Naming The Twins
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
“The Midnight Special” selected Drifters & Dreamers as CD of the week on Aug 17. This is one of the longest-running widely-syndicated folk radio programs in the US. - "Midnight Special"
“The Midnight Special” selected Drifters & Dreamers as CD of the week on Aug 17. This is one of the longest-running widely-syndicated folk radio programs in the US. - "Midnight Special"
Music Review: Naming The Twins - Drifters & Dreamers
Fri, Oct 11, 2013.
Everybody has a banjo these days, and there are lots of groups out there calling themselves folk music, but really, it's pretty much pop music with some acoustic instruments. Not that there's much wrong with that, but the downside is that actual folk gets pushed to the side for a time. Of course, folk music can weather such storms, it has been around for centuries, taking every modern hit in stride. Even here on the East Coast, where folk has always been deeply embedded, there's a dearth right now. At the past couple of East Coast Music Awards, I've heard people asking where all the traditional music was. Yipes!
namingthetwins_albumcover.jpg
Maybe that's why Nova Scotia's Naming The Twins is enjoying lots of recognition right now for the new disc, Drifters & Dreamers. The duo of Robbie Smith and Kathleen Glauser make folk music without any tricks or nods to Mumford & Sons. You get songs about boats and settlers, soldiers and sailors, hills and valleys. The songs sound old, because they're singing about old topics and old times, largely our cultural history here. They sing and play old, too. There's no effects on the instruments, guitars sounds like guitars, the piano is acoustic, and the banjo belongs on these songs. Both are wonderful, old-time singers, and the album is full of sweet harmonies. They could easily have walked into Greenwich Village or Yorkville Village in 1962, got a gig, and probably a recording contract too.
Best of all, Drifters & Dreamers has several strong new (and old-sounding) songs, ones that add to the collection of fine Maritime folk. Like a Stan Rogers album, these are all new compositions (by Smith), but they could pass for decades or centuries old. Skippers and Mates stands right up there with any nautical number, always the favourite topic of the East Coast. The Streetsweeper is a melancholy one, with fine lines: "The streetsweeper knows that the ending for all is dust." Best of the bunch is The Coming Of The Loyalists, a group that never gets their due in my books (ya, I'm one). It celebrates the folks who came and settled Shelburne, N.S., but of course it could be about Saint John, or any number of small towns in the Maritimes. Right there, that's what I'm talking about, cultural history. There's always room for that, especially when it's presented by two fine voices. - CBC's East Coast Music
Music Review: Naming The Twins - Drifters & Dreamers
Fri, Oct 11, 2013.
Everybody has a banjo these days, and there are lots of groups out there calling themselves folk music, but really, it's pretty much pop music with some acoustic instruments. Not that there's much wrong with that, but the downside is that actual folk gets pushed to the side for a time. Of course, folk music can weather such storms, it has been around for centuries, taking every modern hit in stride. Even here on the East Coast, where folk has always been deeply embedded, there's a dearth right now. At the past couple of East Coast Music Awards, I've heard people asking where all the traditional music was. Yipes!
namingthetwins_albumcover.jpg
Maybe that's why Nova Scotia's Naming The Twins is enjoying lots of recognition right now for the new disc, Drifters & Dreamers. The duo of Robbie Smith and Kathleen Glauser make folk music without any tricks or nods to Mumford & Sons. You get songs about boats and settlers, soldiers and sailors, hills and valleys. The songs sound old, because they're singing about old topics and old times, largely our cultural history here. They sing and play old, too. There's no effects on the instruments, guitars sounds like guitars, the piano is acoustic, and the banjo belongs on these songs. Both are wonderful, old-time singers, and the album is full of sweet harmonies. They could easily have walked into Greenwich Village or Yorkville Village in 1962, got a gig, and probably a recording contract too.
Best of all, Drifters & Dreamers has several strong new (and old-sounding) songs, ones that add to the collection of fine Maritime folk. Like a Stan Rogers album, these are all new compositions (by Smith), but they could pass for decades or centuries old. Skippers and Mates stands right up there with any nautical number, always the favourite topic of the East Coast. The Streetsweeper is a melancholy one, with fine lines: "The streetsweeper knows that the ending for all is dust." Best of the bunch is The Coming Of The Loyalists, a group that never gets their due in my books (ya, I'm one). It celebrates the folks who came and settled Shelburne, N.S., but of course it could be about Saint John, or any number of small towns in the Maritimes. Right there, that's what I'm talking about, cultural history. There's always room for that, especially when it's presented by two fine voices. - CBC's East Coast Music
First, to set the record straight, Robbie
Smith and Kath Glauser, who are
Naming the Twins, are unrelated. But with
their well-matched voices, the two of them
fraternize extremely well. They are abetted
by a very talented family of Curly Boy
Stubbs (who expertly produced the CD),
Tom Leighton, Chris Whiteley, Trevor Mills
and others. Stubbs employs a very extended
family of instruments – Celtic harp, piano,
accordion, euphonium, acoustic and electric
bass, banjo-ukulele and more. Smith,
an accomplished songwriter who has been
recorded by many others and has recorded
a couple of solo CDs, wrote or set to music
all of the 13 songs on the CD. One of the
songs he set to music is John Masefield’s
“Sea Fever.”
