T Sisters to play at Willie’s Locally Known
T Sisters. Photo provided by Dijon Bowden
September 9, 2015
By Matt Wickstrom
For T Sisters, an Oakland, Cali. based folk band, growing up doesn’t necessarily mean growing apart.
Comprised of sisters Erika, Rachel and Chloe Tietjen, the three hardly spend time apart, sharing a warehouse they call home near the bay area, as well as a dog.
The sisters are known for their individually unique, intertwining vocals and sassy stage presence, which has captured the attention and praise of countless music connoisseurs across the West Coast.
The T Sisters are getting set to embark on their first East Coast tour, which will make a stop at Willie’s Locally Known in Lexington on Thursday. The show is all ages, and will begin at 8 pm.
Erika Tietjen said the sisters share a strong bond that is vital to living life on the road, where the unexpected is often the expected.
“It helps a lot to have our familial foundation in this lifestyle that is such a wild ride of both positive and challenging experiences,” Erika Tietjen said. “We balance each other out, boost each other when we’re bummed, and deal with problems frankly and quickly. We can’t imagine it any other way.”
The sisters got started playing music when they were young, thanks in large part to their father Ramsey, who is a singer, songwriter and musician. In their youth, the sisters were enamored with the Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder and The Mamas and the Papas, among others.
Today, the T Sisters are inspired by their contemporaries, such as Lake Street Dive, My Brightest Diamond and a slew of others.
Aside from each sister’s contrasting vocals, their distinct, varying styles of writing music brings another dimension to the T Sisters.
“Chloe tends to write songs influenced by country, folk and bluegrass,” Erika Tietjen said. “Rachel tends to channel a bluesy, R&B vibe in her music, and I take more inspiration from jazz and pop. We always come together to arrange, creating the harmonic foundation that unites the eclectic body of tunes.”
After becoming full-time musicians just over a year ago, the T Sisters have experienced a wealth of success, which has included singing the national anthem at a San Francisco Giants baseball game and a performance on ‘A Prairie Home Companion,’ a nationally broadcast weekly radio show at 2 p.m. on Sundays on 91.3 WUKY FM.
The sisters also hold a strong commitment to giving back to people in their community. The group recently teamed up with the organization Bread and Roses, which brings music to prisons, rehabilitation centers and other institutions.
“We played at Delancey Street (F0undation), a rehab center for (mostly male) ex-convicts and recovering substance abusers,” Erika Tietjen said. “The men of Delancey Street were by far the best audience we’ve ever had. They were roaring with applause after every song. It was such a fulfilling experience and had such a different feel than most of our shows do.”
