Music

The Next Seventy-Two Miles

husband-wife duo release sophomore album

Kristin Frosch |

ROCKING ON THE RUG. Stephanie and Derrick Williams (aka Seventy-Two Miles) rarely perfom live, but have released a follow up album to last year’s self-titled debut.
 
ROCKING ON THE RUG. Stephanie and Derrick Williams (aka Seventy-Two Miles) rarely perfom live, but have released a follow up album to last year’s self-titled debut.

Husband and wife musical duo Seventy-Two Miles recently released their sophomore album, Circle of Hearts on the Map, promising to provide their signature harmonic sound with an added rock element.

Derrick and Stephanie Williams’ first album was self-titled and produced, which was advantageous as it allowed them to mix their own sound, combining musical elements from many genres, though retaining an acoustic guitar sound at its core. Derrick also released a previous solo album, but their collaboration has allowed for that added creativity to develop.

“The songs tend to develop from various inspirations on their own, into sometimes greater productions with more instrumentation,” they said in an e-mail interview. “We would consider our sound to draw on influences of folk, alt-country, and sometimes heavy rock, to blend into something that is, hopefully, listenable. We do not strive to deliberately blend these odd elements in equal form, but occasionally infuse these different sounds, among others, into one song for instance, to offset the balance of the song, in hopes of keeping a ‘fresh’ sound.”

With its 10 equally entrancing tracks, Circle of Hearts on the Map certainly combines the romantic elements of folksy alternative sound, but also provides listeners with a stronger rock edge.


“We do not strive to deliberately blend these odd elements in equal form, but occasionally infuse these different sounds ... to offset the balance of the song, in hopes of keeping a ‘fresh’ sound.”

Their musical influences span genres and include Neil Young, Innocent Mission, Grant Lee Buffalo, Low, The Carpenters, and Innocence Mission, among others. While influenced by these other artists, the Williams hope to create a unique sound that people will respond to. They strive for honest integrity and meaningful music, not the simplicity associated with the common marketing ploys that create chart-topping hits. 

“We tend to be inspired by other honest musicians and songwriters, no matter their level of success, who aren’t necessarily out being marketed to create hit singles,” they said.

The Eau Claire duo doesn’t frequently perform live, but has received very positive reviews from local listeners who consider their sound to be “relaxed” and “reflective,” they said.

“Our initial hope for success is that we can start to obtain a live music following, and hope that someone that hears our recording, or sees us perform live, comes away with some type of inspiration or feeling from it. Our success has never been measured in dollars or units sold, but is found in the feedback we have received from any of our listeners.”

Seventy-Two Miles • March 11 • Harmony Corner Café, 210 S Barstow St. • FREE • all ages