There are only a few moments in your life that are absolutely pivotal to shaping who you become. Meeting that one special person is one of those moments, and at the beginning of 2012, Spencer and Sidnye Askew—now known as the American country music duo Sugar & Steel—had theirs.
They met at an open mic night on their college campus, only to find out shortly afterwards that they shared the same passion and vision of moving to Nashville, TN—which they did in September of 2013—in hopes of following their talent, determination, and grit to the top of the country music industry. After pursuing careers independently, they decided to pursue this dream under the same banner, so they formed Sugar & Steel shortly after getting married in September of 2014. They began writing new music that showcased their unique vocal, instrumental, and songwriting styles. Spencer grew up in Mississippi, and he was surrounded by the soul and swamp of the delta blues. Sidnye grew up in North Carolina, and her roots were planted in pop and country sound. When the two brought their unique styles together, the chemistry was immediate and undeniable. They have the distinctive and rare ability to create a mix of flirty, intriguing and edgy tunes that are relatable, catchy, and commercial…while still being genuine to who they are as people and artists. We recently had the opportunity to interview these artists and get some inside information regarding the new album:
Q. Tell us a little about this new album?
This album has been a long time coming! We became Sugar & Steel about three years ago. We both had solo careers previously, so when we joined forces and started the duo, we wanted to take time to write and find our sound. We didn’t want to rush into recording immediately because we wanted to know who we were as a band first. So, after almost three years, we chose from the many songs we have written and those ended up on this record!
We are married, so a lot of our inspiration pulls from the highs and lows of being in a relationship. We were honored to work with such amazing co-writers to craft these songs. We believe the songs will resonate with many people out there.
Q. Where did you record this new album? Tell us a little bit about the recording process?
We tracked the album at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville and did vocals and other parts at the Couch Room Studio. It was incredible.
Our producer, Eric Torres, really brought our ideas for each song to life. He has worked with some very successful artists, and to have him be a part of this record was amazing. After tracking, we spent all of last summer (2017) adding parts, mixing and making sure the songs had reached their fullest potential. Eric’s work is really one of a kind (pun intended- he wrote that song on the record with us and we have been so blessed to do this with him.
Q. What's the best way for folks to experience your music and this new album?
We wrote these songs hoping everyone can relate to so many aspects of life and love. Some of the songs are super fun and ready for summer! Some are slower and more contemplative. There’s something for everyone. We love playing them live, so check out our website for upcoming dates at www.sugarandsteelmusic.com!
Q. Any other updates for the Breedlove audience?
We have some secrets up our sleeve for this new year, but we’ll leave you with this one for now: watch out for our debut music video coming this spring! It may feature our very favorite Breedlove guitars!
