“I do bad things for the sake of good times I don’t regret / Call me what you will, I’m in it for the thrill, I’m just selfish / I need redemption,” the sisters harmonize over a starry synth and electronic textures, producing a resounding strength from the two who are not afraid to let their voices and stories be heard on the lead single “Church” from their forthcoming 5-track EP Sanctuary.
In 2018, Aly and AJ marked the end of a decade long hiatus with their revival album Ten Years which felt simultaneously like a new beginning and a reintroduction- exploring the reckless fun of their 20s and the relationships of that era with a light and airy synth-pop throwback sound that was filled to the brim with a newfound sense of energy and excitement that was impossible to ignore.
Ten Years was received with critical acclaim, with Teen Vogue writing, “It is everything you’ve been waiting for.” MTV wrote “It’s impossible not to get sucked into Aly & AJ’s creative vision,” and BuzzFeed exulted, “Aly & AJ just released a new song and it will be the best three minutes of your life.” Behind these rave reviews the EP shot to 21 million streams and sent Aly and AJ across the country on a sold-out tour, where they reconnected with fans in their favorite setting. It was here in the packed out and sweaty dance floors of venues nationwide that the roots of their forthcoming release, Sanctuary, began to grow. The fans were resonating with SPIN Magazine when they called this new music, “Flirtatious, anthemic…Atmospheric and dreamlike…Nocturnal, cool…A rush of glittery, ’80s inspired synth pop. It’s practically perfect.”
