\u201cI think as Aly and I tour more and live more life and experience just more parts of the world, I think it seeps into our writing and our ability to perform live,” AJ said.<\/p>\n
“And we\u2019ve just grown up into more seasoned songwriters and performers,” she said, in a recent phone call, with her sister also on the line, from a tour stop in Charleston, South Carolina.<\/p>\n
“So I think every album, I mean what I hope, is that each one gets better than the last. And I do think \u2018Silver Deliverer’ is the best body of work we\u2019ve put out so far in our career.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Aly](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/396b77b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/599x545+0+0\/resize\/880x801!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fdc%2F62%2F0355160d4ce9a6f89438910937ef%2Faly-aj-silver-deliverer.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Aly & AJ’s album “Silver Deliverer”<\/p>\n
‘A lot of changes’<\/p>\n
After a 10-year hiatus, Aly & AJ resumed making music in 2017 with the EP “Ten Years” which hit No. 25 on Billboard’s Independent chart, and followed it with 2019’s “Sanctuary,” which peaked at No. 29.<\/p>\n
But the new disc represents a clear evolution for the duo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were a lot of changes in our lives while making this record \u2014 probably more than we\u2019ve ever experienced while making an album,\u201d AJ said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I just think that, yeah, this album has a lot of, like, personal details I think we\u2019ll always look fondly back on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aly of Aly & AJ<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think that that\u2019s captured in the music, and in the lyrics,” Aly said. “I think, probably, we got into a lot of subject matters that we hadn\u2019t really spoken about in this way \u2014 about love, loss, about traumatic events that have happened to us. <\/p>\n
“You know, the hope of being able to kind of carry on, even through the really hard times.”<\/p>\n
But the most significant was the arrival of Aly’s son, Jack, with husband and independent film producer Stephen Ringer on April 21, 2024.<\/p>\n
The album includes the love-letter song to Jack called “What It Feels Like.”<\/p>\n
“At that point I didn\u2019t know if I was having a girl or a boy, but kind of wanting to write a song about them,” Aly said. \u201cSo I just think that, yeah, this album has a lot of, like, personal details I think we\u2019ll always look fondly back on.\u201d<\/p>\n
AJ added, “I think it really inspired not only some really incredible songs, but also lent itself to the recording process. “And him being a week old when he came into the studio for the first time while Aly was singing.”<\/p>\n
‘Music we listen to ourselves’<\/p>\n
The album’s musical style was more of a progression, Aly & AJ said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the last couple of records we slowly but surely made our way toward that,” AJ said. “I think it\u2019s Aly’s and my natural state right now, and we’re just kind of owning that and enjoying that genre that we\u2019re living in feels really right for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aly said it’s also “the kind of music that we listen to ourselves, and influences us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think \u2014 I know \u2014 that this album, without a doubt, has been the most kind of seamless transition to a live show that we\u2019ve made yet.”<\/p>\n
Aly of Aly & AJ<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, and it is a little more rock-leaning and a little less pop-leaning,” AJ said. “We\u2019ve kind of explored different genres throughout the years, and our fans have been really embracing us, every genre we manage to put out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s really oscillated between pop and now rock, but I do think this kind of folk-Americana\/indie rock base is really where Aly and I feel the most comfortable right now \u2014 not only in the studio, but also on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Making music that the duo could easily take to the stage also was important, Aly said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a new collaboration for us, working with [producer] Jonathan Wilson,” she said. <\/p>\n
“So I think when it came to making the album with him, our goal was to, of course, enjoy our time recording and writing these songs, but to make a record that could really, um, transfer to stage seamlessly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think \u2014 I know \u2014 that this album, without a doubt, has been the most kind of seamless transition to a live show that we\u2019ve made yet. <\/p>\n
“And that feels really good because the live show is so important to us, and I think when we\u2019re able make an album that is so easily transferred to the stage, we kind of all looked at each other like, \u2018OK, we did it.\u2019”<\/p>\n
‘Glad we circled back’<\/p>\n
The pair’s hiatus from releasing music, which started after their highest-charting album, “Insomniac,” which hit No. 15 in 2007, was “kind of us just naturally walking away from music to focus on our acting careers and trying to really find ourselves as adult artists,” AJ said.<\/p>\n
“You know, I think we started so young, I think we kind of needed that break to recalibrate, to find our own identity outside of the band. And I think it was all meant to be.”<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like a lifetime ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aly of ALY & AJ<\/p>\n
It was no reflection on their time as chart-topping pop stars with Disney and Hollywood Records, AJ said. That time, she said, still “feels amazing. I mean, it feels like an awesome accomplishment.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Aly adds: \u201cIt feels like a lifetime ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does feel like a lifetime ago,” AJ said. “But I feel like it was kind of a golden age of music and we were making really incredible, top records with amazing people and we were at the forefront of writing those songs, which was unheard of at that age.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo to be on a major label like Hollywood and to be fully accepted not only by the label but by our fans, people have just stuck with us as fans is unbelievable. <\/p>\n
