![\"ivy](\"\/\/media.wonderlandmagazine.com\/uploads\/2014\/11\/ivyandgold.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHertfordshire-based duo Ivy and Gold, or Rachel Wilkinson and Jamie Davies to their nearest and dearest, met at a summer BBQ a few years back and despite their polarising taste in music soon found that their songwriting skills harmonised perfectly. Their sound, as a result, is a mix of electronic alternative pop, with Rachel taking the lead with her impressive vocals, and Jamie creating the production. Their latest EP Smoke & Mirrors<\/em> is perfectly crafted, considering the cat in their home studio does its best to distract them.<\/p>\n How did the pair of you meet?<\/b><\/p>\n Jamie:<\/b> We actually met at a friend’s BBQ. I actually used to be in a screamo metal band and (my friend) who was producing our album and he was going out with Rachel\u2019s sister.<\/p>\n Rachel:<\/b> Yeah.<\/p>\n J:<\/b> And that\u2019s how we met basically. But we didn\u2019t start working together until\u2026.<\/p>\n R:<\/b> A year?<\/p>\n J:<\/b> \u2026.yeah a year after we met.<\/p>\n And how did you end up as Ivy and Gold?<\/b><\/p>\n Rachel: <\/b>Well Jamie was at Westminster uni, he had a module come up in his degree course where he had to do songwriting and he was all good at the music but not so good at the melody and lyrics, so he enlisted my help and we realised that writing together was quite good so we decided to carry on, and put it out online and see what the world thought of it.<\/p>\n Where does the name come from, is it anything to do with the Bombay Bicycle Club song?<\/b><\/p>\n J: <\/b>Unfortunately it is yes. There\u2019s nothing more interesting than that I\u2019m afraid! We had another name Emperors but an Australian band had the same name. And coincidently a band who are good friends of ours were going through a big legal battle with another Australian band with the same name [Brother], so we just thought we\u2019d try \u2026<\/p>\n R:<\/b> \u2026And avoid that<\/p>\n J:<\/b> Yeah, avoid that whole situation.<\/p>\n R:<\/b> Yeah we both really really like the song when we were looking for names, we literally tried everything, online band generator on Facebook you can put a questionnaire to family and friends. It was Ivy and Gold, Guardians and something else? I can\u2019t remember what the other one was. And basically we asked what would you prefer out of these three and Ivy and Gold got the best response.<\/p>\n