Now, I know that I mainly write a rock column, but at the end of the day, I am a dude with eyes and ears for great voices and amazing songwriting. I found that when I came across these twins from Flemington, NJ, Nalani and Sarina. I came across their music online and was blown away that these voices were coming out of these two young sisters. I listened to “We’ll Be Free,” the first track off of their EP, Scattered World, and before you know it, I ended up listening to the whole EP because as one song ended, I found myself wanting to hear more. When the song “Shadows in the Shade” ended, I went back and listened again from the beginning. These girls could sing! I needed to know more!
It’s hard enough growing a loyal fan base here in Jersey, which makes the quick rise of the 22-year-old sisters, Nalani and Sarina, from a small town in west-central Jersey to national recognition, such an amazing story. You could say that Nalani and Sarina were born in stereo: they’re identical twins. According to their bio, Nalani plays her guitar right-handed, while her sister, Sarina, is a lefty. When they’re both singing and strumming their guitars, their voices are so welcoming to the listener’s ears. Of course, their good looks wouldn’t mean anything if they couldn’t back it up musically. Nalani and Sarina have been writing music and singing together since they were little and have had a lifetime to refine their act, and on their EP, Scattered World, their skills are pretty apparent. The Asian-American sisters play several instruments, including guitar, piano, and ukulele, and their singing voices are the power behind their punch. Songs like the one that pulled me in “We’ll Be Free” and “Runaway” really demonstrates the sisters’ understanding of the architecture of writing classic pop song and sing it with some soul. Their smart and kinetic live show has made the sisters favorites on the club scene up and down the Northeast region spanning from New York all the way down to Delaware.
At their very young age, it seems Nalani and Sarina already have destiny on their side, as they quickly make the connections the need to really hit the big time. They’ve already displayed an impressive social conscience. Their single “We’ll Be Free” is a bold statement made on behalf of sexual equality, and it’s won the girls the applause of the LGBT community. Their songs are catchy and actually have meaning to them. You need to check these girls out! Give them a listen or find out where Nalani and Sarina are performing next by visiting NalaniSarina.com.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
Word on the street is that there will be a Diablo Royale reunion happening at Drom in NYC on August 11. For those of you not familiar with the Diablo boys, they were one of the better hard rock bands to come out of NYC, and just when things started to get hot for them, they took a very long break. Well, it sounds like the boys are finally finished with their break and will be playing their first show in about five years, but for one night only with special guests Mother. It will be great to see these boys on stage again! For more info on Diablo Royale, visit Facebook.com/DiabloRoyale.
My brothers from Lower The Veil continue their search for a new guitar player since the departure of guitarist Chris Siano. My bro Chris had to relocate to Seattle with his wife, leaving a void for the Lower The Veil camp to fill. The boys have been on a statewide search and still have not found their guy. They’re urging guitar players to check out the video for their song “Soon” (youtu.be/adZwh3hGZK0) and if interested, to please inbox the band. For more info on Lower The Veil, visit LowerTheVeil.com.
And finally, how about my brother and former Lords Of Mercy guitarist, Danny Farrow Anniello? He’s been one of the main catalysts in the latest resurgence of Angel legend, Punky Meadows. For you youngsters reading this, Punky was the guitarist of ’70s hard rockers, Angel. They were label mates with Kiss on Casablanca Records back in that time period. Well, Punky is back with his first solo CD, Fallen Angel, with help from the Farrow, and their first single “Straight Shooter” is catchy as hell! I was already a fan of singer Chandler Mogel and now I’m even more of one. My bud Bob Pantella from Monster Magnet and Cycle of Pain is also on drums. By the way, the band finally went live a couple of weeks ago at B.B. King’s in NYC and killed it! For more on Punky Meadows, visit Facebook.com/Punky-Meadows-44784748038.
That’s all for now! If your band is from North Jersey, and you want some exposure, send your press kits to Arts Weekly, c/o Tim Louie P.O. Box 1140, Little Falls, NJ 07424, or you can email me at tim@theaquarian.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next!
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
7/6—Impossible Cities/Ryan Zimmerman And Catcha Fish/Red House/Dijon—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/7—Benchpress/Impact/Hangman/Wastelands/MVA—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/8—Tommy London Presents: Panzie*/Midnight Crisis/All Night Sounds—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
7/8—Cosmic American Derelicts/The Neverends/Nemes—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/9—Natural Born Losers—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/9—Borgo Pass/Black Dawn/Blacque Jacque Shellacque/Hatweed Jack/Drastic Measures—Revolution Bar and Music Hall, Amityville, NY
7/9—Brand of Julez—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
7/13—Don’t Tell Maggie/Joseph Pagano Band/Illegally Blind/Low Roads Ghost—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/13—Nalani and Sarina—Black Potatoe Festival, Clinton, NJ
7/15—Corevalay—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
7/15—Reality Suite/Chevonne And The Fuzz/Last Minet—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/16—Brand of Julez—Championship Bar, Trenton, NJ
7/16—Dinosaur Eyelids—Leftfield, NYC
7/17—Illusionist/Resentment/Revelations/Kaonashi/To Live As Wolves/Polarity/Shallow Views—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/20—The Ivory/In Angles/Use Big Words/The Funeral Portrait—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/21—Famous Last Words/Outline In Color/It Lives It Breathes/Open Your Eyes—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/22—Brand of Julez—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/23—Morningside Lane/The Clocktown Giants—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/23—Brand of Julez—Whiskey Tango, Fords, NJ
7/29—6 Prong Paw/Framework/Unkempt Herald/Mikell’s Plot/Paulus Hook/Bullet Train—Al Cibelli’s Restaurant and Bar, Perth Amboy, NJ
8/5—Brand of Julez—NIHIL Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
8/5—Seas of Wake/Fear Factory—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
8/6—Brand of Julez—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
8/11—Abandoned By Bears/Save The Lost Boys/Southview—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/11—New Day Dawn/Baelfire/Steve Bello/Lita Ford—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
8/13—Nalani and Sarina—Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA
8/13—Arc’d Angel/Damn Glad/The Primadonnaz/The Dead—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/17—Nalani and Sarina—The Bitter End, NYC