Strongly recommending the very folk-oriented
Sweet Transitions are its upbeat energy
and the fact that many of the songs, such as
“Somedays” and “Oh Life,” are positive and
uplifting. “Dry Land” is a charming latterday
sea shanty about longing for home that
features an enchanting melody and refrain.
The strongly gypsy-flamenco flavored
“Gypsy Feast” moves the venue from the sea
to a mountain top. “Winter Awakening” captures
the solitude of that time of year with a renaissance
flavor. “Catch Your Breath” is a
lively 1920s-style marriage proposal. This
album never becomes boring or predictable
no matter how many times you play it. It’s
the perfect combination of strong performance,
production and material, at once fun,
interesting and musically fulfilling. — RWarr
- Sing Out Magazine
I think I can reflect what we all felt in Broad Cove but certainly for me. You two seem to me to have a special sound together and made it a very enjoyable time for us. The cafe atmosphere added a lot in that you both produced lovely true sounds without any electronic assistance---so thank you both! We all were so well entertained.
Linda Ross, Photographer - Observation from photographer at gig
I think I can reflect what we all felt in Broad Cove but certainly for me. You two seem to me to have a special sound together and made it a very enjoyable time for us. The cafe atmosphere added a lot in that you both produced lovely true sounds without any electronic assistance---so thank you both! We all were so well entertained.
Linda Ross, Photographer - Observation from photographer at gig
I am absolutely stunned at the beauty of some of your songs, Robbie, you’re a very accomplished musician and performer, and you and Kathleen sound wonderful together.
Richard Rachals - Singer, guitarist, Recording artist - Richard Rachals
I am absolutely stunned at the beauty of some of your songs, Robbie, you’re a very accomplished musician and performer, and you and Kathleen sound wonderful together.
Richard Rachals - Singer, guitarist, Recording artist - Richard Rachals
"We both enjoyed last Sunday afternoon You and Robbie have great chemistry. The rapport between you is obvious to everyone and adds to audience enjoyment."
Don Glover
Mahone Bay - comments from audience member
"We both enjoyed last Sunday afternoon You and Robbie have great chemistry. The rapport between you is obvious to everyone and adds to audience enjoyment."
Don Glover
Mahone Bay - comments from audience member
"Kathleen, you and Robbie were a real highlight of Woodstick VII.
>>> Definitely crowd favourites! Your harmonies and your guitar work are
>>> such a pleasure to listen to. (What I wouldn't give for your talent.)
>>> We look forward to hearing The Twins again."
Linda Loth
Lunenburg - comments from the audience
"Kathleen, you and Robbie were a real highlight of Woodstick VII.
>>> Definitely crowd favourites! Your harmonies and your guitar work are
>>> such a pleasure to listen to. (What I wouldn't give for your talent.)
>>> We look forward to hearing The Twins again."
Linda Loth
Lunenburg - comments from the audience
"...what I liked was the ease of the harmonies, and the way your voice supported Robbie’s. It’s as though you’ve been singing together for years.
Christine Curry
Louis Head, NS
- comments from audience
"...what I liked was the ease of the harmonies, and the way your voice supported Robbie’s. It’s as though you’ve been singing together for years.
Christine Curry
Louis Head, NS
- comments from audience
At an intimate concert staged in our home at the end of October, some thirty guests were treated to the dulcit tones of the folk duet called "Naming The Twins." The voices of Robbie Smith and Kathleen Glauser demonstrate remarkable balance and blend. Much of their repertoire is made up of original material written by Robbie, but the pair carefully craft their program to suit the audience at hand. At our event, for example, they included some "old chestnuts" that delighted an audience replete with nostalgic memories of the sixties and seventies. Robbie's virtuosity on guitar, mandolin, banjo and violin adds depth and variety to the program, and the pleasant, engaging manner of both singers draws the audience into a warm, comfortable relationship between listener and performer. I can hardly wait to have them here again.
Hugh W. McKervill,
Author.
