Alyssa graduated in May of 2006 and moved home“ just for the summer.” She had wanted to teach overseas, but senior year she started to get homesick. She worked at the Artist Colony Inn before becoming a teaching assistant at Helmsburg Elementary, then Van Buren, then a full-time teacher at Helmsburg.
They started dating in spring 2007 and married that December. They’ ve been singing together now for more than two decades, though their musical style has shifted into“ something like folksy-bluesy- Americana,” Matt says.
In their early days, playing at the old Muddy Boots in Nashville,“ People would ask,‘ Do you have an album?’ And we were like,‘ No, why would we have that? We’ re not that good,’” Alyssa said.“ I just think we needed to realize that our harmony was something people liked …. We started off hearing something( by other groups) and saying,‘ That’ s what we should try’ and building our sound.”
For Matt, the process starts with establishing a library of musical arrangements first, and then having them available to put words to.
“ It’ s been, really, a return source of connection for us as a couple,” he said,“ and then as an individual, it just feels like a piece of myself has been gathering dust on a shelf, has been dusted off, and can shine again a little bit.”
After years building careers and their family nest, Alyssa finds it difficult to recall when she last let her mind be creative and think about a song. She says Matt has always been a strong songwriter and he’ s getting better really, really fast. When he does something on the guitar or vocally, she encourages him, and he also encourages her. She says it is hard to get that mutual appreciation when it feels like all you’ re doing is making dinner and doing laundry all the time.
They don’ t know where The House Sparrows will take them. They’ ve started a band page on Facebook, would like to book more gigs, and are open to collaborating. Being authentic and sharing their journey is their priority now.“ It’ s been really fun to share what is so much a foundational piece of us with the people we love and are close with, because it almost felt like we weren’ t really totally honest until we were able to show that side,” Alyssa said.“ You don’ t really know us until you know this.” •
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