While there is a currently a space for musical duos: Matt and Kim, Alex and Sierra, and Oh Wonder, there is always room for another musical duo if they simply make space for themselves.
And these two do. Meet Perlo: a modern folk duo comprised of Henri Bardot and Marie Hsiao based in Portland, OR. They self produce write and record their own music.
Henri Bardot is from Orcas Island and describes his music as Indie Folk. He released an album January 1st of 2013 named Tunnels. The gentle sound of his guitar pairs nicely with his raspy and yet still smooth voice. Besides having an album released three years ago and one video posted on his YouTube account, he doesn’t seem too active on social media. He has both a Twitter and Instagram account but they are both not updated as regularly as other musical artists.
His counterpart, Marie Hsiao, however has more of a social presence. Best known as Mree, she is an indie folk singer-songwriter from New Jersey. She is of Taiwanese and Bulgarian descent. She began writing her own songs at the age of 14 and has released three albums since then, garnering a total of three albums at the age of 22: Grow (2011), Winterwell (2013), and Empty Nest (2015). She began her career like many others such as Justin Bieber, and more recently, Alessia Cara, on YouTube by posting her own renditions, gathering several million video views. Her first album debuted at #18 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Chart while her second album trended at #52 on the iTunes top alternative albums charts.
While Perlo has yet to release their EP, which will be coming March 2016, their current single, “Right Where You Left Me”, masterfully meshes their two musical styles, capturing the ethereal quality of innocence but also their soulful, gut-wrenching quality with their poetic lyrics.
While their music may not reach a larger so-called “mainstream” audience, the people who do find and fall in love with their music will surely be loyal fans. If their single is any indication for their EP will sound, listeners are in for a calm and very satisfying ride.