Almost Famous: The Veronicas
It’s a gray, rainy Friday afternoon in Manhattan, and the Veronicas are skipping down the street. Ducking out of a photo shoot to grab a bite at a nearby diner, the 20-year-old cuties have politely declined Blender’s umbrella — their new UGG boots be damned. After all, what’s a couple hundred bucks when you’ve got a couple of million?No matter how good your life may be, the Veronicas probably have it better. Twin sisters Jess and Lisa Origliasso grew up writing songs together in Brisbane, Australia, amassing nearly 60 by the time they graduated from high school two years ago. Courted by several U.S. labels, they finally signed with Sire for $2 million — an unprecedented sum for a rookie act.
“It wasn’t like, ‘Here’s the check, do whatever you want,’” says Lisa, the younger (by a minute) and self-proclaimed “girlier” of the two. “You have to pay certain people, spend money on the album, hire producers … ” Still, says Jess — sporting black nail polish and a T-shirt that reads FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY — “It’s pretty huge.”
The label flew them to Sweden to record with reclusive teen-pop genius Max Martin and his partner Dr. Luke, the team responsible for Kelly Clarkson’s flawless “Since U Been Gone.” The resulting single, “4ever,” is an explosive plea for love (and some other stuff) guaranteed to inspire singalongs at sleepovers nationwide.
“The album’s about our lives,” says Lisa, who’s currently sharing a house in L.A. with Jess and five guys they met while recording there earlier this year. “We’re growing up away from home, having experiences we’ve never had, going through relationships. When you’re our age you’ve got a lot to say.”
“Yeah,” Jess laughs, elbowing her sister. “A lot to say about boys!”
Out Now:
The Secret Life of The Veronicas
(Sire)
