In the hushed, dimly lit backstage of a bustling venue, amidst the faint scent of anticipation and the electric hum of pre-performance nerves, Say Lou Lou finds themselves in familiar territory. For the twin sisters behind the artist name, Miranda and Elektra Kilbey, music isn’t just a passion—it’s a way of life, a shared journey woven into the very fabric of their existence.

Growing up under the sway of musician parents, the sisters found themselves navigating the peculiar blend of embarrassment and inspiration that comes with being raised in a musical household. “You find yourself sitting backstage waiting to play a show in a smelly, tiny venue in the middle of nowhere and you’re like ‘SHIT’!” Miranda chuckles. “We don’t have anything to compare to, but having our parents and other family members in music and theatre made us feel like expressing ourselves through music, visuals, films, etc. was a natural and essential part of life.”

Their journey as collaborators has mirrored their personal growth, evolving alongside the ebb and flow of their relationship. “Learning to have more patience and gratitude and acceptance for our individual selves has made it easier to have it for each other,” Elektra reflects. “But with that said, a part of our dynamic is really close and intense (both in a fantastic and sometimes chaotic way) and it’s a part of what gives our project energy and life but also makes it hard to handle and frustrating for others to be around.”

Their latest EP, “Dust, Pt.1,” serves as a poignant exploration of the emotional terrain of heartbreak. Through their music, the sisters have found catharsis and growth, gaining new perspectives on love and loss. “The only way through is through, and when you’re in it, you’re in it but it’s so temporary,” Elektra reflects. “You’ll always come out on the other side with more wisdom and clearer perspectives.”

The unique bond of twinship infuses every chord and lyric, shaping both their personal lives and their artistic endeavors. “Having an unbreakable closeness, synchronicity and understanding makes us secure and confident,” Miranda explains. “There’s always someone to give you a reality check, an honest answer, someone who can tell what you’re thinking without you having to say a word.”

Yet, with closeness comes challenge, as the sisters navigate the pitfalls of shared insecurities and inner criticisms. “Our shared inner criticisms can get in our way a lot,” Elektra admits. “We’ve gotten better at seeing studio time as a fun way of bonding and deepening our love and respect for each other’s differences rather than fixating on each other’s flaws and insecurities.”

Relocating to Los Angeles, a city steeped in dreams and creativity has added a new dimension to their musical odyssey. “LA is such a strange and interesting place,” Miranda muses. “There’s no center, it’s so spread out and everyone is tucked away in secret hiding places that you don’t find unless someone introduces you to them.”

As they look to the future, Say Lou Lou is poised on the brink of new horizons, with plans to release singles and EPs leading up to their album ‘Dust Pt.2.’ Yet amidst the whirlwind of their musical journey, the sisters remain grounded, cherishing the simple pleasures of life’s quieter moments. “Finding time for doing nothing, swimming in the ocean, going on long walks with our dogs,” Elektra smiles. “These are the things that keep us inspired and alive.

Team Credits:
Words by Hannah Magnusson
Photography by Ellen Nykvist at MINK MGMT
Styling by Sandra Ekenstam
Makeup by Jasmine Ärnström at Mikas Looks
Hair by Amanda Lund at Lund Lund
Photo assistant: Lisa Larsson

Fashion Credits:
1) Miranda wears top by Hildur Evenlind. Skirt by Korlekie. Tights by Alisa Cayoo. Boots by Rombaut. Rings by Sara Robertsson and Laôma Atelier.
2) On the left: Elektra wears a Bolero and skirt by Linda Dekhla. Sleeves by Hildur Evenlind. Stockings by No Dress. Mules by & Other Stories. Rings by Laôma Atelier.
On the right: Miranda wears a top and skirt by Anna Lastro. Knee-high boots by ATP Atelier. Elektra wears two different tops by Albin Granaas. Trousers by Christian Dior. Earrings by Freya Douglas Ferguson.
3) Miranda wears a top by Keta Gutmane. Skirt by Hildur Evenlind. Tights by Alisa Cayoo. Mules by Tiger of Sweden. Rings by Sara Robertsson and Laôma Atelier.
4) Miranda wears a top and skirt by Anna Lastro. Knee-high boots by ATP Atelier.
5,6) Miranda wears top by Hildur Evenlind. Trousers by Lowe Lind- blad. Elektra wears top by Hildur Evenlind and skirt by Wera. Rings by Sara Robertsson and Laôma Atelier.
7) Miranda wears dress by Albin Gra- naas. Elektra wears two different tops by Albin Granaas.
Trousers by Christian Dior.
8) Elektra wears a leather jacket by Keta Gutmane. Flaming bra by Perlensau. Skirt by Albin Granaas. Boots by Tiger of Sweden.
9&10) Elektra wears Earrings by SYDORIA.
11) Elektra wears blazer sleeves and a corset by STHLM MISC. Earrings by SYDORIA.
12) Miranda wears top and skirt by Anna Lastro.
13) Miranda wears top by Hildur Evenlind. Trousers by Lowe Lind- blad. Elektra wears top by Hildur Evenlind and skirt by Wera. Rings by Sara Robertsson and Laôma Atelier.
15&16) Miranda wears top by Hildur Evenlind. Trousers by Lowe Lind- blad. Elektra wears top by Hildur Evenlind and skirt by Wera. Rings by Sara Robertsson and Laôma Atelier.
17) Elektra wears top and skirt by Linda Dekhla. Sleeves by Hildur Evenlind. Stockings by No Dress. Rings by Laôma Atelier.
18) Miranda wears coat by Keta Gutmane. Rings by Sara Robertsson. Boots by Rombaut.

