Chapin Sisters

The Chapin Sisters are an American Folk Pop harmony duo from Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of sisters Abigail and Lily Chapin, and formerly their half-sister Jessica Craven. Known for their blood harmonies, their sound blurs the lines between old-time Appalachian music, Americana, classic country-rock and pop.

They have toured throughout the U.S. and the U.K. and have appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone Magazine, Elle Magazine, Popmatters, NPR's Weekend Edition with Scott Simon, American Songwriter, Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe,The Los Angeles Times, NYT's T Magazine, Washington Post.

The Chapin Sisters also frequently perform with their father Tom Chapin, their cousin Jen Chapin, their uncle Steve Chapin and The Harry Chapin Band billed as 'The Chapin Family.'

Abigail and Lily were born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the Hudson Valley. They got their start at ages 6 and 8, lending their signature harmonies to their Grammy-winning father Tom Chapin's children's records, which led to them appearing on other children's records, including the Olsen Twins' "Brother for Sale" and "I Am the Cute One". They frequently appeared onstage with members of their family, including cousin singer/songwriter Jen Chapin and their half-sister Jessica Craven, whose father was the late director Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream); at benefit and tribute concerts honoring their uncle, the late folk icon and activist Harry Chapin, best known for his #1 hit "Cats in the Cradle."

By 2004, Abigail, Lily, and Jessica had relocated to Los Angeles, where Lily Chapin was working on a film directed by Barbara Kopple. They formed a band at the urging of Jessica’s filmmaker brother Jonathan Craven (the Chapins’ half-brother) who arranged for them to record at the home studio of Michael Fitzpatrick (Fitz and the Tantrums). Before they ever played a live show, a demo of their slow, acoustic version of Britney Spears's song "Toxic" gained attention and radio play around the country. Following their unexpected success, The Chapin Sisters started to play live concerts in Los Angeles, and began writing music together—songs that would eventually become Lake Bottom LP, their debut full-length album.

In 2008, they released Lake Bottom LP on the Plain Recordings label. The album was featured in SPIN, The Los Angeles Times and Popmatters, who compared them to labelmate Cat Power, "Like Ms. Marshall, they haunt the interstices of folk, pop, and blues, and play seductive games with the knife-edge of heartache. Their soft harmonies and dark sidelong lyrics fit perfectly into a new folk aesthetic that is more twisted than freaky," and "their music blends the harmonies of traditional sister-acts with a modern lyrical sensibility."

In early 2010, Jessica took a "leave of absence" from the band to spend time with her newborn baby. Lily and Abigail, now a duo, set out as touring band members for the folk pop duo She & Him (M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel) singing back-up vocals and opening many of the shows as well.

In April 2010, The Chapin Sisters released "Oh Hear the Wind Blow," a 5 song EP, recorded live in the studio with musician/engineer Dan Horne (Grateful Shred) on bass, and Aaron Sperske (Beachwood Sparks) on drums. Their single "Diggin A Hole" was featured as Today's Top Tune on KCRW.