Michael and Marisa’s new album, Kickin’ It Together is chalk full of crunchy rock riffs and catchy pop goodness. Kidzworld talked to the talented, young duo about songwriting, touring with Drake Bell, and driving without a license!

Sindy:: How did you get into music?

Michael: I was born musical, which is funny because my parents don’t play instruments. I just picked up a guitar and loved it—meanwhile my sister was playing the violin, but thought it was boring, so she took up the drums.

Marisa: Yeah, learning violin was a slow process—I couldn’t touch it for three months, so I decided I wanted to play drums. I started lessons when I was eight years old and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Sindy:: What’s your favourite song on the album?

Marisa: My favourite is I Bet I Could because it talks about saving the environment and sends a message about being a better person. I also get to come out from behind the drums and have contact with the audience, so that’s great.

Michael: We had a gig last Friday at a school and made a bunch of new fans. We have a message board on our website and they were posting comments like crazy!

Marisa: We have our phone hooked up to the board, so we’ll be in the car and hear DING! DING!> and we’ll think there’s something wrong with the car, but it’s the new messages. (laughs)

Sindy:: You opened for Drake Bell in Pittsburgh!

Marisa: Yeah! He’s not like his character on Drake and Josh—he’s a really nice guy in real life.

Michael: We got to hang out with him for the weekend, so that was amazing. My whole family has his CD memorized because I play it so much.

Sindy:: Who would you love to tour with?

Marisa: The Beatles if they were all still alive, and the Jonas Brothers—I have posters of them all over my walls.

Michael: Demi Lovato—I have posters of her. (laughs)

Sindy:: Do your parents go with you on tour?

Michael: Oh yeah, well it’d be kinda weird for 10 and 11 year old kids to drive a car all over the place.

Marisa: We don’t even have licenses!

Sindy:: What are your fans like?

Marisa: Different age groups ranging from nine year olds to like fifteen year olds and it’s cool ‘cause a lot of kids are our age.

Sindy:: Do you go to school?

Michael: Oh yeah, but the kids don’t treat us any differently, except when we play shows—then they ask for autographs and sometimes carry us into the classroom afterward! But sometimes they drop us too. (laughs)

Marisa: Yeah, sometimes it’s hard to juggle school and music—when we tour, we do a lot of schoolwork on planes.

Sindy:: Any advice for kids who want to start a band?

Marisa: You have to follow your dreams, but if you take up an instrument, you can’t blow it off—you have to practice every day.

Michael: And practice doesn’t mean just hitting one beat and that’s it—you have to put the time in!

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