IN CONVERSATION WITH SISTRA

interview by JANA LETONJA

SISTRA, the London-based alt-pop duo made up of sisters Sasha and Sylvie Briggs, are emerging as one of the most exciting new voices in the UK music scene. Blending elements of alt-pop, electronic, and hyperpop, their sound feels both intimate and experimental, shaped by a shared creative language and a deep personal connection. Their debut album She Won’t Let Go, set for release on 29th of May, captures that dynamic in its purest form — a project rooted in sisterhood, tension, and growth. Exploring themes of identity, ambition, and emotional entanglement, the record imagines the two still tethered to their past while pushing toward something new. With early singles already generating buzz and a series of upcoming live dates across Europe, SISTRA are stepping into a defining moment, one that feels as emotionally raw as it is sonically forward.

She Won’t Let Go feels deeply personal. What was the starting point for the album?

Sylvie: The starting point came with the gradual realisation that we’d been writing songs about each other all along. So, we decided we wanted to do that more consciously. Quitting our day jobs and doing music full time also meant we were suddenly way more reliant on each other. That put massive pressure on our relationship which we wanted to explore through the album. A fun way to add even more pressure.

The concept of being emotionally “stuck” in your childhood home is powerful. How did that idea evolve?

Sylvie: We were spending every day in our living room making music and filming content, and it began to feel a bit “groundhog day” because our routine and relationship was so repetitive.

Sasha: Working with your sister can make you a bit regressive. I worry sometimes that we’re arresting each other’s development, but on the plus side we can get to the emotional crux of things very quickly. I don’t think any other creative partner will be as honest as your sister. We started leaning into the fact that we’re stuck together for better or for worse.

How does your relationship as sisters influence your songwriting process?

Sasha: We approach songwriting from our different perspectives. For me, serving the story is key so I like creative license, whereas for Sylvie, truth is queen. We always agree on lyrics though, so we know a song is finished only when we’re both happy.

There’s a tension in the album between insecurity and belief. How do you navigate that creatively?

Sylvie: It feels like a constant battle. The hard part is when we’re both feeling insecure, which is when we argue the most. Most of the time though, the constant oscillation is what provides grounds for creativity, either chasing belief or running away from insecurity. The shared lack of stability drives us to be creative together, and we find stability in that.

Sonically, your music blends alt-pop, electronic, and hyperpop. How did you shape that sound?

Sasha: In the studio, once Jon laughed that all of the songs go nuts at the end, which neither of us had articulated before, but it’s so true that we both want to push the song until it breaks. I think rejecting genre and just focusing on what sounds we like has been the most formative and helpful thing.

How did your sound evolve from your earlier singles to this full-length project?

Sylvie: We knew we wanted to go for a harder, bigger sound with this album, partly to mirror the intensity of our own relationship in committing to doing it full time, and becoming more co-dependent. We’ve also grown in confidence as artists, so we began trusting our early references. Things like Kate Bush, Bruce Hornsby, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has helped us to become even more authentic.

What does the album title She Won’t Let Go represent to you personally?

Sasha: It’s the best and worst thing about our personal and creative relationship. There’s a grip which keeps us feeling safe, but also means we’re tied down to each other and can’t escape.

You’re about to take this music on the road. What are you most excited about when it comes to performing these songs live?

Sylvie: We’re most excited about bringing the family drama. Tthe staging will be a kitchen table, for the family dinner time. We work out some of our own demons and issues on stage. Come and watch our family therapy session.

You’ve also been part of the London Fashion Week scene. How does fashion connect to your identity as artists?

Sylvie: The visual is everything. We use fashion to express our tastes and identities, but it also feels powerful to have a shared and synchronised armour. We take a lot of inspiration from the drama of fashion shows. They know how to put on an extravaganza.

As a duo, how do you maintain individuality while creating something so shared?

Sasha: We used to think we had to homogenise and mirror each other, but we’d end up arguing because we do have different energies and come at things from different angles. So, now we both try the other’s different songwriting methods, warm ups, choreography to make sure neither of us are compromising too much.

TEAM CREDITS

talent SISTRA
photography OLIVIA EZECHUKWU
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA