper (Nicole Atkins, Patrick Sweeney), Thayer Sarrano (Of Montreal, Cracker) and Ryan Williams (The Native Sibling, Grizfolk). Butch Walker, the multi-platinum songwriter who produced HOLLER, also makes an appearance, joining the band on standout performances of "Never Be Another You" and "Sissy Said."


Years earlier, when The Watson Twins recorded HOLLER at Walker's Nashville studio, they did so in a series of live takes. It was a move that captured the spirit and spontaneity of their concerts in real time, with the sisters even tracking their vocals simultaneously, both singers standing within arm's length of one another and matching their vowel sounds while the tape rolled. Perhaps that's why Seeing Double feels so effortlessly natural, highlighting The Watson Twins' skills not only as a sharp songwriters and stunning singers, but as live performers, too.

During Seeing Double's cover of The Cure's 1980s classic "Just Like Heaven," The Watson Twins show themselves to be interpreters, too. Their studio version of the song was released in 2008 and earned accolades from outlets like American Songwriter UK, who dubbed it "a sweet, gentle, and notably different approach to the gothic rock love song." On Seeing Double, Chandra and Leigh channel all the bliss and contentment of the song's title into a performance that's filled with harmonies, harmonica, and plenty of heart.
"It may seem like a reach to bring this British rock song to the South, but its iconic riff and poetic lyrics translate across the pond," The Watson Twins explain. "'Just Like Heaven' has become one of our favorites to perform live, and one of our most popular tracks. Just goes to show that strong lyrics and melody translate in any genre."

Strong performances translate in any context, too. With Seeing Double, The Watson Twins blur the boundaries between the stage and the studio, spotlighting the onstage charisma that's turned Chandra and Leigh into mainstays of 21st century music.