Music

Believe in Ghosts

Encore exclusive interview with The Scarlet Ending

by Adam Bohanan   |   Apr 19, 2010

Believe in Ghosts

Photo: Paul Williams

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With a diverse assembly of instruments, original lyrics and a constantly evolving sound, the Syracuse based The Scarlet Ending, lead by twins Kaleena and Kayleigh Goldsworthy, and rounded out by guitarist Jon Tedd, bassist Aaron Garritillo, and drummer Jess Hafner, is a great example of the beauty of mixing a dark sound and alternative theme with many genres of music. The girls started the band together in their teens, and have since traveled the world touring in Germany, Greenland and most recently Southwest Asia. If the “The Scarlet Ending” tattoos they just got to celebrate the release of their upcoming album Ghosts, is any indication, these guys are in it for the long haul. I spoke with the twins and guitarist Jon Tedd about inspiration, individuality and international endeavors.

Who writes most of your lyrics?

Kaleena: Kayleigh, Jon and I. Separately, we all come to the band with new songs and individually.

Where does the inspiration come from?

Kaleena: I guess everything, you know, people and places for me.

Kayleigh: I just make up situations sometimes. Or, a couple of my songs are about four very distinct and different situations and I try to combine them into one.

I’ve noticed that your music has evolved into a unique genre, how did that happen?

Kaleena: We got Jon and Aaron; the evolution started happening when we started adding more people to the band…

Kayleigh: I think… even before that, when that first CD came out we just graduated high school. And, Kaleena and I had an EP out before that, but, I think the genre of this CD, of Ghost is that we all feel comfortable with our music and our songwriting.

You guys are members of the Armed Forces Entertainment Roster, which means you’ve been to a lot of different places. What’s your favorite place so far?

Kayleigh: We played on a ship in the middle of the Indian Ocean, we flew on and played for 3000 people, the attention was on us.

Kaleena: I think Southwest Asia was the most memorable tour, but my favorite place to ever go is probably the Garmisch show in Germany, in Garmisch Bavaria.

Jon: Greenland was another really beautiful, outstanding, unbelievable sight; it was really beautiful out there. But, Garmisch (Bavaria) was probably my favorite; it was at the bottom of the Alps.

Beyond Ghosts, what do we have to look forward to in the near future?

Kayleigh: Kaleena’s going to get a tattoo soon!

Kaleena: Yeah, real soon, like in the next two weeks or so.

Kayleigh: Kaleena organized a group tattoo gathering, where we all went and got tattoos and she was the only one who didn’t. So basically we can still kick her out of the band ha-ha…

Kaleena: Well, we want to be on tour as much as possible, so that’s the next step.

The Scarlet Ending is putting the finishing touches on their album Ghosts, and will be playing at Arlene’s Grocery (95 Stanton Street, New York, NY) on April 22. You can read more about them or follow their webisodes “The Scarlet Ending Tapes” at www.thescarletending.com.