Q&A with Dynamic Pop Duo, Karmin!

Dynamic duo, Amy Heidemann & Nick Noonan of Karmin.

Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan make up the duo KARMIN, who you probably first learned about via their amazing song covers on Youtube. Now they’re legit pop artists creating their own original music who are on their first US headlining tour and just released their first full-length album, Pulses!

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had the pleasure of  asking the dynamic duo, Amy and Nick a few questions between gigs. Read more below to see what the “oh so stylish” and talented musicians had to say about being on the road and pulling pranks on fellow tour mate Bonnie McKee, their influences and more!

So, Amy and Nick, where did you guys both grow up? How did your location influence your style?

Amy: I grew up in Nebraska and Nick grew up in Maine.  Both small towns, so there wasn’t much to do.  We had to be creative!  I  sang in church and loved R&B music, while Nick was into classic rock and musicals like Les Miserables.

Why did you want to get into music? Who are your influences and why?

We got into music after performing as youngsters and getting love from our peers. We felt like there was music that needed to be created with our unique mix of influences.

Nick: I love Coldplay, Billy Joel, and Dr. Dre.

Amy: I love artists like Brandy, Kanye, Gorillaz…

What’s your favorite song that you have written and what was the influence?

Amy: “Acapella” was our favorite song to write up to this point.  Nick had a cool piano line that we ended up using for the vocal melody.  It was Eminem sounding and somehow we ended up on the “Cups” song from Pitch Perfect.  Nobody really had a song about doing things “acapella” with the non-literal meaning.

What was the first piece of music that you fell in love with growing up?

Amy: “Fur Elise” by Beethoven.

Nick: I loved Les Miserables, the entire musical.

If you could meet any musician that isn’t alive anymore, who would it be? Why?  Where would you go? What would you do? What would you ask him or her?  

Amy & Nick:  It would be Walt Disney.  I know he’s not a musician, but he is responsible for so much musical development through his animated features and theme parks.  I would want to spend a day with him at Disneyland and just get to know him as a person (I’ve already read all his biographies).

Karmin performing at the iHeart Radio Music Concert.

How has the tour been so far? How has life on the road been treating you all?  Can you share with us any memorable stories from the road so far ? 

The tour was fantastic.  We are still doing a couple shows each week, but they are fly dates, so the bus is taking a break for a bit.  Memorable stories from the Pulses Tour?  Definitely the pranks we pulled on Bonnie McKee (our opening act) and all the amazing fans we got to hug.

Here’s another fun one:  If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?

1) Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla Coffee  2) Coconut Oil  3) My Astrology Book

What is in your current music playlist? Any guilty pleasure songs?    

Current playlist is mostly alternative rock actually.  We love anything weird and different.  Lots of early 2000’s Kanye West, too.  No guilty pleasures, we have no qualms about the music we love!

Do you have any hidden talents we don’t know about that you would like to share with our readers?

Amy: Well, I’m really into beauty blogs.  I just started posting makeup and hair tutorials for fun. You can check it out at:  karminology.com

What’s on tap next for you this year?   

We were just talking about that!  We just got a new puppy, so this week has been all about him.  But we are going to do lots more shows before year’s end and begin recording some new music!

To learn more about Karmin, visit their website here