Watermelon Sugar
Watermelon Sugar
Watermelon Sugar is an indie folk duo rooted in soulful vocal harmonies, multi-instrumental musings and the twenty-year friendship of Hypatia Kingsley and Louise Bendall. Their voices, guitars, banjo, violin and mandolin blend to create original music made sweetly and felt deeply. Drawing from blues to punk, Watermelon Sugar’s music is not easily classified. Some fans have described it as “intoxicating,” “hot & sticky sweet,” and “kick ass acoustic.” The musical duo is sometimes compared to the Be Good Tanyas, Throwing Muses, Dixie Chicks and Indigo Girls.
Having met in Pennsylvania, the two began to musically collaborate in 2001 and became a "band" in 2003. Their first CD, Sample, was released in October of 2004 and second CD, Something to Savor, in November 2005. The third is currently in the works. Although the two members make their homes hundreds of miles apart in Washington, DC and North Carolina, they manage to get the most out of the creative process together in sometimes frenzied gig and recording sessions.
Of their music, Hayley Kile writes, "The instrumentation is free and easy, like a pickup game that is not fiercely competitive but inclusive, diverse and ultimately a romp. The overall focus...is a compelling recognition of the basics in our relationships...independence, letting go, effort, easy love, temptation, responsibility, belonging. Its about how to hold on to a lover, old friend, ideology and grow with it, to recognize and encourage change but also to cherish the singularity of the moment. Louise and Hypatia draw on a long friendship together, a generous, expansive network of experiences and landscapes that fall together in the music comfortably."
Having met in Pennsylvania, the two began to musically collaborate in 2001 and became a "band" in 2003. Their first CD, Sample, was released in October of 2004 and second CD, Something to Savor, in November 2005. The third is currently in the works. Although the two members make their homes hundreds of miles apart in Washington, DC and North Carolina, they manage to get the most out of the creative process together in sometimes frenzied gig and recording sessions.
Of their music, Hayley Kile writes, "The instrumentation is free and easy, like a pickup game that is not fiercely competitive but inclusive, diverse and ultimately a romp. The overall focus...is a compelling recognition of the basics in our relationships...independence, letting go, effort, easy love, temptation, responsibility, belonging. Its about how to hold on to a lover, old friend, ideology and grow with it, to recognize and encourage change but also to cherish the singularity of the moment. Louise and Hypatia draw on a long friendship together, a generous, expansive network of experiences and landscapes that fall together in the music comfortably."
Hypatia Kingsley
Hypatia Kingsley
vocals, guitar, mandolin, violin
Hypatia is a classically trained violinist who started expanding her instrumental and songwriting repertoire because Louise inspired her. Hypatia did belong to a band long, long ago. In the mid-80’s she played with her mother’s all-female rock band, Envitro (*wince* --yes, that’s what it was called), at CBGB’s in New York among other venues. Hypatia’s musical influences run the gamut from Andrew Bird to Radiohead to June Christy, while her lyric material often focuses on relationships and politics. She, her husband, and their daughter live in Washington, DC.
Louise Thompson Bendall
Louise Thompson Bendall
vocals, guitar, banjo, bass
Louise sang in the choir and had the obligatory piano lessons as a child in Louisiana, but didn’t discover the guitar until years later at the University of Oregon. With the encouragement of housemates who heard her singing, she borrowed a guitar to write her first song and eventually scraped together $50 to buy a guitar of her own. Louise now lives on a farm in North Carolina, writing songs inspired by her nomadic adventures and family life. Some of her favorite musical flavors include Bessie Smith, Ben Folds Five and Phish. She occasionally performs solo or showcases with the North Carolina Songwriters Coop.
Website: http://www.louisebendall.com