Interview With Oshawa Sister Duo Equal At VenueXVenue

The independent music scene thrives on authenticity, and few acts capture that spirit quite like Oshawa sister duo Equal. Chelsea and Celine stopped by to chat with Dropout Entertainment at this year’s VenueXVenue Festival, fresh off their set and ready to reflect on the day, their music, and the unique experience of being sisters in a band.

The pair had just wrapped their performance when we caught up with them, and despite a long drive to the festival, they were clearly excited to be part of the lineup.

“We had a long drive here, but we already sang and now we’re just relaxing for the rest of it. It’s great. We’re excited to see all the other amazing people play.”

For Equal, VenueXVenue is more than just another gig. Their connection to the event goes back a few years through the Indie Week community and their time studying independent music production at Seneca. After performing last year, they were thrilled to return.

Playing together as siblings brings its own unique energy. Chelsea and Celine have been making music together for over a decade, which has helped create the tight vocal harmonies that define their sound.

“There are pros and cons,” they joked. “We’ve been in bands together for over ten years, so sometimes we barely even have to practice. But at the same time, if we argue… well, we’re sisters, so there’s no real breaking up.”

The honesty and humour between them makes their chemistry obvious. They laugh about disagreements, tease each other about writing songs inspired by sibling drama, and acknowledge that their voices simply work best together.

Beyond the jokes, both artists shared a genuine passion for music and the creative process. Like many independent musicians, the past year has been a little chaotic. Between car accidents, moving houses, and life throwing unexpected challenges their way, the duo had to slow down for a bit.

But the upside of chaos is inspiration.

They hinted that a new song is currently in the works, one they have been teasing online and are eager to release soon. If all goes according to plan, it could become part of a larger project down the road.

“We have this really important song that we haven’t recorded yet. It’s one of our favourites and we just want to get it out there.”

When asked what advice they would give to emerging artists, the sisters shared a story about their father encouraging them to take chances and put themselves in unexpected situations. That mindset eventually led them to some surprising opportunities, including collaborations that came from simply introducing themselves to other musicians.

Their message was simple.

Sometimes you just have to walk through the door and see what happens.

“You belong in places that you believe you belong,” they explained. “If you believe you’re meant to be there, people will feel that energy.”

With strong harmonies, honest songwriting, and a sisterly bond that keeps things both grounded and entertaining, Equal are carving out their own space in the Canadian indie scene. If their upcoming music is anything like the stories they shared at VenueXVenue, there is plenty more to come.