This is Scarlett Affection circa 2011.
Bangalow sisters Melia and Nerida Naughton have been joined at the hip since they could sing 'Mary had a little lamb.'
Spending their (in)formative years in Sydney and then south of Hobart hanging out in a dilapidated apple orchard, stage shows were mandatory in the Naughton family household.
Complete with bedsheet curtains, hairbrush microphones, tennis racquet guitars and constant arguments over who would take the lead line. Refreshingly, nothing much has changed with bickering, banter and butting heads a standard accompaniment to the magic that these sisters conjure. After education separated the sisters by states, Melia and Nerida reunited in Bangalow where their musical union grew into Scarlett Affection.
A great love of harmony and humour has led to Songwriting Awards, touring grants, shows in New York City, Festivals in Memphis and Toronto, The Blues Festival, Peats Ridge, and stunning shows in Sydney venues The Basement, The Vanguard and the Sydney Opera House.
Scarlett Affection returned from their Real Raw and Regional Tour with the assistance of a TRAX Touring Grant, spending 28 days travelling through remote mining towns and Indigenous communities through western NSW. Fondly dubbed the ‘Diesel and Dust’ Tour, the footage from the Scarlett journey has already created a buzz in film networks, with a documentary planned for the next Scarlett Tour.
Since returning from rigourous touring, the sisters were keen to breathe life into the quaint and characterful local halls in the Northern Rivers region and have appeared in several small shows and played some great supports for Clare Bowditch, Tinpan Orange and Renee Geyer.
A major development in the Scarlett world is the launch of the Scarlett School - a contemporary music school. This is a dynamic learning space for kids and adults who want to learn fresh contemporary music. The Scarlett School was officially launched in June 2010 and has already presented two sell out school concerts. With a personal and personalised approach, a team of energised and skilled teachers and a focus on originality and passion, the School has recently acquired a Patron, the inimitable Paul Dean, Director of the National Academy of Music and the Director of the Bangalow Music Festival. Check the Scarlett School page on the website.
Scarlett Affection have also been invited to take part in the 2011 Artstart Youth Mentoring Programme and will be mentoring a young and emerging performer. More details to be unveiled shortly.
Scarlett Affection have recently recorded with the fabulous Sydney based producer Dave Symes. The new offering will be released in early 2012 on Vitamin Records.
In the meantime, to launch the single, an intimate concert is planned for September 1st at a beautiful new venue yet to be disclosed.. Ssshhh...it’s a secret....there will be limited tickets and this will be the only Scarlett Affection exclusive show for 2011. Check back to the Scarlett Shows page for information!
Scarlett Affection is the sassy, cheeky theatrics of sisters Melia & Nerida. With an onstage delivery that is infectious, original catchy songs and the remarkable chemistry of sisters on stage – this is a sharp show.
And now to the music. Synergy and simpatico are central to the sound of Scarlett Affection. Harmonies and folk pop songs oozing with sass and soul. Affecting ballads that stir the poignant pot of emotion; soaring choruses that hook into your heart; quirky ditties that make you want to dance in the rain – Scarlett Affection have a blazing stage dynamic that throws opens the Pandora-like box of secretive sibling rivalry for everyone to experience.