Bad Bunny, Violins & Zoom - Things To Know About Larkin Poe & Nu Deco Ensemble's Album

Grammy-nominated roots-rock sister duo Larkin Poe and “chamber orchestra for the 21st century” (New York Times) Nu Deco Ensemble have partnered on Paint The Roses: Live In Concert, set for release on September 17. 

Here are 10 things to know about this incredible collaboration:

1. Larkin Poe sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell were both violinists at a young age before becoming rock stars - making this project full circle for them. 

2. Nu Deco’s previous collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Tune-Yards, Jacob Collier & Ben Folds drew the Larkin Poe sisters to work with them. 

3. Nu Deco was founded by conductor Jacomo Bairos - who has led orchestras including the Boston Pops, San Francisco and St. Louis Symphonies - and composer/arranger/producer Sam Hyken - who has been commissioned by artists like Bad Bunny, Angelique Kidjo & Tank and the Bangas.

4. Larkin Poe met Sam and Jacomo from Nu Deco on a Zoom call last year to discuss the collaboration and instantly hit it off.

5. The songs on this album are taken from a COVID safe live-streamed concert in December 2020 at Miami's North Beach Bandshell.

6. The project features songs from Larkin Poe’s 2020 album Self Made Man, which in its first week of sales rose to the top of Billboard’s “Top New Artists Albums” and “Current Rock Albums” charts, while also climbing to #1 “Blues Albums”, #2 on the “Americana/Folk Albums” (bested only by Jimmy Buffett), #7 “Heatseekers" and #11 on the overall “Top Current Albums Sales” chart.

7. Without tours last year, this was the artists' first chance to play these songs for a live audience.

8. Fan favorite “Mad as a Hatter” is also included -- a moving tribute to the women's grandfather who struggled with mental illness. It has never been released and up until now was only available on YouTube here (7 million views).

9. The Larkin Poe sisters were thrilled by the challenge of integrating their original compositions into an ensemble format with Nu Deco and were blown away hearing their music played in a full orchestra for the first time.

10. The sisters still remember their classical training and use it in their music today.