Aleeda Blu, a musical duo composed of identical twins Megan and Erin. Originating from Richmond, Virginia, their musical journey is shaped by a childhood enriched in the church and a diverse musical influence spanning from contemporary Christian to classical and pop. This background has not only molded their musical style and songwriting abilities but has also strengthened the unique bond they share as identical twin sisters, vividly reflected in their performances and recordings.
Under the name Aleeda Blu, Megan and Erin have found Nashville, since their move in 2021, to be an ideal home for advancing their artistic careers. Inspired by their Hispanic roots and spiritual connection to music, they have carved a notable path in the city’s music scene, collaborating with renowned songwriters and local artists. From recording their debut EP to performing on iconic stages like The Listening Room Cafe and Capital One Arena, Aleeda Blu continues to captivate audiences with their emotive music and profound lyrics.
Join us in this interview as we discover the inspiration behind Alida Blu’s name, their artistic influences, memorable collaborations, and the exciting new releases coming in Summer 2024. Aspiring artists will find valuable tips and inspiration from their unique journey in the music industry.
How did your upbringing in Richmond, VA influence your musical style and songwriting?
We grew up singing in our church choir at a very young age. Our upbringing in the church allowed us to find our voice and range. We grew up listening to a wide variety of musical genres from contemporary Christian music to classical, and pop. Richmond, VA has a diverse music scene. We were grateful enough to have grown up in a city with many different music venues to perform and listen to. Megan grew up writing poems and slowly began turning those poems into song lyrics and melodies. Erin began songwriting at the age of 13. She found songwriting to be an outlet for her to get her emotions out there, rather than keep them inside. Became a therapeutic way of sharing your thoughts and feelings.
As identical twin sisters, how do you channel your unique connection into your performances and recordings?
Growing up as identical twin sisters, we have always been very close. We both think it is a miracle and a gift from God that we both were given this beautiful talent. We have been singing together all our lives and feel a very strong connection when we sing. It’s truly incredible how our voices and harmonies fit so well together. Being identical twins, we understand each other better than anyone, and performing together brings this spark of excitement and true connection that we want our audience to be a part of.
It is unique the ideas we both come up with separately, and when we begin recording in the studio; how similar our lyrical style and harmonies are.
Could you delve deeper into the personal meaning behind the name “Aleeda Blu”? What emotions does it evoke for you?
When we moved to Nashville in 2021, we began our musical career under a different name. We wanted our duo name to be unique and near and dear to our hearts. We wanted our fans and audience to understand us more on an authentic level, and the name “Aleeda Blu” does just that. We come from a Hispanic heritage. The name “Aleeda” comes from our mother’s name “Elida” which comes from our Panamanian background. The name “Blu” comes from us having blue eyes.
Nashville is a hub for musicians. What memorable experiences have you had since moving there in 2021?
We have made and had so many memorable experiences living in Nashville. We moved to Nashville in August of 2021 only knowing one other person. Our uncle, Glenn Snow, has been a professional bass player for Martina McBride for over thirty years. He was able to introduce us to many songwriters and musicians around town who have helped us along our musical journey. One memorable experience for us was when we booked our first writers’ round. Writers’ rounds are a unique experience and are known in Nashville as one of the best ways to showcase your talent and meet new artists. We were grateful for this opportunity because it allowed us to meet the very people who believed in us and helped us to get where we are today.
Collaborating with songwriters and artists can be transformative. Can you share a recent collaboration that left a lasting impact?
Nashville is known as a songwriting community. We have written with many talented songwriters in town. Our most recent collaboration was with our producer Nathan Weber, “Vine.” The three of us wrote all four songs on our debut EP. This collaboration left a lasting impression because it challenged both of us as artists. It can be difficult to open and be vulnerable with new writers, but once we got over that hurdle the lyrics became easier, relatable, and authentic.
While recording your EP, were there any unexpected challenges or breakthrough moments in the studio?
I think with any project, there will be challenges to have to overcome if you want your product to be the best it can be. A few unexpected challenges that we faced were understanding how each person could relate to the lyrics and sound being produced. You want to make sure every team member is on board with the direction of the song or album. Once we overcame that obstacle, everything flowed more naturally.
Performing at iconic venues like The Listening Room Cafe and Capital One Arena—what emotions do you feel when you step on stage?
It was truly an honor to have performed at The Listening Room Café in Knoxville. We both do have nerves before a show. We both channel those nerves in the best way by encouraging one another and preparing before we step on stage. We performed the national anthem at a Washington Wizards game at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. That was the most nervous either one of us had been before a performance. It was the biggest crowd we had ever sung in front of, and no one could prepare you for a moment like that. Was truly an incredible experience, and we look forward to many more like it in the future.
How do you typically divide the artistic tasks between the two of you? Who takes care of the lyrics, the music, the overall structure, and stuff like that?
When it comes to dividing tasks between the two of us, it comes down to the song. We have been singing together all our lives and know each other’s voices very well. Megan usually sings harmony, while Erin does melody. Megan is a Soprano II and Erin is a Soprano I. Regarding lyrics and overall structure, Megan and Erin split that up evenly. It’s a rarity that one person would create the music and lyrics without the other.
“PayBack” is raw and relatable. How do you translate personal experiences into lyrics that resonate universally?
Payback was the very last song we wrote on our EP. When we were brainstorming on how we wanted this song to be portrayed to an audience as relatable. I feel like we all go through our lives wishing we could go back in time and change or do something different. This song shows the listener that we don’t want to look at the past and regret things that could have been different. Life is short and it’s important to keep your dreams alive and know that within time things will always get better. Something we always remind ourselves is that this too shall pass.
Writing “PayBack” in just 2 hours is impressive. What inspires your creativity during intense writing sessions?
What inspired our creativity in this song is we were very raw and transparent with one another throughout the process. We shared our past struggles where we see ourselves in years to come, and what we want for our lives regarding our careers. It’s very easy to write about something you are passionate about. We use our passion and dreams as our driving factor to keep moving forward. If you can envision and see where you want to go in life, it will happen.
Without giving too much away, can you hint at what your upcoming Summer 2024 releases will explore?
Our EP tells a story from start to finish. We wanted our listeners and fans to experience this EP like a journey from hard times to finally reaching your potential. This EP showcases a lot of vulnerability and topics that are relatable to everyone. We are excited for our fans to experience all of what we have to offer.
For aspiring artists, especially duos, what advice would you share based on your journey so far?
We still have very far to go in our careers as musicians, but the best piece of advice we could give is to not take no for an answer, and if someone does tell you no, you are talking to the wrong person. There is something admirable and inspiring about putting everything into your dream. This business can be very difficult to navigate without people you can lean on for support. It’s important to have a solid group of people who believe in you and have your best interests at heart.
