(Long Island, N.Y.) Well, we can all say we knew them when! Here’s the scoop on two musical talents who teamed up to make a big splash is the music industry—they are known as Jac&Jill. And boy, can these two beauties rock it.
Jaclyn (Jac) Quatela and Jill Winter were both born and raised in New York and came from very musical families. Jac’s family used to harmonize around the kitchen table and her father played drums in an “oldies” band. Jill’s father was a singer in a doo wop group and her brother played guitar and sang. Both girls realized, respectively, that they were musically inclined at an early age. Jac began taking voice lessons at the tender age of 6 and later decided to teach herself piano as well. Jill was always picking up guitars/basses and drumsticks and by the age of 13 was a drummer in a rock band.
Both went directly to college after graduating high school (Jaclyn attended LIU CW Post Campus and Jill attended Five Towns College) to study music and attain a greater knowledge of their craft while continuing to perform in various local bands. At this point, neither of the girls knew that their musical counterpart existed.
Jaclyn and Jill finally crossed paths in the Fall of 2006 when Jaclyn auditioned for a band that Jill was playing bass in. One day while passing the time before band rehearsal, Jac sat down behind her piano, Jill picked up an electric guitar and the two realized immediately that their musical chemistry was undeniable. From that point on, they started writing music together and decided to part ways with the band they were in to pursue their journey as “Jac&Jill”. Luckily, they didn’t have to think long and hard about their band name!
Jaclyn resides on Long Island and Jill resides in Queens.
There’s a vast but uniquely familiar range of musical inspiration in Jac&Jill’s music. From the Motown influenced harmonies that texture the backdrop of tracks like “Mm’ Mm’ Good” and “Listen” to the infectious Pop/Rock hooks and driving riffs of “Can’t Stop”, it becomes apparent that popular music has always been a source of inspiration for Jaclyn and Jill.
After writing over two dozen songs, the duo worked with Producer/Engineers Patrick Ermlich and Eshy Gazit at The Cutting Room Studios NYC on their Pop/Rock debut album. All 10 songs on the album were written by Jaclyn Quatela (Lead and Backing Vocals, Piano and Synths) and Jill Winter (Lead and Rhythm Guitars and Backing Vocals).
Jac&Jill’s song “Listen” was used as the opener for Elvis Duran and The Morning Show on NY’s #1 Hit Music Station Z100 in the Fall of 2009. On March 16th and 17th, 2010, Jac&Jill were featured yet again, on Elvis Duran and The Morning Show with their song parody for Elvis. Their song “Can’t Stop” is also receiving airplay on the show “Unlabled” from Long Island Radio Station WMJC 94.3 fm and can be found on multiple online radio stations as well . Jac&Jill’s song “Mm’ Mm’ Good,” is featured on the Wal-Mart exclusive version of the video game “Sing Scene Pop” by Jakks Pacific, alongside artists such as: Rihanna, Fergie, Alicia Keys, Fall Out Boy, etc. Jac&Jill are currently endorsed by Future Sonics, Arbor Collective, In Tune Guitar Picks, Inc. and HairXpression by Balmain Paris.
Their debut self-titled album is currently available in Looney Tunes CD Store (West Babylon, NY) and online at LooneyTunesCDS.COM. The girls have also recently recorded “Dinosaurs Don’t Fly” for the children’s book “The Butterfly and The Dinosaur”. (Lyrics by author Sonny Grosso / music by Jac & Jill).
Some of the venues that Jac&Jill have performed at, with their band, in the Tri-State area include:
Six Flags Great Adventure, Rye Playland, Jones Beach, Southpaw, Public Assembly, Don Hill’s NYC, Adventureland, Salon Rock, Hot Topic Stores etc.
Jac&Jill’s upcoming performance’s for 2010:
- May 20th (Acoustic) Long Island Vinyl Exchange (East Northport) – 8pm
- June 5th- The Saint (Asbury Park, NJ) 9pm
- June 29th Looney Tunes CD Store (West Babylon, NY)-CD RELEASE 7pm
- July 3rd – Kennywood Amusement Park (West Mifflin, PA) 4pm
- July 9th Jones Beach Bandshell (Wantagh, NY) 7:30pm
- August 7th Live&Local At Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ) Times TBD
Check out the band’s official website:
www.myspace.com/jacandjillmusic
