Brooklyn-based folk duo The Ericksons claim a smorgasbord of disparate influences, from the usual suspects (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams et al.) to the less obvious, such as Radiohead and Yo La Tengo. But it is the joining of those seemingly contrasting inspirations that ultimately produces the pair’s sparkling take on the well-trod paths of American folk songwriting. With a keen appreciation of Americana storytelling and a gift for heart-wrenching melodicism and stunning harmonic twists, their sound is a perfect marriage of tradition and modernism." (Dan Bolles, Seven Days)

What is it that compels us to leave home, to leave family, our places of origin; to travel to places unfamiliar? For Bethany Erickson and Jenny Kochsiek it was a dream, a knowledge and an experience of beauty rooted deep in their lives. Something swept them from the Midwest to Brooklyn, NY where they have built a musical life, playing and singing in the venues of New York City as The Ericksons.

Their songwriting began years before moving to New York. Bethany, living in Wisconsin, committed her life to songwriting soon after leaving college. Jenny’s journey led her to New York to become a teacher in the summer of 2005. Despite the distance, destiny brought the two sisters back together, and their paths became intimately intertwined as they discovered the musical possibilities within each other. It is through making music together that the pair attempts to live honestly and find beauty even in the darkest of places. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.