Fresh Find: The Darlins

We are happy to announce the talented country duo The Darlins as our latest Fresh Find here at Freshly Brewed Country!

"We’re sassy, rootsy and country,” says Erinn Bates. “Let’s just call it bluegrass with a smoky eye,” continues Jude Toy. Separately, Jude and Erinn had won competitions, booked major gigs, and turned many heads on Music Row before they established their duo adventure as The Darlins. The soulful guitar playing and rich harmonies of Jude paired with the rootsy mandolin strumming and the hauntingly-beautiful voice of Erinn makes one hit-making team.

Their unique blend of rocking’ country guitar riffs tinged with bluegrass-infused mandolin and vocals, make this hot female duo a force to be reckoned with on the country scene. Their hippy-chic image, powerhouse songwriting, high energy performances and soulful mountain harmonies elevate these girls high above the rest.

Not only are they multi-talented instrumentalists, but their competitive songwriting skills have helped round up a posse of superstar hit songwriters who they have collaborated with over the years including, Tia Sillers (Grammy, CMA, and ACM Award-winning songwriter, I Hope You Dance), Tony Mullins (ASCAP “Song of the Year” winner, How Forever Feels), and the now-late Kim Williams (Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, CMA “Song of the Year” Winner, Three Wooden Crosses).

The Darlins met at the world renowned cosmetic company, Sephora, where both were makeup artists while pursuing music. Erinn, who had just signed a major label deal, remembers seeing Jude at the legendary Bluebird Cafe and being blown away. “I couldn’t believe the songwriting and incredible musicianship of this girl. I thought, ‘I need to be writing with her.” When the Nashville native’s label deal ended, she kept thinking that she needed to be partnering with someone like Jude who had as much drive and ambition as herself. Little did she know, a few months later they would begin a journey together that would change both of their lives.

Erinn traces the genesis of her musical journey back to listening to her sister playing piano as a child. Consequently, she started playing by ear and would engage lessons and a passion for the instrument through her college years. Those same pearl white and black keys were the foundation for Jude. Her mother was a concert pianist who would practice for eight hours a day teaching Jude the classics like Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. However, strings called her name in junior high and she has been strumming the guitar and singing ever since.

Jude moved to Nashville from the Pacific Northwest to pursue her dream of playing and writing music. After working with chart topping hit men, developing a TV show and building a star-studded network of industry friends, she wanted to start up a duo and immediately thought of her co-worker, Erinn. “I had heard a recording of Erinn and thought her voice was unbelievable. I knew she was a great writer as well, so I reached out and asked if she wanted to work together.”

Since their first performance as a duo, Erinn and Jude have performed all over the nation, gained a tremendous amount of fans and secured endorsements with Breedlove Guitars, Steve Clayton, Inc., Australian jewelry designer Julie Miles, Durango Boots, Capturing Couture and MAC Cosmetics.

In 2013, they won the national battle of the bands competition, The 2nd Hourly Gig sponsored by job search site, Snagajob. With over 100,000 votes cast by the public, the people voted The Darlins as their winner and they won the coveted spot to open for superstar country duo, Montgomery Gentry.

With the release of their debut EP Crush and their official music video for the title track Crush, The Darlins have gained a tremendous following and have proved that they are here to stay. It won’t be long before the airwaves and the wind will be whispering with the sound of The Darlins: high heels stomping out neo-traditional versions of country and bluegrass, like a whirlwind Alison Krauss, Trisha Yearwood, and Dolly.

We know you want to know more about The Darlins so continue reading to check out our interview with The Darlins.

FBC: What made you both want to get involved in the country music world?

JUDE: I always loved country music. I knew from a young age that it was the kind of music I wanted to write and sing. The lyric is very important in country as is the melody. In other forms of music, that isn’t necessarily the case. I love to tell a story and have it mean something to the listener, and write a melody that reaches people and makes them feel something. It seems like the genre of country just fit all the things I love about music.

ERINN: Being born and raised in Nashville with a Dad that loved listening to country, I knew early on that I would pursue music. My passion has always been singing and writing songs.

FBC: How did you guys decide to form The Darlins?

JUDE: I met Erinn at Sephora when we both worked as make-up artists. I had heard how talented she was and when I heard her voice, I knew that she was someone I would love to collaborate with. I decided to ask her to try writing and singing together, once we did, it was magic. We wrote together before actually becoming The Darlins. We played a few shows and people started asking all about us and we thought, maybe we need to be a duo.

FBC: What was the backstory/inspiration behind your song “Blackberry Whiskey”?

ERINN: Jude had that really beautiful melody and riff you hear through the song on the guitar. It was very positive and happy and we wanted the lyrics to be that way. We started working on it and brought it to our friend and co-writer, Robin Ruddy. It was originally titled “When You Kiss Me,” but we really liked the idea of it being compared to a whiskey shot. A sweet shot! We had just gone to Gatlinburg for the Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival and tried Blackberry Whiskey and when we sang it, it just fit.

FBC: Who are each of your country music idols and why?

JUDE: The more I write and sing and think about the influences of my career, I have to say Dolly Parton sticks out most of all. I respect her talent and her music, but maybe even more than that, I respect her kindness and her incredibly generous nature. I think she is the most well rounded role model anyone could ever have and a total inspiration to me in all ways.

ERINN: My country music idol is Dolly Parton as well because not only is she an incredible performer, but she is also a brilliant songwriter and business person. She gives back to her community and helps so many people.

FBC: If you both could perform a duet with anyone who would it be and why?

JUDE: I would like to have Gretchen Wilson do a cameo on one of our songs. I really admire her and think she could add something really great to any Darlins song.

ERINN: Alan Jackson is one of my all time favorite country artists and I think we would have a blast. He is true country.

FBC: What are three fun facts about each of you that you want your fans to know?

JUDE: (1) I am a total coffee addict. (2) I’ve written a pilot for a television show and want to write more of them. (3) I love to decorate and have a blast looking for fun unique things in vintage shops and furniture stores.

ERINN: (1) I love theater. I was in lots of plays and musicals all through school. (2) I’m obsessed with the beach. (3) I have naturally super duper curly hair (I blow dry it straight often).