The Pierces heading to V Festival at Weston Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viACqjxMRrs

In just a few short weeks the annual V Festival will land in Weston Park and The Pierces are just one of the acts on the bill . . .

In these days of preordained success, media hype and end-of-year polls, there's something pleasingly natural about the way The Pierces have risen up and demanded attention.

No disrespect to the likes of Jessie J and Ellie Goulding, the two most recent recipients of the annual BBC Sound Of poll, but quiet, old-fashioned success backed by radio play and live performances can still make the heart sing.

To date, the New York-based sister duo have sold 75,000 copies of their fourth record You & I in the UK, going as high as number four in the album chart.

"That sales figure is closer to 72,000, actually," says the dark-haired elder, Allison, jokingly.

"I think our label are rounding up but we're happy to let you think that."

"You always hope for the best, but you also have that fear at the back of your mind, you know, 'What if no one buys it?'" continues the duo's blonde half, Catherine.

"I think we were just excited it charted and did so well."

Now 11 years on since the release of their debut, it was only really the sisters' third album, Thirteen Tales Of Love And Revenge, that received the attention these Abba-esque ladies deserved. Although widely praised on release, it sold well enough to give The Pierces another chance, even if, at the time, it felt like their last.

"We've felt that every time since the first album," says Allison. "And each time it hasn't been true."

"Even if Thirteen Tales had flopped, we would've kept going, although we might have tried solo albums too. That's what we'd decided."

For whatever reason, the siblings believed their particular USP – sisters sharing lead vocals on country-tinged songs of heartbreak – wasn't working.

"We thought maybe people just don't like duos," explains Catherine. "There aren't a lot of duos that are really successful, especially same-sex duos. I've clearly over-thought this over the years, but something clicked with the latest record."

Part of this could be down to the work of Guy Berryman. The Coldplay bass player co-produced the album, organising things in a way The Pierces hadn't experienced before.

"We met Guy out and about in New York," says Catherine. "We started chatting and I gave him demos of our last album. He talked about us touring with them and although that didn't happen, we kept in touch.

"He called one day saying he wanted to start a production company with Rik Simpson and he'd thought of us for his first project."

As willing guinea pigs, The Pierces got to work recording in Coldplay's studio when Berryman had a gap in his schedule.

"Guy found his feet as a producer very quickly," says Allison. "He's so talented, playing a lot of instruments on the album, and he and Rick work so well together."

"We had all these amazing resources at our disposal,"continues Catherine. "The sessions felt very professional and Guy is very, very organised. Before we started You & I, we thought about what we wanted to sound like and how to execute that.

"I've enjoyed making every record, but there was something about this one that really suited us."

As subtle as their rise has been, however, the Pierce sisters always looked likely to be doing what theyre doing now. Born to "hippie" parents in Birmingham, Alabama, they were encouraged to be creative, dancing from the age of three or four, and first singing together when Allison was eight and Catherine was six.

They moved to New York 10 years ago, but have lived in London since February.

"We love it here," says Catherine. "And the city has made it into a few new songs I've written.

* You & I is out now. The Pierces play V Festival in Weston Park, Staffordshire, next month.