INTERVIEW WITH SOUTHERN HALO AS THEY GO FROM A TRIO TO DUO

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of catching up with my good friends, Southern Halo made up of sisters, Natalia (Nata) and Christina (Tinka) Morris.

Southern Halo recently want from a trio to a duo as their sister, Hannah left to pursue her dreams of Interior Design.

Photo Credit: Danielle Del Valle

Good Afternoon, Natalia and Tinka.
I am so grateful for you agreeing to this chat with me, it's been such a long time.

How's Nashville treating you during this lockdown?

Nata: We are currently being quarantined at our family home in Cleveland, MS until it is safe to return back to the city! 
Tinka: We're fortunately quarantined here in the Mississippi Delta with our family at the moment. We figured it would be easier to social distance in a small town rather than a big city. Also, who better to be stuck in a house with for a long period of time than your family?
I love that you are with your family allowing you all to have some incredible family times.

So, recently you girls went from a trio to duo, how are you girls finding the change?

Nata: We are finding the change to be a little different - of course we are going to miss having Hannah on the stage and road with us - but it is also challenging and exciting! We have played music together our whole lives. It’s what we love to do. Tinka and I are having so much fun in the creative process for these new originals and have a super fun show planned, and Hannah is still to this day our #1 fan and biggest supporter. We are proud of her for chasing her dream, and vice versa.

Tinka: Continuing our career as a duo, Nata and I are still having SO much fun creating music and performing live.
I bet it will always be a little weird without Hannah, but I love how you girls are always up for a challenge. I can't wait to see what your journey now holds for you as a duo.

Please tell me you both, have been continuing with the song-writing?

Nata: Being an entertainer/singer/musician a majority of the time, I wasn’t writing as much as I had wanted to. With the quarantine (and of course growing through new life changes), I have been really focusing on the writing process and challenging myself creatively. Every day I am getting on FaceTime with writer friends and we write whatever is heavy on our hearts and minds at the time. And then taking these new songs to Tinka to add her own flare and style to them makes them even better! We are so excited to share.
Tinka: I think it is very safe to say that Nata has been throwing more songs out now than ever before! We have a lot of new material coming soon, and we can't wait to share everything with y'all real soon.

Would you say your style as songwriters and with the vocal arrangements, have changed a lot since Hannah left?

Nata: Yes! Hannah left in a time of change for Southern Halo. We were already discussing a more mature look and I had already been focused on writing more honestly to who we are and our experiences. Also, with having a two-part harmony now, it allows us to get more creative with our harmony parts as opposed to Hannah always taking low and Tinka high.
Tinka: I think our style in general has become more clear and more true to who we are as artists and individuals ever since the start of this year (2020). We are LOVING the direction our career is headed.

2020 is already a year of change for you girls, so with that does it mean we can expect music from you this year?  If so, can fans expect a change in the style of music, we can expect?

Nata: Absolutely! We have a handful of songs that are ready for a new project to be released later this year. Thanks to learning from experiences, growing in the music industry and working with a new producer, we have made it to where our new releases are more honest and true to where we are, and what we sound like, LIVE on stage. It is so exciting!
Tinka: Oh without a doubt! We're on the edge of our seats just waiting to share our new music with you guys. It's all going down this year, so stay tuned!
At least when you go back on stage it will be super special and wonderful for you ,both.

Last weekend during a Instagram livestream with your fans, you shared about you wanting to start working on more merchandise, what kind of things are you thinking?

Nata: Yes! We are currently working on new merchandise that should be available later this spring! We are working on some new shirts, hats, coozies, patches, and more.

Tinka: Yes! So, with this new chapter in Southern Halo's career, you better believe there is going to be some new fun merch! It's all going to be available on our website, southernhalo.net, very soon!!

Like, I did say on the livestream the UK loves lyric sheets and glasses, but I have to say I was surprised when you said you didn't know this - is the UK so different to the U.S?

Nata: That is true! We have the occasional requests for our lyric sheets after our live shows, but so far here in America lyric sheets are not in high demand. However, it can be done, so we are thinking about selling lyric sheets to our top singles.
Tinka: We love every single one of our fans, no matter where they're from or who they are! It is certainly fun to see what different items fans from different nationalities favor/cherish most!

You also shared that this year, you were meant to be back in the UK this year, how did you keep this a secret from me? Knowing how much I want to see you haha.

Nata: We wanted to surprise you! We are now thinking about setting up our next tour for the early months of 2021. 

Tinka: Hahaha! We love you, Kellie! We were going to surprise you!! We promise to let you know when we plan to come back.
I am super sad about this because I had no idea about this and it would have been so special but hopefully one day.

Talking about you coming back to the UK, how much are you missing your English fans?

Nata: We miss them SO much. To this day, the most memorable stories are from touring the UK and looking back on all of the relationships we have made along the way! We still keep in touch with many of our fans.
Tinka: Oh. My. Goodness. Y'all will never know how much Nata and I truly appreciate our UK fans!! Every trip over there feels like a family reunion and/or a party. Y'all are just too much fun!! Can't wait to see y'all again!
The UK definitely miss you!

Are us UK fans different to the U.S fans, you have?

Nata: I wouldn’t say they are too different! Of course we love all of our fans (as they are all super energetic, sweet and supportive); however, fans in the UK are more die hard to learning all of the songs on our albums as opposed to the singles they hear on the radio. We also noticed that lyric sheets and vinyl records are more popular as merchandise as opposed to the ball caps and drink coozies here in America!

Tinka: Oh, in all the best ways, haha! Every show we ever had in the UK was just such a treat, because y'all never ceased to show that you really care about every aspect of every song. Yall's attentiveness to our music has always made us feel "at home" and very appreciated. Y'all really know how to treat us musicians, and we love you guys for it!

Once lockdown is over, will you girls be going back out on the road or will you just spend time songwriting?

Nata: YES! Oh girl, the road is calling our name! We are working on our show as we speak, so stay tuned! We can’t wait to see everyone!

Tinka: Oh my goodness. When this lockdown is all over, we are immediately packing up our bus and hitting the road!! We just can't wait to get the opportunity to share our new material with you guys IN PERSON again, haha!
Bring on the new music, Nata and Tinka.

Thank you so much for your time today, girls.

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