Blonde SESTRA | Brunette SESTRA

I’ve always been the kind of person where my emotional highs are very high and my lows are how-low-can-you-go kind of lows and I write from both extremes. When the feelings well up and I’ve screamed, cried or laughed till it hurt and still have more to say--then I turn to music to help process the rest of the emotions. Finishing a song is like putting to rest that issue, relationship or feeling that I had. I metaphorically put it in a song-box, tie a bow and call it a day.

This is what a #napprotest looks like 😂 can't sleep, but can't lift his head off the ground either... #nomorenaps #notmymommy #babieshaverightstoo

Love freaking WINS. And Sean Spicer is the new Kremlin. Lying to make Trump look good on day 1. Gonna be a long fight.

Getting ready for the #womensmarchonwashington here in The OC, with a little help from my toddler 😍 #womensmarchoc #lovewins #womensrightsarehumanrights #pussygrabsback #resisttrump #silenceisconsent

FRIENDS. Some of the best ☺

Happy new year 😍

It's grainy and fuzzy cause we are OUT LATE! Wait what?! #newyears #bye2016 Thank you Mimi and Pa for watching the boy! @dottiepodolak @stephenpodolak

"I wanna hold your haaaaaaaaand" 😍😂 @ecoates2

When football falls on Christmas Eve! On our way to gram's house!

Last night we watched Elf and Johnny laughed the whole time and loved it and my dad was so proud 😂

This face!

Surf City Santa was a bit of a bust since he wasn't in his airstream due to rain.... lol. But Johnny told him he wants Chick Hick's Mack and Jeff Gorvette's pit crew.... this kid lives and breathes Cars ❤😍

Cheeeeeese!!! Playing with his "struction cars" at Pacific City last night

Mimi and the boys!

Cousins ❤️☺️ these boys made Johnny's day! Christmas preschool performance 2016! Mommy and daddy both cried 😭 how do they grow up so fast?!!!

We clean up sometimes and cut a rug 💃

Daisy and Johnny 👶🏼🐶 #turnthelightsbackoffmom

❤️ @alliequinnmusic you beat me to posting this shot ☺️

"Shhhh, don't tell my mom that I eat mashed potatoes at school"

Happy thanksgiving from this little pilgrim!

💗 thank you, @alliequinnmusic --this brightened up what was not my favorite week, and I'm moving forward with positive vibes ✌🏼️ xoxo

I love to be at home with my guitar on the couch or out on the dance floor. I perfected my bootylicious moves listening to Destiny’s Child in high school!

I can’t live without my God, my husband and my son of course! I’d be sad without chocolate and access to every single Beatles album at all times. Also it would be a terrible world without mascara for us blonde-lashed girls of the world.

Love, Carolyn

NBC Universal’s David Alvarado is spinning Take My Heart on his personal Spotify December Playlist! You can listen to us (and Demi Lovato!) 🎧 . . . . #demilovato #spotify #playlist #spotifyplaylist #sestramusic #december #merrychristmas #singersongwriter #takemyheart #thisisus #nbc #nbcuniversal

#sestramusic on #thisisus What a beautiful week! Counting down til the episode airs @ 9p on the west coast. Thanks for all the love <3 We have a tissue box in hand. @the_outpost_studio . . . . #mandymoore #miloventimiglia #sterlingbrown #chrissymetz #justinhartley #thebigthree #bigthree #pearsons #tv #love #family #jackpearson

...this is us, on THIS IS US 🎉🥂🍾 . . . . #thisisus #nbcthisisus #nbc #sestra #sestramusic #instagood #instamood #indiemusic #indiefolk #indiepop #singersongwriters #chrissymetz

TOMORROW! Women in the Arts night @saintrocke 🙋🏼🙋🏻 A ladies night line up with women performers as well as visual artists showcasing their work. $10 cover but 60% of proceeds go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation!!! Hope to see you there 💗

Hotel Café with my sister? Still can't believe it. Tonight guys! We're on at 7p. #bucketlist #show @sound_collective

Excited to relax and jam with friends...come hang out for free beverages and great music <3 Thanks @gorgeousgotagun for having us!

Throwin' it back with this photo... Come hang out with us this weekend for First Friday's at Aviator Nation in Manhattan Beach <3 ------------------- 8:30-9: Sestra (stripped down acoustic set) 9-10: Gorgeous Got a Gun (full band set) 10-11: Josh Arbour feat. Ken Oak on Cello (intimate closing set) ALL AGES FREE Admission FREE Beer by Strand Brewing Co. & FREE Coffee by High Brew Coffee 206 10TH STREET, MANHATTAN BEACH, CA 90266

God Blessed the Moon is a poem, both romantic and lullaby, about how I felt when I met my husband and the anticipation of meeting of our son. I never drew a distinction; I never chose which one of them the song was about. If anything, it’s a snapshot of that moment, sitting pregnant on the couch with my husband, marveling at what or who had drawn the two of us together, and who this new soul was that was being brought to life to make us three. Link to video in bio. 🌙 . . .📸: @bridgetteambrose . #newmusicvideo #newmusic #god #godblessedthemoon #thursdaymotivation #newmom #motherhood #mommy #romance #love #instagood #instaart #instadaily #instalike #indie #indiemusic #indieart #indiepop #newlife #family #nursery #babyboy

