MERMAID
dialogue with treehouse artists
Who are you and what made you that?
B: We are Mermaid—Brittany Campbell and Candace Quarrels. We met while playing the Schuyler Sisters in the Chicago Production of Hamilton...that was the first clue into how similar our voices sounded and how well they blended together.
C: Britt came into the cast already having a bunch of solo music. The first time we ever officially hung out was when she asked me to sing background vocals for one of her shows. Before then, we didn’t really interact much outside of the show.
B: I’d never experienced blending like that. People often say to us that we have this thing called “blood harmonies” which is usually unique to siblings. Honestly, I became obsessed with the idea of writing songs that were tailored for our two voices to meet. I would go as far to say that music created the space for our friendship to form...and then ...there was that whole falling in love part. (lol)
C: That part...we fell in love within 7 months of knowing each other. We started writing “Find Me” about a month before we could admit that we were into each other...but that’s why Mermaid is what it is...Mermaid often feels like a place— where we can grapple with our insecurities, our truths, and vulnerabilities, all while using the language of music. Britt says that music is what formed our love but love is what formed Mermaid.
What have you been working on recently?
C: Recently, we’ve been focusing on shedding things we’ve created this past year and just creating lots of new stuff…plotting and planning for our debut EP.
B: …or LP!!! Yea, we’ve been writing a bunch and embracing inspirations from many different genres. I think when we first approached Mermaid, we were so stuck on creating a world and aesthetic..but as we continue to create new material, we are realizing that we also create the rules of our world. We’ve been having fun pushing our own boundaries and giving into our imaginations. In the end, LP or EP...(whispers LP), the project will be something really special because we are allowing ourselves the space to be curious.
C: We’ve also been contributing to the BLM movement by creating a virtual fest called “Just Keep Swimming” that we host on our Instagram. We just did our first one that was 5 days long (June 30th- July 4th) where we discussed things like Allyship, Spirituality/Healing, LGBTQA+, and education reform all under the umbrella of Black Lives Matter. It ended up being an intense but beautiful week.
B: I think we’d both have gotten to a very dark place. We were consuming a lot of triggering content via social media. We wanted to create a space where we could have these honest heart-to-hearts with our friends...where we could maybe make mistakes and say the wrong things as we process what’s happening in the world. We had no idea how surprising and healing these conversations would turn out to be. For example, we intended to have this very serious talk with MJ Rodriguez about Black Trans lives, and then suddenly the conversation evolved into talking about the moon, the stars, and the feminine divine. Some of those- no- all of those conversations had some magic going on. (lol)
Why do you make art?
B: I know the reason has changed so much for me. Of course, it has always been about connection but through Mermaid, I think it’s become more about being human and, as Candace has said, sifting through the darkness and the light. I used to say, all the time, that I wanted to heal people with my music— but this music has healed me. It has cleared some of those clouds that happen when you get truly lost in a deep depression. I guess, because I’d never experienced those depths before, I didn’t realize that music has always been my hero! (lol)
C: It’s an amazing thing when people hear us play and say that, as they were listening, they felt understood - they felt seen. Our music and the reason we make it feels intensely personal—It’s amazing that it can reach into other people. That’s important.
What role do you think art has in society?
C: Art drives society. It can shift opinions, instill values, and is the universal voice of experiences across space and time. Without it, life loses color, the world is less vibrant, things aren’t as clear, and people struggle to connect. It’s like the glue that holds everything together.
B: What she said.
Art drives society.
It can shift opinions, instill values, and is the universal voice of experiences across space and time. Without it, life loses color, the world is less vibrant, things aren’t as clear, and people struggle to connect. It’s like the glue that holds everything together.
How has the pandemic affected your life as an artist (good/bad)?
B: Ummm.. the affect happened in stages. I think, at first, we were confused about what was happening. Then, we slowly embraced the world being on a sort of pause...and then... one of my brother’s best friends passed away due to COVID-19...soon after that, a beloved performer in the theatre community passed- all in tandem with the resurgence of the BLM movement. It’s like, instantly life was in hi-def! As an artist, sometimes that hi-def mode brings new purpose to creating and sometimes it can just be overwhelming and stifling. The best part about this time has been having the space to introspect.
C: The space to breathe! Having a chance to stop and evaluate who we are and what we do has affected our focus in a, mostly, positive way.
Where do you want attention focused? What would prove change in this world?
C: There are so many things to focus on right now. From systematic racism, education reform, spirituality, the LGBTQ+ community, fairly paying artists, teaching financial literacy, etc. I mean, I can go on and on and on. I think we all just have to be open to learning, teaching, and to not get discouraged by just how much work—how much learning needs to be done.
B: You know, I was talking to my therapist, (whom I refer to entirely too much lol) and I was saying that I was exploding with all these things..all these endeavors..all these crusades I wanted to fight. She told me that one of the most effective ways to evoke change is to work on liberating yourself - whether that be educating yourself, opening yourself to ideas that differ from your own, learning about your past, reframing what identity means to you, moving past shame - .all of this can have a ripple effect in your circle that can ripple on and on and on. You can inspire people by living in your freedom. There is so much divinity in life and thusly, in humanity. I think we can wield that divinity to change for the better.
You can inspire people by living in your freedom.
There is so much divinity in life and thusly, in humanity.
I think we can wield that divinity to change for the better.
What advice would you give others during this time?
C: To be patient with yourself. We all have a lot to learn and a hell of a lot to do. It won’t happen overnight—saving the world, or creating a masterpiece. Take care of yourself, find a way to indulge in something you love, and talk to your tribe. This is the time to heal and to fight…to create an equal space for it all.
B: Find moments of joy. Find moments of rest.