When you're starting out as an artist, it can be hard to find people that believe in you. However, your family is often going to be full of your biggest supporters - so why not work together on your music? Whether it's forming a band together, or following your own path, there are many artists that have created great music together.
We wanted to highlight those that are working together with their siblings, so you can convince your family that it's actually a great time to start a band together. If this doesn't get them inspired to grab an instrument and jam with you, then we're not sure what will!
Billie Eilish & FINNEAS
Billie Eilish and her brother FINNEAS have been working together from the very start. After uploading Ocean Eyes to SoundCloud back in 2015, Billie has gone on to be one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and FINNEAS has been by her side the whole way.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, FINNEAS explained that being home-schooled together helped strengthen their bond, while making music together gave them an excuse to hang out. "We were like, “Let’s make some songs,” he revealed. "That kind of casual thing turned into this more serious thing, and so we had this excuse to see each other all the time."
The pair have worked together on both of Billie's albums to date; 2019's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and 2021's Happier Than Ever, and you can be sure they'll continue to work together in the future.
Priya Ragu & Japhna Gold
Priya Ragu has quickly made a name for herself for blending together R&B influences with South Indian sounds, paying homage to her Tamil heritage. However, while many will know her for her singing, her music features production from her brother, Japhna Gold.
Speaking about their partnership to Sound On Sound, Priya explained, “It’s definitely a 50‑50 thing. I might be the face, but behind the face is the bro‑sis!” The pair have most recently worked on Priya's new single Illuminous, which reflects on her success throughout 2021, which came as a result of the release of her debut mixtape damnshestamil. Together, the pair are pushing the boundaries of what R&B music sounds like, and we're looking forward to seeing what these two have in store for 2022.
HAIM
HAIM are made up of sisters Este, Alana and Danielle, and together, they've become stars of the alternative music world. Having grown up in a musical family, it makes sense that they started a band together, after playing in other groups separately. They actually 'began' as a cover band, Rockinhaim, which was fronted by their parents, before HAIM (as we know it now) properly kicked off in 2012. Since then, they've released three albums, including 2020's Grammy-nominated Women In Music Pt. III.
Speaking to Variety about their bond, Este Haim explained, "We had such shitty experiences playing in bands with other people that weren’t each other. And we do have a theory also that our grandma is clairvoyant, so it might’ve been passed down from generation to generation. There’s a telepathy that doesn’t happen if you’re not a sister.” Clearly, HAIM was meant to be.
Chloe x Halle
Chlöe and Halle Bailey form the group Chloe x Halle, one of the world's most successful R&B groups. Recording all their tracks at their home studio, the pair's bond has always been evident, including on 2020's Ungodly Hour, which saw them nominated for the Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album. Their music channels classic soul singers through an R&B lens, with Beyoncé mentoring them during their early days as a duo.
However, working with your sister can lead to unwanted comparisons, and some of the coverage of their success involved pitting the two against each other. Speaking to In The Know, Chlöe explained, "I hate when people online constantly try to compare my sister and I. It is the most shallow, most disturbing thing.
"It was very off-putting to know how people would try to put two young Black sisters who love their craft so much and love each other so much, how they try to pit them against each other just because they’re different in some ways. So that’s the only downside.”
Skepta & JME
While grime icons Skepta and JME have become household names in UK music and beyond in their own rights, it's always fun when the pair jump on a track together. In recent years, they've gone verse for verse on That's Not Me and Nang, and they bring out the best in each other.
As part of their label Boy Better Know, the pair have helped revitalise grime in the UK, while Skepta in particular has seen success in countries like the US and Australia. Their younger siblings, Julie and Jason, have also had an influence on the music world - Julie is a prominent radio presenter, while Jason has designed album covers for both Skepta and JME.
Broods
New Zealand siblings Georgia Nott and Caleb Nott form Broods, who over the better part of a decade have been producing swirling electronic pop music that hooks you in and doesn't let go.
Growing up in a musical family, the pair were encouraged to learn to play music - but working together came naturally. Speaking to the AU Review, the pair explained, "They encouraged us to play music and learn instruments, but they didn’t push us to do anything, didn’t push us to be in bands or anything… It’s kind of like that came on our own.
"I went to so many guitar teachers – I didn’t really like going to instrument lessons or anything like that, so I ended up teaching myself because I didn’t like listening to anybody else. And I wanted to play the songs that I wanted to play! But yeah, we kind of encouraged each other I think, more than anything."
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My Chemical Romance
While only two of My Chemical Romance's members are brothers (Gerard and Mikey Way), it'd be remiss of us not to mention one of, if not the, most famous sibling bonds in emo music. The band's rounded out by Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and as a quartet, they're responsible for some of the biggest singalongs of the 2000s.
They've recently made a comeback, and while we're still waiting for their Australian tour, we're sure it'll be worth the wait. Who knows - you might even be heading along to the tour with a sibling that got you into the band all those years ago?