"Keep It Together," the third album from the Indianapolis-based alt pop sister duo of Lily & Madeleine, is filled with simple yet soothing, hypnotically harmonious tunes. One barely has to scratch far beneath the surface of the mesmerizingly mellow music, however, to find a fiery passion underneath, hiding in plain sight, the voice of two artists with a lot to say and a desire to be heard about being a young woman in these modern times – both in and out of the spotlight.

The duo will bring their infectious combination of lush sounds and potent lyrics to the Back Room at Colectivo Coffee on Prospect on Wednesday evening. Before then, however, OnMilwaukee chatted with Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz about being discovered on YouTube, their new album and being women both in music and in the world in general. 

You started out on YouTube, performing covers. What was it like being plucked from obscurity into touring the country?

Madeleine: It was a weird way to start a career – especially at the age that we were. We were in high school at the time, so we were thinking about college and moving away and going to school. But all of a sudden, we had this opportunity to make music and to tour, so we just took it. And it’s actually turned out to be a lot of fun; it was the right choice, I think. It was just really weird at the time.

Do you think it’s easier or harder now to break into the industry with social media and YouTube? Obviously the accessibility, the ability to get your stuff out there, has never been this good, but there’s also so many people all trying to get heard and get out there at the same time.

Lily: I think it’s easier. I’m really glad that I live in this age where I can discover anything at anytime, and I’m glad also that there aren’t, like, four big bands out there in the world like there used to be. There’s so many things out there, and you can find your niche anywhere on YouTube or on social media. But also we don’t know it any other way, so I think it’s fine.

With the new album, Lily, you described this one as your most personal one, with you writing a lot of the songs. What was the process like bringing the album together?

Lily: I was just really inspired to get out some songs. I was just in a really excited period of my life at that point of writing the album. So Madeleine and I decided to write separately just so we could hammer out our personal ideas and then come together at the end. I think that process worked really well, and I would definitely do that in the future. I think it’s more special that way, to have certain songs that are more unique to each of us.

Madeleine: Because then listeners can kind of distinguish who is who by the lyrics and by the lyrical style. So I think it’s a really neat way to connect with audiences.

Were there any particular lyrical or musical inspirations or influences that really came to mind?

Madeleine: I can’t really think of a specific lyrical influence. At the time, I think I was listening … who was I listening to? I can’t think of who I was listening to; I feel like my taste has changed so much over the past couple years. Lily, who were you listening to at the time?

Lily: I was listening to a lot of rap, a lot of lyric-heavy music. Less ambient stuff and more storytelling-type songs.

Anyone in particular in terms of that storytelling?

Lily: I’ve been into a lot of artists who have a very strong aesthetic. Like you know how Lana Del Rey has a very strong style; all of her lyrics are kind of interchangeable, and she has a very strong vibe. I was inspired by that, and I’ve also been listening to The Killers, like, forever. I never mention them in interviews, but they’re a huge influence on me.

"Not Gonna" is the first track on the album, and it comes off as such a mission statement – especially after listening to the rest of the record and when you read your bios – about women’s image. Was there a single moment for you where the idea of women’s image in the media and music really became something you wanted to write about and focus on, or was it just something you’ve collectively experienced growing up and working in the industry?

Madeleine: It’s growing up in the industry and having personal experiences, but also experiences outside of the industry with just friends and strangers kept showing me what the world thinks I am and who I think I am and how I want to be perceived.

Lily: I enjoy singing lighthearted folk songs, but I think I would be doing a great disservice to myself and to other young women if I didn’t sing about actual issues.

Was there one particular eye-opening moment?

Lily: There hasn’t been one substantial moment; it’s just little things here and there. And it’s hard for me to talk about it and explain it without sounding ungrateful, because I’m very grateful. But at the same time, I wonder all the time what would Madeleine and I’s success be like if we were two young cute white guys instead of women. I don’t know; I think about that a lot. I can only be who I am.

Is it odd growing up and maturing and figuring yourself out in such a way where the magnifying glass is so much greater?

Madeleine: I guess it is, yeah. I was actually thinking about that earlier today. It’s interesting because, looking back through our old songs, it’s kind of like reading through a diary, reading through our past. It’s awesome that Lily and I grew up in such a wonderful, stable home with really awesome people around us, because making all of these decisions and having this magnifying glass, as you said, hasn’t really affected us so much. I feel like if I was in college, I’d probably be the same person.

Lily: Me too. I don’t feel like this changed me that much. I honestly think I’m a pretty normal person.

Madeleine: If anything, it’s just made me smarter and more confident, which is all that you could ask for.

Are there people in the industry who you look up to in terms of handling and discussing women’s image issues?

Madeleine: Of course, the obvious answers are Beyonce and Nicki Minaj because those ladies are just so outspoken about their feminism, which is really wonderful.

But have you also heard about this new thing Alicia Keys is doing, this no makeup campaign that she’s on? She’s like not wearing makeup anymore. Of course, she’s a beautiful lady so she doesn’t need to. She was actually the musical guest on "SNL" a couple of weeks ago, and Lily and I were watching saying, "I don’t think she’s wearing any makeup at all; that’s kind of weird." And then I saw online that it’s true, that this is a campaign that she’s going on where she’s trying to empower herself and the women around her by going barefaced, which I think is really cool.

Of course, it’s a small thing, but it’s important for a lot of girls and a lot of boys as well.

At least it’s making people aware and chipping away at the idea of image.

Lily: Yeah, sometimes I feel silly or stupid for concerning myself with these issues – like the whole no makeup thing – because on the grand scale, it doesn’t matter. But I think that these tiny issues just actually pave the way to bigger issues. It’s like one step at a time.