Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Peach & Quiet. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Peach &, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Shortly after the Covid pandemic hit, we saw a social media post from renowned Nashville recording artist and producer, Steve Dawson, offering his services in a ‘new’ and streamlined approach of ‘remote recording’ of single songs, using his crew of ace studio musicians, who were located in various widely spread out locations, across North America. It was a scary time for musicians, with all of us wondering how we could possibly continue our craft, and support ourselves, when you couldn’t leave your home, except to get food or other essentials.

We had played a few gigs, and were starting to make a bit of noise on the local scene, but didn’t consider ourselves ‘anybody’, and certainly nobody new anything about us, outside of our hometown, and friends.

I knew people in the music industry who knew and worked with Steve in the past, so I figured ‘what the heck, let’s just throw our hat in the ring and see if he’d be willing to work with us’. Somewhat to our surprise, he said yes, and we proceeded to record a song; laying down our parts in what was basically a closet in a condo, and sending them to Steve, who handled everything else.

We were flabbergasted how good the resulting song was! So we decided to do a second song with Steve … and a third, and then a batch of a few more. Before long we realized we had enough material (9 songs) to release an album, and that’s exactly what we did!

Taking that risk turned out to be one of the best choices we’ve made so far, and launched our career beyond where we had ever dreamed it might go. Thank you Steve Dawson!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

We are Peach & Quiet, an Americana Folk Roots duo from Canada’s West Coast, comprising Jonny Miller and Heather Read. We launched our musical journey together in 2019, emerging from our log home with our debut album, “Just Beyond the Shine,” which quickly captured the hearts of folk and roots music enthusiasts across North America and beyond. This album not only topped charts but also received international airplay and critical acclaim, described as “superb” and “utterly original.” It was a moment of validation that propelled our music into global conversations, including being named BBC Scotland’s Record of the Week.

Our music blends elements of Americana, blues, rock, and touches of 1970s psychedelic rock influenced by the sounds of Laurel Canyon. We are storytellers at heart, crafting songs that convey themes of hope, courage, and gratitude. These themes reflect our mission to provide music that resonates deeply with our listeners, offering solace and reflection through harmonious melodies and thoughtful lyrics.

What sets us apart is our chemistry as musicians and life partners. Our dynamic is one of mutual respect and inspiration, which shines through in our collaborative songwriting and performances. Heather’s clear, soulful alto and Jonny’s gritty, expressive vocals complement each other, creating a sound that is distinct and captivating.

We are particularly proud of how we’ve managed to connect with audiences globally, even translating one of our songs, “Flowers Grow,” into Chinese. This not only speaks to the universal appeal of our music but also underscores our reach and influence across diverse cultures.

Looking ahead, we have released our second album, “Beautiful Thing,” produced by the renowned Steve Dawson and featuring top-tier musicians. This album represents our growth as artists and deepens the narrative styles we are known for.

For potential fans and followers, we want you to know that our music is a labor of love, crafted from the depths of our souls. We aim to create soundscapes that are not just heard but deeply felt, and we invite you to join us on this journey through the highs and lows of life, finding beauty and resilience along the way.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building a following on social media is not an easy thing to do! Maybe for a select few, but for the vast majority it is a long and arduous task, that requires perseverance and patience. I’m not even sure I would say we have a ‘following’ on social media at this point. Sure, there are a few hundred followers on this platform or that platform, but none of them seem to amount to much for us. The main area where it comes in handy is when applying for grants actually, because granting organizations are usually a few years ‘behind the times’ and they still think it matters. Sure, if you’ve got 100K plus followers on a platform, you can probably monetize it somehow, and help pay your bills, but for the rest of us who are well south of 5K, it’s just another thing that eats up energy, and can almost be categorized as a vanity project.

Having said all that, there is some advice, such as it is, that we can pass along.

First off, DO NOT buy followers! This will only result in supporting scam artists, crooks, and bot networks, and will almost certainly cause you harm, as you’ll get blocked.

Secondly, do your research. Find an industry expert or two who you trust, and follow their lead. Personally I listen to a fellow named Ari Herstand, who has a great podcast, that is totally free to listen to. If that’s not vibing for you, I’m sure there are plenty of other options out there. You don’t need to buy their stuff, just listen and absorb. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

And last but not least, get out of your bedroom and hit the road! The vast majority of our followers (slim as the numbers are) have come from going on tour. People who dig what we are doing might not want to buy anything (because hey, times are tough, we get it), but it costs them nothing to follow us on social media. We can see a direct correlation between when we are on the road, and our followers going up. I would even go so far as to say that it’s been the only measurable thing that has helped us grow our social media numbers.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Elect officials who support the arts!

In the current edition of democracy, everything is shaped by the laws we enact, and the economic systems we support or hinder. Choose carefully, based on research, when you vote. Don’t just jump on a bandwagon, consider what is important to YOU, and look to see what officials who are running for office have a HISTORY of supporting or blocking. What they say is not good enough, what matters is how they have acted in the past.

Your vote does matter, so don’t throw it away. Those less enabled than you (youth, folks with mobility issues, etc.) are depending on you to make a wise choice when you enter the voting booth (or whatever voting system is in place in your area).

Some areas have enacted laws and programs that support the arts, via grants and funding, both for artists, and the venues where artists share their works. As a generalization you’ll find that those areas have much more vibrant arts scenes than the areas that don’t have such laws and programs in place.

Contrary to what their advertising would have you believe, labels and streaming services are not in it for any other reason than making a profit, so we can’t rely on them to support us. Far from it, it is the artists who support them!

So vote wisely, and be sure to support live local music, and help artists pay the bills by purchasing their wares in person whenever possible, as this is the main place we earn a living.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peachandquietmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peachandquietmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peachandquietmusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrylGhCATz2F68l9nwWBg1Q
• Other: https://peachandquiet.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits

T. Kenta Kikuchi
Michael Wrycraft