- Hugh McKervill
At an intimate concert staged in our home at the end of October, some thirty guests were treated to the dulcit tones of the folk duet called "Naming The Twins." The voices of Robbie Smith and Kathleen Glauser demonstrate remarkable balance and blend. Much of their repertoire is made up of original material written by Robbie, but the pair carefully craft their program to suit the audience at hand. At our event, for example, they included some "old chestnuts" that delighted an audience replete with nostalgic memories of the sixties and seventies. Robbie's virtuosity on guitar, mandolin, banjo and violin adds depth and variety to the program, and the pleasant, engaging manner of both singers draws the audience into a warm, comfortable relationship between listener and performer. I can hardly wait to have them here again.
Hugh W. McKervill,
Author.
- Hugh McKervill
“Naming the Twins is a fabulous feast of musical harmony. Kathleen and Robbie have a repertoire of music that includes old favourites and a blend of original tunes that woo memories of the 60’s and 70’s. Robbie’s superb guitar skills stopped us dead in our tracks. This duo understands entertainment and how to embrace their audience. A new Trellis Café musical favourite!”
Wilma Raaymakers & Dennis Mansour
Trellis Café
22 Main Street, Hubbards, NS
- Wilma and Dennis
“Naming the Twins is a fabulous feast of musical harmony. Kathleen and Robbie have a repertoire of music that includes old favourites and a blend of original tunes that woo memories of the 60’s and 70’s. Robbie’s superb guitar skills stopped us dead in our tracks. This duo understands entertainment and how to embrace their audience. A new Trellis Café musical favourite!”
Wilma Raaymakers & Dennis Mansour
Trellis Café
22 Main Street, Hubbards, NS
- Wilma and Dennis
"Hey Kathleen and Robbie, I am very impressed by the songs and the performances! You guys are excellent."
Eddie Schwartz
Singer, Songwriter
- Observation from a songwriter
Discography
After only a short time together, the duo’s vocal blend and Smith’s songwriting had drawn enough attention that they found themselves in the studio creating a full length CD with Paul Mills.
Sweet Transitions was released in 2010 and highlights the harmonies of Kath & Robbie’s “well matched voices”, and a strong team of acoustic instrumentalists including Curly Boy Stubbs (who expertly produced the CD), Tom Leighton, Chris Whiteley, Trevor Mills and others, featuring Celtic harp, piano, accordion, euphonium, cello, flute, acoustic and electric bass, banjo-ukulele and more.
All 13 tracks have received airplay and the album was twice chosen as one of “Rich’s Picks” on the long syndicated folk show “The Midnight Special”.
“This album never becomes boring or predictable no matter how many times you play it. It’s the perfect combination of strong performance, production and material, at once fun, interesting and musically fulfilling.”
Rwarr - Sing Out Magazine
The Twins have appeared in person on shows like CBC's Atlantic Airwaves, Woody's Children NY, The Blue Plate Special Knoxville TN, the long running folk show Touchstone, That East Coast Show, Meet the Music and Sentimental Journey.
Photos
Bio
A little bit like Peter, Paul and Mary if one of the fellows took the night off, a bit like Simon & Garfunkel if Art was a girl, a bit like Gordon Lightfoot or Stan Rogers if either had a girl harmonizer.
Not twins by birth, but twins at heart, they share a sibling like sense of humour and harmony.
Robbie Smith has been a songwriter, singer and player of instruments all his life. From an early age, through the windows of his scenic home outside Shelburne Nova Scotia, his imagination took flight gathering scenes and circumstances which flowed back through his pen and onto the page.
His truly inspired lyrics capture the essence of life lived by and on the sea and the attention of Roger Whitaker who recorded four of Smith’s songs. Robbie has also shared the stage with Pete Seeger and John Allan Cameron and recorded several albums of his own.
In 2008, after years of being a solo artist, Robbie was taken with the voice of an acquaintance and knew he had found his vocal soul mate – a special blend that some performers never find.
Kathleen Glauser brings her clear engaging voice and vocal harmonies to the duo to breathe life into those lyrics…she’s a natural with a great sense of harmony and timing.
Performing original material with carefully crafted lyrics, singable melodies and fresh guy/gal harmonies, they also enjoy putting their distinct stamp on familiar favorites.
They offer up a varied array of styles within the acoustic genre, including folk, 60's pop, Celtic, Americana, and retro.
Their energy, casual banter and extraordinarily well matched voices captivate audiences wherever they perform.
Naming the Twins has been busy performing regionally and twice touring the eastern seaboard as far south as Florida. They have enjoyed sharing the stage with Kim Dunn, Erin Costelo, Dwayne Cote and performing at the Deep Roots Music Festival.
For more information visit: www.namingthetwins.com
Band Members
Links
