One week from today...we record. Dear ReaderWelcome to Postcard #7 from Abbey Road! One week from today, Frances and I will begin recording our own parts in Nashville for our upcoming Christmas album with the London Symphony Orchestra. As that milestone approaches, I've been reflecting on our week in London while the orchestra recorded at Abbey Road - and on the unexpected little gifts we discovered along the way. Swans.A ladybug.A feather.A rainbow. Looking back, I don't think they were...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Dear ReaderHaving chosen an instrument that's...well...for lack of a better word at the moment, a bit obscure (no, it's not a clarinet—nor a bassoon!), I'm rather used to interesting reactions when I tell people I play the oboe. Or perhaps, when I simply play it for people, they might tell me how much they liked the flute I just played. I get it! It is beautiful, but it's not a very common instrument. Well, now that I think of it, maybe I really was born with a tad bit of resilience—my name...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Dear ReaderIf you're anything like me, lately it's been difficult to think about anything other than the heat. We've been in the middle of a tremendous heat wave here in Pennsylvania, with temperatures over 100 degrees for several days. It seems to seep into every aspect of life, doesn't it? It affects the way we live on multiple levels, that's for sure. In fact, here is evidence of me at an outdoor concert this past weekend: Just kidding, this is not outdoors...or a concert...in fact, this...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Dear ReaderWe hope this letter finds you well and enjoying your summer! It is hard to believe we have already hit the Summer Solstice, but I, for one, am grateful for warmer weather...even if it means I gave in to purchasing a portable fan for myself...Frances and I are in the midst of gearing up for our Nashville recording sessions in late July and are incredibly excited! Possibly also overwhelmed, but I'm doing my best to ignore that aspect LOL! But truly, this is where preparation is an...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Dear ReaderHappy Father's Day to all the dads, grandfathers, stepdads, and father figures in our Double Keyed community. We hope you've been enjoying a day filled with family, love and perhaps a little music!This week, we're shining a spotlight on someone who has provided a different kind of guidance throughout our musical journey - perhaps even a touch of the fatherly wisdom and encouragement that great mentors can often bring. His beautiful cinematic arrangements have shaped the sound of...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader The day before our recording session, we joined the crowd outside Abbey Road Studios.But unlike everyone else standing there, we were carrying a secret.Tomorrow.Tomorrow, we'd be walking through those gates. Frances & Kirstin outside the Abbey Road Studios gate, one day before the recording sessions. April 8, 2026📸 Ken MyersAbbey Road Studios 📸 Michael Upton Originally built in 1831 as a Georgian townhouse, Abbey Road Studios was purchased in 1929 by the Gramophone company. The...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader One of the things we have been most excited about since returning from London is seeing the photos from our day at Abbey Road Studios. A few weeks ago, hundreds of photographs finally arrived in our inbox. We've spent some time sorting through them and reliving the day, and we're excited to finally begin sharing a few of our favorites. While we're busy preparing for the next phase of the project in Nashville, we thought it might be fun to occasionally bring you along through a...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader While we still wrap our brains around all the details that go into preparing and executing this album release, I had a reminder this week of how this all started. It was fun to read and look back at what I was thinking 4 years ago. The older I get, the more reminders I need, it seems! Actually maybe my next blog will be titled, "What Was I Thinking?" Actually, that is more like my life mantra...but anyhoo... Here's a little blast from the past in blog form: What's the Big Idea? A...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Where Souls Find Sanctuary Dear Reader, The great thing about my relationship with Frances is that she is always giving me a new perspective. She is probably one of the most observant and reflective people I know, and with myself being someone who tends to rush from one thing to the next to “get it all done,” she is a great Yin to my Yang (The Yin-Yangs — new group name? 😅). Case in point: her latest blog. As a lifelong musician, I honestly never reflected much on applause other than when I...
3 months ago • 1 min read