Serving as a waiter in New York on a night not too different from the one just passed, a young musician and producer by the name of Derek struck up conversation with a woman and her daughter enjoying her meal. Once the expected exchange of pleasantries occurred, fate interrupted and conversation drifted to Derek’s search for a songstress to accompany the music he created. Coincidentally, the woman’s daughter, Alexis also made music and was considered quite the vocalist and with a little dabbling from a Mum who knew best, Derek and Alexis found themselves together in the studio. Then magic happened.

Fast forward a year or so and despite being the rockstars they are, the talented pair are as humble as you could imagine. Having released two inspired hit-records thus far and considering the current whispers of a third, we’d suggest keeping your eyes on these two in the years to come. That is, if you like exciting things.

We spent some time with Alexis and Derek a week or two ago which proved to be a thrilling conversation to say the least. Sharing stories of the charmed life they lead and the music they make within it, we couldn’t have encountered a cooler duo had we tried. Read on.

Festival Life.
A - I always get a kick out of touring, especially when you come on festivals. I mean, there are a lot of pinch-me moments.. Like ‘casually‘ passing Karen O in catering and nearly screaming out loud.
D - We were talking about her jacket earlier actually. Karen O has this jacket -- the K.O. jacket and Alexis happens to have a similar one.
A - Well, I literally had it made to be like hers. Totally ripping her off. I was watching her set yesterday and she was wearing the jacket, then when we were walking back to our dressing room her stylist was right in front of me holding the jacket over her shoulder. Its moment’s like that when you’re like, “Shit! These are my idols and I’m sharing the same space as them...” Its just surreal.

Reign Of Terror.
D - The album came out of a lot of really unfortunate circumstances. It definitely wreaked havoc. The way I like to describe the recording session is -- as corny as this sounds -- as one long therapy session. Treats was much more fun and I mean, at the time I was in a bit of shock with it all but it was the point where music wasn’t just for living anymore; it became life. Then everything that had happened settled in and made its way into Reign Of Terror. When we were finished that was a sign of relief. I’d gotten everything off my chest and was able to put it behind me. So while I appreciate it, I’m very ready to move past it. I’m no longer in that headspace, now I’m in a much better place and its already come out in the new material. We’re half way done with the new record.
A - We’re got five new songs and they’re just brighter.
D - Its like the gloom has lifted. I mean, it won’t be called ‘Reign of Terror’, to put it that way.
A - We’ll call it ‘Sparkly unicorns’....
D - Yeah, of fucking ‘Rainbows and Dolphins!’

Music Together.

D - The way we write has changed a lot this time around. I still write and produce everything and work with most of the lyrics, but now the biggest difference is that I give her instrumental pieces of music then she takes it home, I take it home -- actually that doesn’t make any sense because most of it happens when I’m at home in the first place -- but we take it to the studio and bring our ideas and melodies together. Hers are always vasty more interesting than mine are, but I guess I’ve still got one or two solid contributions? She definitely does most of the heavy lifting with melodies which has made a massive difference.
A - Its kind of the natural evolution of things. With Treats we’d just met as strangers and acted in a singer/producer kind of way, Reign of Terror we started a bit more collaborating.
D - It’s difficult and awkward to sing somebody else’s melodies, no now Alexis is able to sound a lot more like herself. It’s as if now there’s actual chemistry, making it so much more interesting for the two of us. 

Music with others.
A - I’d love to eventually do something with another female musician. Like right now I’m a massive Jessie Ware fan, there’s just something about what she does! But that’s the great thing about being in this community of music. You can just meet someone, hit it off and from there just go into the studio.
D - It just has to make sense. You know, the timing has to be right. Right now, we can barely fit in our own ideas let alone others, but eventually! Until it slows down I feel like it’ll just be Alexis and I.

“I’ll know I’ve made it when...”

D - I feel like we already have! I mean, don’t get me wrong we’re ambitious and we’ll take things as far as we possibly can. Well actually, I went to the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn for the first time recently and Jesus Christ I’d love to play there, but whatever. Honestly I’m already amazed at how far we’ve taken it.
A - I think it’s like, “I’ll know I’ve made it when I’m continually surprised by what I’m doing with life every day”.