God Blessed the Moon --full video out tomorrow 🌙

(Part 3) How do two souls come to meet one another? How do two souls come to mean everything to one another? It was a planned pregnancy, yes. But how did the little boy inside of me get chosen to be my son? I was willing to have a child--any child--but something, someone, seemed to be in charge of exactly who he was going to be and where in the world he was going to be born. I was going to be his mother, and he didn’t get to choose me, either. Something else was drawing the two of us together and suddenly the biology of what was happening to my body became something more. Maybe this was what my mom was trying to get me to understand. . I had felt that way once before, when I met my husband. Why is it that when I met him, I just knew? How are we drawn to certain souls? The relationship immediately transforms who we are, how we see ourselves, and our entire future. We become alive in a way we didn’t know possible when this kind of love is brought forth. Suddenly, that person is everything. They are a light. And they are home. . New music coming tomorrow! 🌕🌙 . . . #indiemusic #indiepop #indieartist #indieart #indie #moon #godblessedthemoon #newbaby #newmommy #pregnancy #newmoms #romance #love #newmusic #newmusicvideo #family #familytime #newlife

(Part 2 of 4) At around six months pregnant, I flipped the channel to watch the Country Music Awards with my husband. I explained to him that country songs are only 3 chords, and almost always about God, farms and beer. I began giggling as I started making up a tune, “God blessed the cows, down on the farm…” (performed with a goofy southern accent). I was pretty much in a state of delirium from being stuck inside for months. He laughed. But the melody kept playing in my head. Then, very suddenly and quickly, the concept for this song came to me, and I could barely write it down as quickly as it came. 🌝🌜🌕 . . . . . . 📸: @bridgetteambrose #godblessedthemoon #moon #pregnancy #cma #indiemusic #indiepop #indieartist #indieart #indie #countrymusic #songwriting #songwriter #newmusic #music #musicvideo #notebook #anthropologie #preggo #motherhood #mommyhood #mom #mommy #sunday #sundayfunday #art #artist

I was so sick on that extra progesterone pill they gave me at 6 weeks pregnant, that I drove straight to my mom’s. Plopped on her couch. Told her I can’t get up without hurling. And the doctor told me I’m only allowed to walk to the bathroom and back. So you’re stuck taking care of me. Please, for the love of GOD do not cook with garlic. No onions either. And don’t make any coffee. You know what, can you just go out to eat and never bring any food home? . When they put you on bedrest, you have a lot of time to think about what the heck is happening to your body. Thoughts that entered my mind: why does it feel like I am dying? How does something that small make me feel like DYING? Why is this blood sucking vampire DRAINING THE LIFE OUT OF ME?! I said that last thought out loud once, and the look my mother gave me was similar to the time I wanted to wear a slutty outfit on Halloween at 14. . . My mother brought me mommy-literature. You know, the books where they compare what’s growing inside of you to fruits and vegetables: “you’re baby is the size of a fuzzy peach this week!”. I still referred to it as a vampire. She tried creating a Pinterest board with nursery decorating ideas. I hated everything. The best part of my day was when my husband would bring me a Coke. From McDonald's. A medium, preferably. For some reason nobody would let me have the large. 🌙🌝🌕 . . . .📸: .#godblessedthemoon #god #moon #pregnancy #preggo #kids #mom #momlife #sahm #songwriters #love #singersongwriters #motherhood #nursery #anthropologie #blonde #saturdayvibes #saturdaymorning #music #newmusic #indie #indieart #indieartist #indiepop #indiemusic

Sorry for the radio silence! We’ve been enjoying the new album, relaxing, and ya know...being sisters. Fear not we have a new video for ya comin’ next week. 🌙🌕🌝 . . . . . . #songwriters #songwriting #moon #nursery #motherhood #mom #momhood #pregnancy #sestra #sestras #sestramusic #anthropologie #love #music #newmusic #indiemusic #indieartist #indiepop #art

We are proud to present our first full length album, Homespun. Thank you to everyone who encouraged us, supported us, and enjoyed this journey with us! We put all our love and creativity into this project, and we hope you have all the same feels as you listen <3 Link for download in bio

We've had so much help and support along the way to make this full length album...and so we're throwing a party to celebrate with our favorite people. If ya haven't heard yet...it's THIS SUNDAY at @thedudesbrew in Torrance. We're bringing our freshly printed CDs, food, and our favorite South Bay Artists. But we're most excited to see YOU. Much love.

