Shook Twins
Quirky, loop-driven folk built on identical twin harmonies. Acoustic banjo and guitar meet beatboxing and telephone-mic vocals for a warm, eccentric forest vibe.
Quirky, loop-driven folk built on identical twin harmonies. Acoustic banjo and guitar meet beatboxing and telephone-mic vocals for a warm, eccentric forest vibe.
Shook Twins offer a sound that feels like a secret shared between sisters in a treehouse. It is fundamentally folk, rooted in the woody resonance of banjos and upright basses, but it is constantly interrupted by delightful, eccentric choices. The music is airy and spacious, yet grounded by a rhythmic pulse that often comes from unexpected places like beatboxing or a giant golden egg shaker. It carries the specific warmth of the Pacific Northwest, blending the natural world with a DIY, art-school sensibility.
What truly distinguishes them is the eerie, perfect synchronization of their voices. Because they are identical twins, their harmonies possess a biological precision that creates a shimmering, single-instrument effect. They further complicate this traditional foundation with modern tools: live looping, distorted vocals through an old telephone, and a 'remix' philosophy where they weave contemporary pop snippets into their original compositions. It is folk music that refuses to stay in the past, opting instead for a playful, inventive present.
Start with 'Call Me Out' to hear their studio polish at its peak, or dive into 'Live from the Triple Door' to experience how they build their complex, looped soundscapes in real-time. Their acoustic versions of tracks like 'Safe' are also essential for those who want to hear the raw, unadorned power of their vocal connection. It is the perfect soundtrack for anyone who wants their acoustic music with a side of cleverness and a touch of the strange.
Shook Twins is a folk music group originally from Sandpoint, Idaho and currently based in Portland, Oregon, formed in 2004. The nucleus of the band consists of identical twin sisters Katelyn (guitar, mandolin, banjo, glockenspiel, telephone microphone) and Laurie Shook (banjo, guitar, tambourine, golden egg). Their style of music is often referred to as "quirky folk", which incorporates acoustic instrumentation including banjo, guitar, upright bass, mandolin, ukulele, glockenspiel, djembe, and their signature golden egg. Twin harmonies layered on top of acoustic instrumentation are coupled with Laurie’s beatboxing and inventive use of a looping machine, and Katelyn’s repurposed telephone microphone. The use of electronics sets their sound apart, creating an eclectic and eccentric blend of folk, roots, pop and fun. A Shook Twins staple is the addition of choruses or lines from other contemporary songs to their own songs, remix-style. They have toured coast to coast performing at festivals including High Sierra Music Festival, Oregon Country Fair, Hulaween, Northwest String Summit, Summer Camp Music Festival, Electric Forest, Lightning in a Bottle, Joshua Tree Music Festival, Arise Music Festival, Four Corners Folk Festival, Fayetteville Roots and more.
Shares banjo, chamber folk, cabin in woods, americana (signature)
Shares chamber folk, cabin in woods, americana, indie folk (subgenre)
Shares banjo, chamber folk, cabin in woods, indie folk (signature)
Shares chamber folk, cabin in woods, americana, indie folk (subgenre)
Shares baroque pop, chamber folk, cabin in woods, americana (subgenre)
Shares chamber folk, cabin in woods, americana, indie folk (subgenre)
Shares banjo, chamber folk, cabin in woods, indie folk (signature)
Shares banjo, chamber folk, cabin in woods, indie folk (signature)
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