“And I feel like we built up a beautiful foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The only thing I look back on is that we could have kept playing shows during that time. Just because I think touring is such an amazing experience, and it\u2019s just so satisfying to be able to be on stage and have your cup filled up every night by the fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think it was a really integral part of us growing up and finding our sound \u2014 at least our sound as adult women and not as children. <\/p>\n
“And so I think it was all kind of meant to be, but it was really just, I think, we were kind of in the moment seeing if it worked out and wanted to work on our acting careers.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m glad we circled back to it, \u2018cause it feels like we kind of never left, in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
A new big acting role<\/p>\n
Music isn’t the only new work from Aly & AJ these days.<\/p>\n
AJ has a role on the popular HBO dark comedy “The White Lotus\u201d coming up, although she said she’s not able to talk much about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really excited,” she said. “I can\u2019t say anything about the role, unfortunately, but I am thrilled to be a part of the show. And the cast leaves for France in April, so as soon as this tour\u2019s over, we start shooting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful that we have both careers, and I never take that for granted. But there\u2019s never a year where, like, \u2018This is going to be dedicated to one career.\u2019”<\/p>\n
AJ of Aly & AJ<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m just really grateful for this opportunity and I\u2019m really glad that [show creator\/writer\/director] Mike saw something in my audition that really kind of sparked his excitement to lead to casting me. It\u2019s really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Acting will continue to be a significant part of both the sisters’ lives, AJ said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s, like, when a beautiful opportunity comes your way like this and you\u2019re passionate about the project, you take it,” she said. <\/p>\n
“And when things come your way that you\u2019re not as excited about and you want to focus on music, you lean into music.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful that we have both careers, and I never take that for granted. But there\u2019s never a year where, like, \u2018This is going to be dedicated to one career.\u2019 <\/p>\n
“You kind of just see what comes your way and you jump on the opportunities that excite you. And if they don\u2019t, you move on. And this happened to be one of those projects where I thought, \u2018I can\u2019t say no to this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Aly added: \u201cActing and music will always be in our life. It\u2019s just sometimes it will be an ebb and flow, and one thing will be taking a priority and momentum, and the other will rise to the top.<\/p>\n
“So it\u2019s always going to be kind of a juggle between the two. And music has really had the focus for the last, really, the last five, six years.\u201d<\/p>\n
‘Meant for everybody’<\/p>\n
And “Silver Deliverer” has given them a chance to repay fans for years of dedication, they said.<\/p>\n
“I think the beauty of this particular tour [is that] we finished the \u2018Silver Deliverer\u2019 tour last year, and the reason we decided to extend the tour, even the places on the tour, was that it really symbolizes all the places we\u2019ve never been to on tour,” AJ said.<\/p>\n
“They\u2019re going to listen to old songs and new mixed in. It\u2019s meant for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aly from Aly & AJ, talking about concert show<\/p>\n
\u201cSo there are a lot of places on this particular run where we\u2019ve never played the city, we\u2019ve never played the venue. It\u2019s kind a new adventure for Aly and I as a band.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this tour is really symbolic of all these places that our band has yet to be at. And so this tour\u2019s been really fun because it\u2019s just places we\u2019ve yet to discover.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aly noted the pair has never played Allentown \u2014 though she said she was in the city for a movie [she didn’t say which] years ago.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve never been back since,” she said. “So it\u2019s a new place to run \u2014 it\u2019s really cool.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019re just excited for people to see this show. It\u2019s something we really believe in. It\u2019s such a fun night, when you come to an Aly and AJ show, it really is. <\/p>\n
“So I just hope people have a really great night in Allentown, hear great music and maybe leave feeling much better than when they entered.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they\u2019re going to listen to old songs and new mixed in. It\u2019s meant for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ALLENTOWN, Pa. \u2014 Two decades ago, sister actor\/singer duo Aly & AJ were riding the wave of Disney’s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":176485,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[71638,71639,71640,71641,71642,71643,9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":{"0":"post-176484","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-queens","8":"tag-allentown-and-concerts","9":"tag-aly-aj","10":"tag-aly-aj-and-allentown","11":"tag-aly-aj-and-archer-music-hall","12":"tag-aly-aj-interview","13":"tag-archer-music-hall-and-concerts","14":"tag-new-york","15":"tag-new-york-city","16":"tag-nyc","17":"tag-queens","18":"tag-queens-headlines","19":"tag-queens-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176484"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176484\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}