The Swedish singer Noonie Bao intrigues with her cinematic visual choices and smart melodies that get stuck in your head for days. Like a quirky good witch, she uses her magic not only to release her own songs, but also to write for music giants such as Avicii, Charli XCX and Say Lou Lou. When I catch up with her during a quick Skype rendezvous, she is just waking up in Los Angeles, where she is promoting her forthcoming second EP.

Where is your favourite place for writing music?

“It can differ hugely from day to day, depending on my mood. With the EP that is coming out soon I’ve been feeling very restless, writing and producing all around the world. Me and Linus Wiklund have been in a little village in Sweden, in Skåne, Ibiza, LA, everywhere. The music changes with the place. Sometimes I need to be completely alone in my room, sometimes I invite family and friends to play together. But if I had to choose just one place, it would be Vejbystrand in Skåne — a beach where my creativity flows freely.”

Are you more of a city or nature person?
“I like contrast — first writing out in the wild, then a quick trip to New York or LA. I travel to big cities to collect impressions and then I take them back to a peaceful place and transform them into songs.
“I love human encounters, listening about different lives. After periods of being enclosed in my own world, I thirst for inspirational exchange. It’s also cool to meet somebody totally different and talk about something other than music. My brain is full of music 24/7, so it’s good to change the topic.”

If you could design your dream city, what would it look like?
“It would be surrounded by majestic nature — huge mountains, huge lakes, but at the same time, ultramodern. Kind of a mix of Lord of the Rings and Tokyo.”

You were raised in the suburbs of Stockholm — how did the city influence you?

“Growing up, I was rather inspired by escaping reality. I wanted to be somewhere else, away from school. But what inspired me positively was that Botkyrka was very multicultural and full of different kinds of music. At my school in Alby we made our own plays and wrote music together. Many girls were not afraid to just go for it and follow their dreams. There was a sense of sisterhood and community that definitely formed me as a person.”

What’s your favourite place in Stockholm today?
“My parents run a cosy bistro, Rost at Wollmar Yxkullsgatan. It’s definitely my favourite hangout, mostly because of the wonderful regulars who go there. Each time I go, I end up hugging and kissing half the visitors. You can meet the most interesting people and hear best stories there.”

You have a very quirky and colourful visual world. Even your website is more of a personal gallery of inspirations than a typical page about a musician. How does the visual world influence your music?

“That’s true, I am becoming more and more visually inspired. I collect weird images from the internet and often look at inspirational pictures while I write. I have thousands of surreal pictures on my iPad; they stimulate my fantasy. For my new EP I was working with Sebastian Mlynarski, the director of the video to I’m in Love. When I met him, I knew immediately that he was a person who could make the visual world I have in my head happen.”

Would you like to do your own movie?
“My dream is rather to write the soundtrack to an entire movie. I often watch films on YouTube, but I take away the sound and think about how I would put my own music to each scene. My favourite films are The Fifth Element, Pan’s Labyrinth, Spirited Away and Wes Anderson movies. If I made my own film, it would probably be a mix of fantasy and Wes Anderson.”

I cannot help getting the impression that in contrast to your personal lyrics, the character you create in your videos is very mysterious and surreal. Even your name sounds more like some kind of fantastic creature or superhero. Is this contrast something you choose consciously?
“It’s all me. It’s the way I see the world and how I can reconstruct it and show it to others through my music.”

How is your new EP different from your previous one?
“The first one was a collection of my songs that I had been writing since I was 15 and I was finally ready to get out. This one is definitely more attached to the more recent years of my life. I wrote a lot of the tracks just with a guitar and piano, and then I added the whole world around. I listened a lot to older singers such as Annie Lennox, Joni Mitchell, Suzanne Vega. The sound could be described as fantasy/Nintendo game/1980s. My lyrics often talk about daring to be yourself and not caring what the others think, fighting your fears and following your own way.”

In addition to doing your own music, you often collaborate on projects and write songs for other singers. How does it feel to give away your songs to somebody else?
“I love social meetings and writing together. That’s why I started writing for others in the first place. Before, I used to sit so much on my own. At first, it was very difficult and I was afraid that I would not be able to write with somebody else, because it’s so personal, but I decided to try, just because I like conquering my own fears. I don’t really care what happens with the song itself — whether it will come out or not finally — but I enjoy the meeting and the collaborative process.”

Is there anything about how your songs have been received that has surprised you?
“I don’t really follow the reactions to my music that much. I concentrate on the process. But I am very happy when my songs become part of somebody’s personal story, like when people tell me that they dance to my last single, Pyramids, at home. Since I was small, music has been my way of recording memories, so it feels great to know that my songs can be a soundtrack to somebody else’s life and become their memories.”

Credits:

Words by WERONIKA PÉREZ BORJAS

Photography by OSKAR GYLLENSWÄRD

Styling by PEJMAN BIROUN VAND

Hair & Make-up by OSCAR SVENSSON AT MIKAS

Fashion credits:

1 TOP BY ANN-SOFIE BACK

2 TOP BY MARIMEKKO

3 DRESS BY MONKI, TOP BY MARIMEKKO