CALLING ALL GOOD VIBES : We're sending our mastered CD out for printing and duplication...the last step! This is my first time printing CDs and will be my third attempt at getting this disc into the correct hands. Let's just say the original copy is lost in the void of the USPS. I'm hoping if I have enough good wishes this baby will finally get printed. Ready, set, go! - #thebrunettesestra #goodvibes #goodenergy #prayers #happythoughts #imnotpicky #illtakeumall

The LAST Let's Get Married Story, Brunette Edition 💍: . . And that's how we finished writing, and ultimately came up with the video idea for Let's Get Married. When writing our final version of the song, @theblondesestra and I dove into the complete innocence and untainted Joy that we are so capable of having when we are young. A naive view of jumping into Love and promising forever to someone. Almost fairytale like...whimsical and free. To capture a video @theblondesestra threw a mock party for the little ones we know and let them have at it. It was brilliant, orchestrated chaos and @biajurema captured it all. When you consider how hard it is to take just a single good photo of everyone at a 2 year old birthday party, it's kind of incredible. And of course thanks to all the kiddos, and their parents for being so willing to play along with us and create some Big Magic. . . . . #songwriters #innocence #kids #kidwedding #love #singersongwriters #indiemusic #indiefolk #indiepop #indieart #indieartist #newmusic #newmusicvideo #letsgetmarried #wedding #weddingsong #marriage #cute #beautiful #instamood #instalike #instagood #instadaily

The Let's Get Married Brunette Edition, cont: . On the way to work one day I was listening through our mini library of songs for some inspiration for our Homespun album. Although @theblondsestra had shelved Let's Get Married, I was suddenly inspired with a new rhythm for the song that took it out of the country realm, and into the acoustic pop world - channeling my inner T Swizzle [aka Taylor Swift]. Still, the lyrics needed refining. Later that week @theblondsestra and I scheduled out time together in my apartment to simply sit and finish off all our floating ideas. Let's Get Married was on the table. We knew the song was about getting married, but there was honestly little else. Carolyn's moment of inspiration was 3+ years passed, and we might have shelfed the song all together had the melody not been catchy enough to bounce around in our head for all those years. I've heard @elizabeth_gilbert_writer say on multiple occasions that creativity deserves devotion. It takes a bit of diligence to stay committed to a song even after the inspiration has passed through. So, in honor of the craft, we both sat on separate corners of my carpet to write and hopefully finish Let's Get Married. After a good period of quiet time both @theblondesestra and I simultaneously said "This song is about little kids". Big Magic. . . Link to full music video in bio! . . .📸: @bridgetteambrose . . #letsgetmarried #bigmagic #elizabethgilbert #instalove #instacool #instadaily #instamood #instalike #songwriting #songwriters #songwriter #creativity #taylorswift #tswizzle #newmusic #indiemusic #indieart #singersongwriters #art #artist #saturday #saturdayafternoon

Let's Get Married, the #brunettesestra edition, cont: When @theblondsestra and I were getting ready to present our album to producers, it was around the same time that @elizabeth_gilbert_writer 's book Big Magic came out. @theblondesestra had been talking about it for several weeks, so I downloaded the audiobook for myself. If I'm honest, at first the book didn't really strike me. It's not that I'm closed off to the idea that creativity has a realm of it's own living somewhere outside ourselves waiting to be tapped into. I just didn't bond with the idea. And trust me, I could talk for days about the ether, the inconceivable amount of empty space in this universe that is unaccounted for, and furthermore, the possible uses and attributes of said space. But you have to find the right crowd for that kind of conversation...for obvious reasons. Anyhow, @theblondesestra introduced the topic and we adopted the words Big Magic into our vocabulary. [P.S. If you haven't read the book, I do recommend it. If you're a creative person it might give you some language to help describe how ideas are born. If you're not a creative person (although I would argue everyone is), it will provide you some language to help describe how the creative loved ones in your life do sometimes lose complete and utter touch with reality. It's ok. We know it. And we're ok with it.] . . #bigmagic #elizabethgilbert #beautiful #cute #singersongwriters #songwriting #sisters #sisterduo #indieart #indiemusic #indiefolk #indiepop #indieartist #creativity #creativeliving #newmusic #instadaily #instalike #instamood #instadaily #instacool #instalove

What I love most about myself is my thought process. I tend to think slowly, methodically and metaphorically. Sometimes I veer off into an abstract abyss, but I always wander back. On that note, I really love studying science and math (nerd alert). I think too much for my own good, and I enjoy it.

I am most uncomfortable when I feel misunderstood, or unable to express and communicate myself. Most of my childhood nightmares revolve around being unable to speak or move. Writing music is the perfect rebuttal to this fear. I write music to liberate my thoughts, but more importantly, to connect with other people.

My happy place? In a thrift store, marketplace, or busy street drinking coffee. I’m a romantic person, and tend to have faith and respect for just about anyone or anything. I have faith in the potential for a piece of furniture to be restored into a masterpiece, and I imagine that the people walking through the store are living out the most brilliant of untold stories. Dramatic? yea, I know.

I can’t live without faith. Faith in others, faith in myself, faith that life is designed to be good.

Love, Steph

SISTERS

Blonde SESTRA | Brunette SESTRA