Gracie and Rachel - Gracie and Rachel (2017)

Gracie and Rachel are a study in duality: light and dark, classical training with a pop sensibility, Californians in New York. Their music pits anxiety and tension against an almost serene self-assurance. The result is a compelling juxtaposition of Gracie's piano and lead vocals and Rachel's violin and voice, augmented with stark percussion.

Like their stylized color palette of black and white, their instrumentation appears simple and spare at first glance, but there's a powerful prism effect at work that brings us back to the concept of duality: their songs are intimate and expansive, questioning and confident. The nine orchestral-pop songs on Gracie and Rachel' tell a story that's rooted in the truth --their truth -- but retain an enigmatic air that makes them relatable to anyone who has ever found their heart racing with doubt and pushed forward regardless.