Twin sisters Chandra Watson and Leigh Watson are daughters of the Deep South whose music crosses the divide between country traditions and contemporary roots music. Born and raised in Louisville, KY, the Watson Twins took up singing when they were young girls, following the example of their mother, who would sing along with her favorite tunes around the house. In 1998, Chandra and Leigh pulled up stakes and moved to Los Angeles in hopes of making a career in music. They spent several years as backup singers with a popular local band and became fixtures on the hip music scene in Silverlake, where they performed with acts such as Orphan Train, Joe Firstman, and Rilo Kiley. The Watson Twins also began writing their own material and arranging the work of others to suit their unique harmonies, occasionally playing shows under the name "Black Swan."