From Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, there is no shortage of classic duet albums. However, in recent years, there has been a shortage of great duet albums featuring original songs. Coming to the rescue of that situation are Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones, two harmony-oriented singer-songwriters with ties to both New York and Los Angeles.
To be released on Apr. 1 via Cooking Vinyl, Teddy and Kelly’s new album was produced by Mike Viola. Recorded live to tape, Little Windows includes the mind-blowing backing band of Andrew Bird guitarist Steve Elliot, Ryan Adams keyboardist Daniel Clarke, bassist Davey Farragher and drummer Pete Thomas; the latter two being the rhythm section of Elvis Costello. First single “I Thought That We Said Goodbye” was premiered on the website of Rolling Stone back in January, while Rolling Stone writer Stephen L. Betts called the Little Windows “mesmerizing.”
In support of Little Windows, Teddy and Kelly will be touring across the U.S. and U.K., including an Apr. 5 stop at City Winery. Both Teddy and Kelly kindly tackled some Q&A for Downtown, showing that their energy, enthusiasm and excitement goes beyond the studio. Little Windows is the first new release for Teddy – who New York Times Magazine called “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters of his generation” a few years back – since 2011’s Bella, while Kelly Jones’ last full-length was 2008’s SheBANG.
For more on the dynamic duo, click on over to Teddy’s website or Kelly’s website. Both Teddy and Kelly can be found on Twitter, in addition.
How did you two first meet? Was it the night you first sang together at [Los Angeles venue] Largo?
Teddy Thompson: It was. We had become friends and Kelly came to the show. I sprung a George Jones song on her and away we went…
Where did the decision come from to work with Mike Viola on your album?
Kelly Jones: I had been collaborating with Mike V. off and on since 2007, so I knew his strengths would be perfect for our project. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of all of the records we love and is a real songsmith, too. We knew we’d be in good hands with him.
Do you view this as a “duets album?” Or do you have a different way of describing it?
T: I think it is a duets album, yes. In my mind I wanted us to be a girl/boy version of The Everly Brothers. I’m Don [Everly].
K: Also country duets…I’m Dolly [Parton].
For your upcoming show at City Winery, will you two be performing any songs from your solo catalogs? Or is the focus entirely on the new album?
T: We will play all the songs from Little Windows and a few others that we know together. Then I will do a short set from my own back catalog and Kelly will do one or two of hers.
Do you have any goals for the album once it’s released in April?
K: To get it out into the world! I hope people love it. I hope we sell truckloads of vinyl, too. That would be great.
Kelly, you used to live in New York and are now based in Los Angeles. Is there anything you miss about living in New York?
K: My friends. I also miss the energy on the streets. Living in the East Village was like living on a college campus. Come to think of it, it kind of is a college campus now that NYU students have taken over, so I don’t mind that I’m gone. But that energy, there’s no city like it!
What was the best concert you ever saw in New York?
K: The first concert that comes to mind is this Wordless Music Series By Lincoln Center concert I saw in the early 2000s. Glenn Kotche from Wilco played a improvisational drum set, which included some xylophone – or marimba, I can’t remember – and it was so inspiring.
Both of you have often worked as side-musicians for other artists. Is that something you enjoy doing? Or is the goal to be singing out front as much as possible?
T: I hate being a sideman! I want all the focus to be on me…Wait! Now the focus is split between Kelly and I? Damn. Hopefully it creates some healthy competition on stage and makes both of us better.
K: I like both. I definitely have an urge to express my musical viewpoint, but I also like performing quietly in the shadows.
Once this tour has wrapped, what’s ahead for you? Any tours backing other musicians?
K: I don’t think so, not for me. But who knows? I know I’ll be finishing my Masters in Composition, writing and recording songs, and eventually getting back to teaching Songwriting at Cal Poly Pomona.
When you’re not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
T: I like to take long walks on the beach in a cream-colored cable-knit sweater with my chocolate lab Buck. When night falls, I craft a crude shelter from the seaweed that has washed up on shore and I recite Rimbaud verses until I cry. Then I filter my tears though a homemade filtration device for drinking water. At sunrise, I primal scream until the authorities ask me to leave.
K: I like laughing at Teddy’s ridiculous rants. And playing with my dog, Charlie.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
T: Stay away from drugs.
K: If you pursue a career in music, pursue a career in web programming, too.
-by Darren Paltrowitz
