NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: North 40
By Bob Doerschuk
© 2014 CMA Close Up® News Service
/ Country Music Association®, Inc.
/ Country Music Association®, Inc.
It’s been a while since Paige
Logan and Heather Looney chased their dreams to Nashville. Logan came from Safford,
Ariz., where she studied piano, taught herself guitar and mandolin and soaked
up the sounds of her dad’s LP and 8-track collection. In 1993, she and her sister
hit the road for Music City; a year later, Paige was there alone, beginning a
long stretch of day jobs and determination.
Logan and Heather Looney chased their dreams to Nashville. Logan came from Safford,
Ariz., where she studied piano, taught herself guitar and mandolin and soaked
up the sounds of her dad’s LP and 8-track collection. In 1993, she and her sister
hit the road for Music City; a year later, Paige was there alone, beginning a
long stretch of day jobs and determination.
Meanwhile, Looney
and her dad had been performing around Shreveport, La. Going solo, she relocated
frequently before settling in Nashville with her husband a year after Logan’s
arrival. Eventually the two crossed paths, and their 20-year friendship culminated
in their debut album, Whole Lot Of Livin’, produced by Paige’s husband
Mills Logan and Leigh Reynolds. Rhymetown Entertainment released the debut album in January.
and her dad had been performing around Shreveport, La. Going solo, she relocated
frequently before settling in Nashville with her husband a year after Logan’s
arrival. Eventually the two crossed paths, and their 20-year friendship culminated
in their debut album, Whole Lot Of Livin’, produced by Paige’s husband
Mills Logan and Leigh Reynolds. Rhymetown Entertainment released the debut album in January.
Vocal blends distinguish this duo. They embrace vibrato as an expressive
device. When they drop it for a few beats, as in the higher passages of “Far
Too Long” (written by Logan and Looney), the impact is dramatic. They also avoid
the upper register, concentrating on the contralto range; the result is a honeyed,
rich quality that draws listeners in as if to a whisper. And they sing almost
exclusively in harmony; when one breaks into a solo line and the other improvises
some churchy backup on “Don’t Make Me The Reason” (Logan and Looney), the
moment seems to spark from the speakers.
device. When they drop it for a few beats, as in the higher passages of “Far
Too Long” (written by Logan and Looney), the impact is dramatic. They also avoid
the upper register, concentrating on the contralto range; the result is a honeyed,
rich quality that draws listeners in as if to a whisper. And they sing almost
exclusively in harmony; when one breaks into a solo line and the other improvises
some churchy backup on “Don’t Make Me The Reason” (Logan and Looney), the
moment seems to spark from the speakers.
Is there life over 40 in Country Music? You betcha.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
SONG YOU’D LOVE TO COVER
“Heather would love to cover ‘Stand By Your Man’ and Paige would cover ‘El Paso.’”
ALBUM ON YOUR PLAYLIST
“Heather has
Train and Chris Knight. Paige has Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits and Simon & Garfunkle.”
Train and Chris Knight. Paige has Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits and Simon & Garfunkle.”
DREAM DUET PARTNER
“Heather’s
is Michael Bublé and Paige’s is Freddie Mercury.”
is Michael Bublé and Paige’s is Freddie Mercury.”
PET PEEVE
“Heather’s is rude people. Paige’s is people who take more than they
need or don’t give back more than they take.”
need or don’t give back more than they take.”
SOMETHING
WE’D NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU
WE’D NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU
“Heather was adopted at 2 weeks
old through the Volunteers of America and believes that her parents chose her
because she could scream on key! Paige has been on a vegan diet for 22 years and
she likes coffee and water at room temperature.”
old through the Volunteers of America and believes that her parents chose her
because she could scream on key! Paige has been on a vegan diet for 22 years and
she likes coffee and water at room temperature.”