Family acts are one of the deepest traditions of music from the American South. From the earliest days of the settlers, music has always been an important Southern family and social activity. Strong and unshakeable, it’s just something that’s in the blood—and in the air—when Southern folks get together to play. Think of the Carter Family, the Everly and Allman brothers, the Judds. And now prepare to add another name to that list: Summerfield. Comprised of cousins Summer Collins (15, vocals and guitar) and Isaac Ball (20, violin), Summerfield is an astonishing modern country-pop duo that, in barely a year, has won legions of fervent fans stretching from the pair’s Fayetteville, North Carolina, home to as far away as Russia and Europe. But, being close relatives, Summerfield’s roots naturally go back farther than the act’s official beginnings. “Our families get together every year for the holidays and have a little private Christmas concert,” says Isaac, whose interest in the violin started when he was six. “When Summer and I first played with some other family members at one of those gatherings, we never thought that in just a few years we’d be working together—and having so much fun writing songs.” Fifteen of those songs make up Sunlit Destination, Summerfield’s debut on the group’s own Rock the Boat Records label (the duo also runs its own publishing wing). “Everything,” the album’s uplifting first single, was composed by Isaac as a tribute to his hard-working father, a loving sentiment that Summer, a self-described “Army brat,” strongly shares. “Like Isaac, I’m very thankful to my dad for all he does,” says the singer, who has been performing since age 10. “‘Everything’ has a message people everywhere can relate to, I think.” Among the record’s other melodic, radio-ready cuts with equally far-reaching resonance are “Hurricane,” a poignant meditation on the confusion of first love, laced with Summer’s soaring voice; and the title track, a carefree ode to breaking free from the workaday world that pairs Isaac’s lilting strings with rock-tinged guitars. As a live act, Summerfield had a true baptism of fire—playing to over 15,000 people at Fayetteville’s annual Dogwood Festival in April 2010. “We were pretty nervous at first,” recalls Isaac. “But it felt great and right away we knew we had something really special.” Still floating on air from their debut, the duo spent the following summer rehearsing, performing, and writing songs—and then it was off to Nashville to record Sunlit Destination. Advance reviews of Sunlit Destination have seen Summerfield compared to hitmakers Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, and Vanessa Carlton. “We admire those artists because, like them, we try to write songs that are fun but have a meaningful story,” explains Summer, an honor student who brought her homework to the studio. Each single off the album is being accompanied by a specially produced video. “What strikes me most about Summer and Isaac’s music is the substance it has,” says producer Ben Rice (Goesl’s Parade, Pilotdrift), who oversaw the sessions at NashVin Studio. “Even though they’re both still really young, their songs have real depth and longevity. Working with Summerfield feels like being on the cusp of something big.” And, judging by the music and the reaction of those who hear and see Summerfield perform it, that something will only get bigger over time. www.summerfieldnow.com and www.youtube.com/thesummerfieldband to watch them perform and for their music videos.