Natalie Closner almost missed what was right in front of her. Growing up in a musical household in Estacada, Oregon, Natalie always knew her sisters Meegan and Allison could sing. But it wasn’t until Natalie’s music career as a solo artist recording in Nashville stalled that she considered they might be the answer she was looking for all along.

Not that music was in the cards originally for Meegan or Allison. Neither sister played instruments, and they hadn’t ever sung together (which making their pitch-perfect harmony all that much more surprising). As Meegan tells Willamette Week, “it feels like cheating sometimes. We didn’t hone this and practice it…it just is.” With lines picked directly from eldest sister Natalie’s journal, like the album title “I’m alone, no you’re not,” songwriting seems to be an equally organic process.

Now, the folk-pop trio – named after the small town of Joseph in Oregon where their grandfather lived – is touring across the world for their sophomore album, I’m Alone, No You’re Not. The slight departure from their debut Native Dreamer Kin can largely be attributed to the addition of producer Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes.

“We basically came to the table, like, ‘Here are these vocal songs, create the landscape for them,'” says Meegan. The resulting album consists of 11 original songs with heart-on-sleeve lyrics sung by ethereal harmonies. Rhythmic and folksy, it is their bold vocals that cut through and establish the sisters as songwriters and performers to keep an eye on.

The sister-act’s resume includes being named a 2016 Spotify Spotlight artist, touring with James Bay, and confirming festival performances this summer at Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, Pickathon, and more. They also performed the track “White Flag” on Conan in September and did The Tonight Show in June.

Joseph will be back in San Francisco on April 23rd at The Independent. See how you can win tickets to see them live today.

Joseph Tour Dates