and realized if they put all their effort into it , they could try making music a career .
The Gothard siblings have a bit of Irish , Scottish , and English heritage – in fact , the name Gothard ( pronounced GAW-third ) is an old English name meaning good and hardy . Their primary exposure to Celtic music was from listening to it at dance competitions and hearing it on the NPR radio program , “ Thistle and Shamrock .” They fell in love with the genre , especially with the bands and songwriters writing new Celtic music . They found it joyful and hardy and claimed it would make them feel like dancing . When they started writing their own music , agreeing on Celtic music as their favorite genre was easy .
Greta , Willow , and Solana have been to nearly 48 states in the U . S . so far , and beyond our borders they have played in Canada and Japan . They also worked on a Disney cruise ship for several summers , which docked at ports in Northern Europe , the Panama Canal , and the Mediterranean , but they haven ’ t played in Europe yet . ( They would still love to do that !)
St . Pat ’ s Tour 2023 Photo credit : Steve Stolee
In 2019 and then again in 2022 , they were amazed when they did two large concert tours with Min-On Global Music Network in Japan , claiming it to be a life-changing experience , introducing Celtic music to people all over that beautiful country . Now they have done over 50 performances in 48 cities in Japan . They enjoyed playing original songs , Celtic favorites , and well-known Japanese songs .
The Gothard Sisters market their music in many ways . They say the internet has been
Christmas Tour 2017 Photo Credit : Kirk Stauffer
amazing in getting their music out to the world . For example , their website has a wealth of information and opportunities to purchase CDs and downloads . They have music videos on YouTube , other social media platforms , and their website . The sisters also love touring and performing concerts all over the country . Their listeners come from many different places , whether in person or online . They confess it ’ s fun to see how the songs and tunes they love resonate with so many people .
When asked what her favorite part of the process is , Greta replied , “ There are a few ! One of the most magical times is when we ’ re working on the demo of a new song . It ’ s full of possibility , and experimenting with different instruments , arranging the song , and listening to it before the rest of the world , is a very special time .” Another favorite part of the process is performing live . For the three of them , there is nothing quite like being in a room full of people enjoying a musical adventure together . They all love singing together , away from the cares of normal life , work , or school , and every night is unique .
In preparation for their Christmas appearances , the Gothard Sisters have spent some time composing and arranging their music in the studio . The process always starts with a small idea of what mood they are going for . They look for a snippet of lyric , a melody , a groove , or even an illustration or a photograph that they would like to write a song to match . Then they work on ideas separately for a while and come together to hammer out a song structure . When they are happy with the form , the order , and the length , they record a demo and take turns arranging the song . “ This is where we add layers ,” Greta explains . They add more instruments , strings , keyboard synthesizers , digital effects , and additional percussion or
November | December 2023 43