Meet the indie duo who called out American Idol on their BS

by Mark Teo

January 8, 2015

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While it’s easy to scoff at American Idol, there’s no denying the show’s impact on America’s broader musical—and heck, cultural—conversation. Yes, plenty dismiss it as schlocky, reality-TV fluff, and they’re not wrong. But it’s also entangled itself into American music’s star system: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Clay Aiken all became legit A-listers after their stints on the show. So, too, did William Hung, who might’ve released the best-worst Christmas album we’ve ever heard.

Still, strip the pageantry away, and American Idol still feels unnatural to most musicians. Who, for example, builds their names singing others’ songs? Who determines the validity of their music based on the opinion of reality-TV judges? And why, many of rock purists might argue, isn’t anyone playing their own instruments? And since when did bands compete head-to-head, anyhow?

Good questions, the lot. And those are the questions that Portland indie-folk duo Shook Twins—or indentical twins Katelyn and Laurie Shook—asked of American Idol. When the show asked the duo to perform individually, the two showed some incredible twin solidarity—and, in the process, called out American Idol for being phony. And not just regular old phony. Holden Caulfield levels of phony.

They took to Facebook to post this ten-bell callout of reality-TV music.

Dear American Idol,

Thank you for reaching out to independent Portland Musicians. However, we find it very surprising that you research established and successful bands to compete individually.

You said in your email invitation that, “You would have to audition us individually of course.” It’s interesting that you assume that would be OK. Sure, “Of course” we would abandon ten years of hard work and career building as a duo to be the next new “Pop Star” singing songs that we didn’t even write.

As many singers would love to audition to be the next American pop star, we respectfully decline your invitation. We are proud to be making a living off our art and being successful independent artists by our own design.

This is what we value as “indie” musicians:

*We get to work as a family team and build an exciting career from the ground up and stand proud of the gradual progress and success that our art garners.

*We are so honored to be holding the reins, to be steering in the direction that we choose, singing songs that say something special and that make people feel inspired.

*We get to create the inner workings of our performances, allowing our true vision to be projected during our shows. Our vision is about gathering people in one space to feel positive emotions together. We aim to create an environment in quaint venues and festivals that allows people to be comfortable in their own skin and to express themselves as they wish.

*It’s not about the fame or the money.

*Singing our own songs while playing our own instruments is essential to us.

We feel that music is not meant to be a competition. It’s a platform to say something powerful and should be a way of bringing people together, not separating them. We feel that your vision is completely different. We would be going against everything that we stand for by auditioning for American Idol.

Again, thanks for the invitation to compete for success that’s created by a separate entity, but we think we’ll keep doing what we are doing because it sure feels right!

Respectfully,

Shook Twins (Identical twin sisters who sing TOGETHER)

Who are the shook ones now, American Idol? (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.) Check out the Shook Twins’ music below.

Tags: Music, News, american idol, Shook Twins

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