Interview: terce.
Christian mother-daughter duo, terce., recently released 'Light of the World', their first single. Louder Than The Music chatted to Risa and Lilly to find out more about their music, their inspiration, and plans to record an album next year.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how you got involved in making music?
Risa: My name is Risa. I am the Mom of the group. I started music when I was a teenager by writing songs, but didn’t think I could sing well until I was in college. I tried out for choir, because my friends were in it and ended up with a scholarship. From there I built up a solo career for several years. We officially started working steadfastly on “terce.” in November 2020.
Lilly: I’m Lilly, her oldest daughter. I grew up around music at home and at ballet, where I became enthralled with classical music. When I was around 12, I started trying to copy it, and that’s how I began learning piano. This eventually stemmed into creating my own songs. I’m currently studying Commercial Music at Lipscomb University in Nashville.
Tell us about your new single 'Light of the World' and what the inspiration behind it was?
Lilly: We wrote it with the perspective of the darkness of the intertestamental period before Jesus was born, and how there had been no clear words from God for hundreds of years.
Risa: We compared it with the darkness before Creation, and how His Word was light to both the time of creation and also the time of His birth.
Do you have any plans to release more music in the near future?
Risa: Yes, we have three more digital singles coming out between January 2022 and April 2022. This precedes us releasing a full-length album in May 2022.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
Lilly: We hope that our music delivers truth about God’s character, and how that gives us a perspective of His love for us and our need for Him.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
Risa: I would describe “terce.” as a mishmash of classical stylings, tastes of roots music, with a common denominator of God. My influences for my solo music are a little different than for “terce.”. I like roots music, but most important to me for any song that I release, solo or group, is the message being portrayed.
Lilly: Art-Rock/Soundtracky/Piano-driven riffs, plus Jesus and fiddle. In all seriousness, the goal in music is to say something worthwhile, and for me, I like singing about God’s glory.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
Lilly: Josh Garrels. I like his lyrics and styling. He thinks outside the box.
Risa: I’d like to write with Lauren Daigle. I like what she is doing and what she is saying in a lot of her songs. She has made an impact outside of the walls of Christiandom, bringing His light to the lost.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
Risa: Doing whatever God asks me to with the least amount of “me” in it, for His glory.
Lilly: Accomplishing what God has set out for me to do.
What is your favorite album of all time?
Lilly: For Him Who Has Ears To Hear by Keith Green & Where the Past Meets Today by Sarah Kelly
Risa: Palanquin by Kevin Prosch & also, Where the Past Meets Today by Sarah Kelly. Both of these albums got me through some pretty rough times.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
Risa: Rescue by Lauren Daigle. By faith, you know.
Lilly: If You Love the Lord by Keith Green.
What does the next year hold for you?
Lilly: Releasing of music, continuation of studies.
Risa: Lots of music and all that entails.
