CULTURE
THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF ALY & AJ
Singer-songwriters and actors Alyson and Amanda Michalka, known as Aly & AJ, are the entertainment world’s double threat sister-act who have recently reemerged with a new, sophisticated look and sound. They started their careers as young actors on Disney, broke through as music duo, synth-pop sister act, Aly & AJ in the mid-2000s with songs like “Potential Breakup Song”, “Into The Rush”, and “Insomniatic”; briefly re-branded as 78violet, and have returned as Aly & AJ after a decade long pseudo-break from music (during this time they focused on their acting careers and released the occasional EP and single). Last year marked the release of their 4th studio album, A Touch Of The Beat Gets You Up On Your Feet Gets You Out And Then Into The Sun. There is a grounding to this album that’s different from former ones. Fans can feel and hear Aly & AJ breaking out of their past persona and entering into their own as women. Songs focus on harmony, melody, and deeper songwriting that surpasses their younger efforts. At 32 and 30, respectively, Aly and AJ are about to embark on their tour of the US to promote their new album. Before packing up their tour bus, the sisters stopped by my studio to talk about their evolution as artists, women, and sisters, while posing for a photoshoot unlike anything they have done before.
(left) Scanlan Theodore powder blue tailored bustier, powdered blue tailored trouser; (right) Marcell Von Berlin women’s cropped top, women’s fitted blazer, women’s flared suit pants; (left) Audemars Piguet Royal Oak selfwinding “50th Anniversary” stainless steel case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, light blue dial with Grande Tapisserie pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. Stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp, (right) Royal Oak Selfwinding “50th Anniversary” stainless steel case and 18-karat pink gold bezel, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback. Silver-toned dial with Grande Tapisserie pattern, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. stainless steel bracelet with 18-karat pink gold links, AP folding clasp; (left) Malone Souliers Maureen pump; (right) Casadei Blade pumps; (left) Jack Vartanian choker in 18k white gold and 1.83 ct diamonds; (right) Eriness pink sapphire link earrings in 14k gold.
“It was inevitable that we would have a huge shift in our creative process and musical style, given that we started at such young ages.”
–ALY–
