The CityPaper Article
Twins deliver a personalized brand of country
By Ron Wynn, rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com
December 08, 2006
The word teamwork gets used almost as much in the musical world as in sports circles, but in the case of the family singing duo The Readings it has a particularly special meaning.
Both Eric and Chris Reading at one time were prime baseball prospects, with Eric hitting over .400 his senior season in college and Chris being a top left-handed pitching prospect good enough to get a minor league offer.
Indeed, the fraternal twins were also so accomplished in other areas that Chris was once the manager of a successful company and Eric had been accepted to medical school.
But music is their main love, with songwriting also high on the list. That brought them from California to Nashville a few years ago, and they’re now trying to make that final step up the ladder from being fan favorites to making their mark within the industry, although they remain committed to playing and performing the music they love, rather than just trying to find a formula for success.
The duo now seem well on their way with their current single “She Brings Me Down,” the first release from their most recent CD, “Everyday Life”. The song and video have received substantial exposure and can currently be viewed on their CMT.com artist page, on their website, Google Video, You Tube, and several other internet outlets.
“I guess you might say that we’ve really made some sacrifices for our music, but that’s because we not only truly love singing and writing, but because we believe in each other,” Eric said during a recent interview.
“One thing that you find out very quickly once you get to Nashville and start writing songs in this town is that there are really a lot of amazing writers and players. You find out just how much you didn’t know about songwriting, and you improve and sharpen your skills very quickly,” Chris added.
The duo’s music is alternately upbeat, reflective and inspirational, featuring shared leads and tight, appealing harmonies.
While clearly rooted in country, there are elements of acoustic, rock, and pop music in The Readings style, something that reflects their widespread love of many styles and artists, among them The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, U2, Coldplay, the Beatles, James Taylor, and Lyle Lovett. They’ve also become prominent spokespersons and representatives for the American Cancer Society due to their stirring single “One Of Those Days.”
“Our mother died from bone marrow cancer; one of the things we remember through the song was her bravery and spirit,” Eric said.
“We’ve gotten so much inspiration and love from people out there who’ve heard the song and the fact that the American Cancer Society has also used it to raise funds means so much,” Chris added.
The Readings continue playing any and all types of locales throughout the region, happy that more and more fans are discovering their music. And they continue pressing on: “We’ve made two albums and have written hundreds of songs, several of which are being pitched to major label artists, we’re working on a sponsored tour to raise money and awareness for cancer, a book project associated with the ‘cancer’ song, a video for our song “Wanda’s Song” which has been picked up by a national anti-bullying association, and of course, we’re writing all the time.”
We’re confident that we’re on the right track,” Chris concluded. “Maybe we’ll be the next act that emerges as “new” artists down the line,” Eric joked. “Whatever happens, we’ll always keep playing.”
