Aly & AJ stopped by Build Series to chat all about their EP, Ten Years, in New York City on Thursday (February 8).
The two sisters and musicians opened up about finding their new sound and working with two new producers for the projects.
Aly and AJ also opened up about why they decided to keep their band name as Aly & AJ, after starting with that, and then going to 78Violet and back again.
“It was a conversation that probably took a couple months,” AJ shared. “We definitely dealt with some confusion, but when you’re growing as artists and you’re figuring things out, you can’t really judge that.”
She continues, “It’s all the same. You might change your name, your sound, you might change your look…it’s whatever you’re comfortable with and at the end of the day, we took some cues from the people we were working with.”
“We stuck with Aly & AJ because it is who we are and it’s where we started. It’s what people know, it’s the foundation of what we came out with.”
Yara also interviewed Hillary during a keynote conversation at the event.
“I’m glad that I’m here at 14 saying that it’s not right to inspire other young girls to say ‘it’s not right’ too,” Storm said at the event. “If it’s happening to you, speak up, don’t be afraid. There’s nothing they can do, even if they say they’re going to do something, there’s nothing they can do. You need to speak up, you need to speak out, not only for yourself, but for other young women that feel threatened, not only in this industry, but in other industries.”
FYI: Rowan is wearing Repossi jewelry. Storm is wearing a Ji Oh outfit and Rebecca Minkoff boots. Yara is wearing a 3.1 Phillip Lim top and pants, Jimmy Choo shoes, Young Frankk earrings, and an Eriness necklace and rings. Ava is wearing a L’Agence dress, Malone Souliers shoes, and Lady Grey earrings. Chloe and Halle are wearing Missoni.
Aly & AJ are back at it again with the full release of their brand new Ten Years EP, which you can stream right here!
The 4-track set is the sister-duo’s – Aly Michalka and AJ Michalka – first complete musical project since the release of their 2007 Insomniatic album.
Ten Years features the previously released “Take Me” and “I Know,” as well as “Promise” and “The Distance.”
The EP is “a palate cleanser for people to adjust to the new music, because it’s different from anything we’ve ever released,” AJ, 26, told USA Today. She and sister Aly, 28, self-funded the music and are looking to release a full record next year with a major label.
You can stream Aly & AJ‘s Ten Years EP on Spotify and download it on iTunes now!
Aly & AJ are back at it with yet another brand new song called “I Know,” and you can stream it right here!
The track is the second official music release from the sister-duo’s – Aly Michalka and AJ Michalka – forthcoming EP Ten Years, which is set to be released on November 17th.
Aly & AJ were prominent figures in many of our childhoods with their hits “Potential Breakup Song” and “Rush,” — but the duo didn’t always see it that way.
“I don’t think we ever thought we reached success,” Aly Michalka told Out Magazine of their initial entrance into music.
“We were actually frustrated we didn’t reach higher success,” she continued. “We never really celebrated those moments, and maybe we should’ve celebrated some more than others.”
“But I don’t think we ever looked at each other and thought, We’re here. It was more like, We’re 50 steps behind.”
“I think we felt like we’d done so much as young kids that we didn’t know how to top ourselves,” she explained. “We were like, Is this where it ends? Is this as good as it gets?”
Of course, it isn’t at all: the duo is back and better than ever with their new hit “Take Me,” and we can’t wait to hear more of their new sound.
The music duo returned on Thursday (September 14) with the music video for their brand new single “Take Me”, and it’s a surefire instant favorite for the vampire lovers out there.
“Shooting a vampire themed video is difficult for somebody like myself who ceases to function after 11 PM, but the enthusiasm and positivity of Aly & AJ motivated the entire crew and resulted in a video full of images I am incredibly proud of,” says the director.
Aly & AJ took a ten year hiatus from music before coming back to release the retro pop hit “Take Me” — and now they are opening up about what inspired such a long break from the band.
“We were in a place where making music wasn’t fun to us anymore,” Aly Michalka told Billboard. “It felt like a business.”
They also didn’t have “radio support,” which made success difficult.
“Nobody was really playing Disney acts on the radio,” Aly continued. “When we were signed with Hollywood Records…we didn’t really have radio support over there during that time.”
“I think were also a little wiped out, just from you know touring a lot and, you know, being away from home and our dogs and our dad, and you know at that time we still lived in our family house together.”
They were only 16 and 18 when they decided to take a break, so it’s totally understandable that they needed a breather after so many years in the spotlight at such a young age.
