Sisterhood makes Rod’s girl a chip off the old block
GROWING up as Rod Stewart’s daughter must have been anything but boring. Not only did Ruby Stewart get to enjoy a jet-setting lifestyle that involved staying in the best of hotels and resorts. But she also inherited the singer’s pitch and tone and showmanship and is one half of the vocal harmony group The Sisterhood.
Ruby, 28, who is Rod’s daughter with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Kelly Emberg, started The Sisterhood last year with Nashville-born singer songwriter Alyssa Bonagura. The country-infused duo released a song called Tenderize My Heart on YouTube last June. Alyssa is the daughter of singers Michael Bonagura and Kathie Baillie of US country band Baillie and the Boys and both singers have released a self-titled EP which is a clever mix of pop and folk with the sort of harmonising melodies that would send shivers down your spine.
On June 12 they will play their first Irish show at the Academy Two and have promised an intimate experience like never before. ‘When we tour over here we just bring our acoustic guitar and a loop pedal,’ Alyssa says. ‘Rod (Stewart) had us out on a bunch of dates with him recently and he asked us to do it acoustically. So we were a little bit nervous because this was us playing stadiums with an acoustic guitar. So the loop pedal allows us to fill the space a bit more and then we sing all the parts and Ruby plays the tambourine. It is really fun and we love playing smaller rooms as well, because we get to tell the stories behind the songs and get to know the audience and take our time. We are really excited to be playing in Ireland because it is our first show ever in Dublin as The Sisterhood.’
The pair met through a group of musical friends while both working on their solo careers. Immediately bonding over growing up in the music business and sharing a mutual love and idolisation of folk goddess Joni Mitchell, it wasn’t obvious to them that their friendship should turn professional until they were jamming on some Joni songs backstage after seeing a Rod Stewart gig together. He listened to their glistening harmonies of a song or two and told them, ‘You two should start a band.’
RUBY says the organic nature of their friendship has helped them craft such memorable singles like Tenderize My Heart and the crunchy guitar track Ride. But every songwriting session seems to start with good conversation and a glass of wine.
‘When we met we felt like we knew each other forever,’ Ruby says. ‘We have known each other for three years. Our friendship is what keeps everything together. I don’t think people meet organically like that anymore. I think publishers might put people together these days for writes and whatnot. We are proud that we met through common friends and got together to form a band, kind of like the Beatles.
‘Alyssa comes from a lot of country and I grew up in the rock world, so my dad was also turning me onto a lot of blues and soul and when we get into a writing environment together we get to bring the best of both our worlds together and what we grew up on — which is everything from Fleetwood Mac and James Taylor to Joni Mitchell.’
When it comes to dreams, The Sisterhood are on the brink of realising their personal goals. They have just landed a deal in Nashville with Sony Music and hope to have their debut album on the shelves by Christmas. They are also on tour with Rod Stewart, which gives them access to a market of music fans, although admittedly they can be a rowdy crowd.
‘When I was 15 I was playing at one of his shows and I was in Glasgow and a woman flashed me in the front row,’ Ruby says. ‘I think I stopped playing for a moment and this was a weird, awkward situation. We have had a lot of fun opening for my dad and the crowds have been incredible and he is always so supportive.’
But famous parents aside, The Sisterhood are more than ready to go it alone with some great tunes.