Suffolk's rising alternative-pop duo, Three Years Younger, are captivating audiences with their evocative songwriting and mesmerizing harmonies. Sisters Charlie and Megan Simpson have quickly gained attention across the UK, drawing comparisons to Birdy, Lorde, and Imogen Heap, while embracing the theatrical flair of The Last Dinner Party. Their upcoming EP, Pretty For Now, signals an exciting new chapter, introduced by the radiant single ‘Lost Path’ (October 4th). We sat down with them to learn more about Three Years Younger.
1. Can you tell us about your earliest memories of making music together? When did you both realize that you wanted to pursue music as a career?
Megan: When we were at secondary school, the music department had an annual Christmas carol concert at Ely Cathedral. It was an amazing experience, and everyone wanted a solo! It was sort of a hierarchy system – you couldn’t usually just be a year 7 and perform – but because I was always older by 3 years, I was able to smuggle Charlie in. We started really developing our close harmonies around this time and would make use of the cathedral acoustics and big audience to build up our confidence.
We also used to do a variety folk club performances and open mic nights, where we would drag our parents along and they would be our groupies. This was when we realised that we wanted to keep going as a duo for as long as we possibly could – performing and writing music kind of defined our childhood and teenage years!
2. As sisters, did music play a big part in your family life? Were there any particular artists or records you grew up listening to that shaped your musical tastes?
Megan: Definitely – Our parents had some classics that they would blast out when cooking dinner. Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Coldplay, Sting, R.E.M. I think we subconsciously absorbed all of this from a young age. I remember never really having my own collection of music until much later on. People would ask me on the school bus what music I liked, and I used to lie and quote a random song that my friends liked when in reality I was still listening to the ‘dad ultimate playlist’ haha.
Charlie: I was exactly the same – our parents had pretty good taste! I also had a big love for musicals and film music (this has only grown) and this shaped the theatrical nature of my writing. On the whole though – whenever Megan liked something, I ended up liking it too (annoyingly).
3. How do you think your sibling dynamic contributes to the way you write and perform together? Do you find that having such a close relationship helps you in navigating the music industry?
Megan: This is such a good question! Our sibling dynamic has massively impacted and continues to impact the way we write and perform together. We find it very easy to write as a duo. I (Megan) actually find it way more fun to write with Charlie than on my own – I love the fact that our styles are so different but also have a similar essence and it makes a cool new style that both of us would never create on our
own.
Charlie: Having such a close relationship is the reason we are still able to continue. We have had some really difficult moments over the last few years – we have both been at different unis and it has been quite tricky at times to keep our heads above the water. We have grown closer through this as we have had to be very open about balancing boundaries/space with the dedication required to make a career out of music. This EP is alllll about these experiences.
4. ‘Lost Path’ is one of your oldest and most cherished songs. Could you tell us about the initial moment or experience that sparked its creation?
Megan: Absolutely – Lost Path came about from the pressure we felt to fit in at school when we had music on the brain almost all of the time! I (Megan) was particularly impacted by a pressure to be academic and do well at school. During GCSEs, everyone was picking their next school (Sixth Form or a college). I was set on Sixth Form as I felt I ‘needed’ A levels to be successful. I started noticing that others around me were quietly picking other, more creative, routes that I hadn’t considered an option for me. I felt a big pull towards doing something similar, but this was followed by a weird feeling of shame, fear and anxiety about taking such a bold and different path from what was ‘expected’ of me.
I continued on with A levels and honestly felt really out of place the whole time. I craved creativity and to surround myself with music, but this was something inaccessible at the school. I think it really set me back in terms of the musical circles I had access to and the way I creatively expressed myself. I have now moved past this and fully committed to music as my career – it feels really good to be able to say
that!
Charlie: I was lucky enough to learn from this and went to a music college. It was fundamental to my confidence as a creative and the people I got to surround myself with. I really believe there should be more encouragement towards creative pathways in education. This is why the song is called ‘Lost Path’ – it is such a specific, painful feeling when you know deep down the path you want to be on, but you are just a little bit too scared (in that period of time) to take the first step.
5. The song has an unconventional structure, yet it’s filled with pop elements. What made you choose this route, and do you think it reflects your own journey through the music industry?
We have never really fit into ‘pop’ as a genre. Our focus on harmony and writing style has never led us in that direction. Interestingly, we absolutely love pop music – Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappel Roan – we love them ALL!
We particularly love female pop. Therefore, it has actually be quite hard to know how to market ourselves, as we have never really fit the pop bracket. The unconventional structure of the song does reflect our journey through the music industry I suppose! We have never really fit into a specific place and we are still figuring this out. Having female duos as inspiration, such as Tommy Lefroy and Fieldlily music has really helped feel a sense of community.
6. Your upcoming EP 'Pretty For Now’ marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for you both. In what ways do you think your sound or perspective has evolved since your earlier releases?
We are so ready for this new chapter! Our music sounds very different to our first releases (as expected considering we released it when we were so young). We would say it is more organic now – the EP has a real focus on live instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass). We wanted to create a band feel and make the songs very similar to how they sound live.
I would say our perspective has shifted in that we now realise how important it is to have a big team/ family involved with the work – our bass player Iñigo and drummer Max are insanely talented and crucial for our sustainability as a band (they have been through everything with us to far) – we hope this team continues to grow.
7. What can fans expect from Pretty For Now?
Fans can expect Pretty For Now to be a very intimate and honest exploration of our journey as sisters over the past few years. It captures the raw, bittersweet experiences of navigating the music industry together. The EP has a mix of punk, pop, rock, and indie influences, offering a fresh and engaging sound that we hope will help listeners feel moved but also have some cool upbeat moments. Most importantly, it sets the stage for our live performances, including our first headline show in May at the Portland Arms in Cambridge. This EP really reflects what we have been through and who we are together, and we can't wait to share it with everyone.
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