“Sounds like the promise of days growing longer, and the possibilities of youth.” —The Autumn Roses The upcoming debut release from Austin duo Beth // James, All In Life, combines a shimmering mix of modern folk, mindful pop, and Americana charm. The album taps into the soul of a rhythmic back and forth between two distinct voices blending into one. All In Life, recorded at Rattle Trap Audio with Brian Douglas Phillips (David Ramirez, Rob Baird) is due out on April 28. Band members Jordan James Burchill and Mikaela Beth Kahn wrote “Lion Eyes” after a friend lost his identity from a new relationship. The song takes place in a smoky, dimly lit bar with a girl sipping a cocktail as she picks out a man to prey on. The staccato cadence of their vocals combines with the drama of a slide guitar to emphasize an almost semi-Western feel. Seamless harmonies dance under a sweltering sun to bring the story to life. Beth // James is the musical duo of Jordan James Burchill and Mikaela Beth Kahn. Burchill has played guitar for Ndambi and Avant, and Brannen Temple (The Dixie Chicks, Janet Jackson). Kahn has toured as a vocalist with Ben Folds and Chrisette Michele. They were finalists in NewSong’s national LEAF 2016 Singer-Songwriter Competition and won top honors in the 2016 Indie International Songwriting Competition. Beth // James comes from two halves of one whole. The band name takes a piece of each middle name to create one entity. The collaboration doesn’t stop there. All In Life devotes an equal amount of effort to both melody and lyrics as Burchill and Kahn share the workload. Both come from diverse musical backgrounds and this influence can be heard throughout. Burchill had performed in more synth heavy bands and Kahn sang in R&B projects. Songs such as “I Wanna Be In Love” capture a more freeform jazz structure, while the upbeat “Jewels” creates a bright, sparkling splash.