Pop Culturalist Chats with Savvy and Mandy

Savvy and Mandy are a country-pop duo taking the industry by storm. From a young age, these sisters discovered their passion for music and haven’t looked back since. They’ve dedicated their lives to their craft and have created a signature sound unlike anything you’ve heard before. This year, they’ll release their new EP which features the empowering anthem, “Wildfire”. Pop Culturalist spoke with the pair about the upcoming release, how they landed their own show on the Radio Disney Country Channel, and how they’ve evolved as musicians through the years.

PC: When did you both realize you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Mandy: We have both always loved to sing but we decided to create a band together when I was nine and Savvy was eleven. We were both already involved with acting and modeling, and one day we saw an audition notice looking for girls ages fifteen and older for a new musical group. Even though we were too young for what they were casting for, we decided to go for it and audition anyway for fun! We went in, sang our hearts out, did an embarrassing dance routine we made up, and had a blast. A few hours after the audition, we received a call from the managers we auditioned for and they told us they wanted to start a whole new project around Savvy and I and completely scrap the one they were auditioning for. We were shocked and excited. We have been working hard ever since!

PC: What is your creative process like when you’re working on a new tune and has it changed over the years?
Savvy and Mandy: It’s changed over the years. Our writing style has definitely matured! We know how to properly structure a song and create an entire track from scratch. Back when we first started writing, we were so young that we would just write and write without having any structure or idea where it was going to go and that makes it difficult to complete a song. Now, when we write together or separately, we have a clear path in our heads of the story we want to tell, how we want to tell it, and how the story will end. We will share the song or idea in a writing session and collaborate on making it something that we both love and believe in.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Wildfire.” What was the inspiration behind the song?
Mandy: The inspiration behind “Wildfire” came from a funny place and evolved into what it is today. Oddly enough, Savvy was up late looking around on Pinterest when she came across this insanely awesome picture of a woman standing confidently in front of a bonfire. She saved the image and thought, “There’s a song here, but what is it?” Then the title “Wildfire” came to her mind. The next day, we had a studio session with our friends Tyler Shamy and Fabio Angelini. She told us her idea and we ran with it. The song is about a woman who is confident in herself and her flaws. She knows who she is and she won’t let anyone extinguish her flame. She is warning someone, “You can try to be a part my life if you want but don’t be surprised if you get burned.”

PC: You’ll be releasing a new EP later this year. What should fans expect?
Savvy and Mandy: We wanted this EP to be well-rounded, so it has a little something for everyone, all the while being completely true to us and the sound we love. Every song is a story we wanted to tell, so we hope people will be able to relate to the songs and put their own story into it. We can’t wait for y’all to hear it!

PC: How would you describe your sound and who are some of your musical influences?
Savvy and Mandy: We like to describe our music as country/pop! We feel like it is a seamless blend of both. Oh man, we have so many! Some of our musical influences are Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Cam, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, plus many more!

PC: Walk us through getting your own show on Radio Disney Country!
Savvy and Mandy: We have been involved with the Radio Disney family ever since we were eleven and thirteen. When we were just starting our music career, they were the first station to ever play our songs! Ever since, they have continued to support us, even at one point sponsoring multiple nation-wide tours of ours! A little over a year ago, we heard that Radio Disney was premiering their own country station. We reached out to Phil Guerini, the head of Radio Disney, and set up a meeting with him so he could hear some new music of ours and to catch up. He loved the music and ended up offering us our own radio show on Radio Disney Country! We are the first musicians to ever have their own show on the station, so we are very thankful for this opportunity!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Savvy: Botched

Mandy: Catfish

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Savvy: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Mandy: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

PC: Favorite book?
Savvy: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

Mandy: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Savvy: Phantom of the Opera

Mandy: Hamilton or Les Mis!

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Savvy: The Handmaid’s Tale

Mandy: The Staircase! It’s on Netflix. Watch it, it’s insane!

PC: First album you purchased?
Savvy: Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time

Mandy: Spice Girls’ Spiceworld

PC: First concert you attended?
Savvy and Mandy: Our first concert was a Nickelodeon concert hosted by the cast of All That. 98 Degrees, Monica, Bewitched, Tatyana Ali, Aaron Carter, and more performed!

PC: Go-to karaoke song?
Savvy: “Mama’s Broken Heart” by Miranda Lambert or “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood

Mandy: “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor

PC: An artist or band that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Savvy: Die Antwoord! They are this insanely amazing South African rap group.

Mandy: I have to agree with Savvy. We are HUGE Die Antwoord fans. They’re the best!

PC: Hidden talent?
Savvy: I can impersonate a lot of different people and characters!

Mandy: I have weirdly bendy fingers and can bend my finger back to touch the back of my hand. It’s gross, I know!

Make sure to follow Savvy and Mandy on Twitter and Instagram, and pick up your copy of “Wildfire” on iTunes or Amazon.

Photo Credit: Lucas Rossi