Group ::
Photo by Jeff Folkins, www.folkins.net
Five2 formed naturally when three women — Uniit Carruyo (vocals and guitar,) and sisters Charisse and Yvette Lucente (vocals) — found rare musical chemistry and forged an instant bond. Since their debut in Fall of 2003, this vocal trio has established a presence in the Ithaca music scene, captivating listeners with atmospheric harmonies and tranquil guitar melodies that imbue contemporary folk music with classic country and pop sensibilities.
Five2’s roots run back to 1995, when Kevin Kinsella asked the Lucente Sisters to sing backing vocals for his then new project, John Brown's Body. The result was years of collaboration with JBB and particularly Kinsella, including their appearance on his 1999 solo effort, "ITown Revival". That album caught the attention of Uniit, quickly becoming one of her favorite recordings. “I loved the record so much,” says Uniit, “I would sing along to their parts and add a third harmony.”
Already a well-known singer and songwriter in Ithaca’s beloved Sim Redmond Band, Uniit eagerly joined the other women when Kinsella arranged for an impromptu rehearsal in her living room. They connected instantly. “This musician I greatly admired came in with these beautiful low harmonies to our parts in Kevin’s songs,” Yvette remembers, “and it sounded great. Then she played some of her own songs, and they were incredible. I knew that day we had something special with her.”
This mutual admiration and respect shines through at each of their shows. South American in heritage (Uniit is half Venezuelan, Charisse and Yvette are half Peruvian) and diminutive in height, the women of Five2 harmonize vocally and emotionally, conjuring an uncommonly moving experience—both for the audience and for themselves.
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Photo by Jeff Folkins, www.folkins.net
Five2 formed naturally when three women — Uniit Carruyo (vocals and guitar,) and sisters Charisse and Yvette Lucente (vocals) — found rare musical chemistry and forged an instant bond. Since their debut in Fall of 2003, this vocal trio has established a presence in the Ithaca music scene, captivating listeners with atmospheric harmonies and tranquil guitar melodies that imbue contemporary folk music with classic country and pop sensibilities.
Five2’s roots run back to 1995, when Kevin Kinsella asked the Lucente Sisters to sing backing vocals for his then new project, John Brown's Body. The result was years of collaboration with JBB and particularly Kinsella, including their appearance on his 1999 solo effort, "ITown Revival". That album caught the attention of Uniit, quickly becoming one of her favorite recordings. “I loved the record so much,” says Uniit, “I would sing along to their parts and add a third harmony.”
Already a well-known singer and songwriter in Ithaca’s beloved Sim Redmond Band, Uniit eagerly joined the other women when Kinsella arranged for an impromptu rehearsal in her living room. They connected instantly. “This musician I greatly admired came in with these beautiful low harmonies to our parts in Kevin’s songs,” Yvette remembers, “and it sounded great. Then she played some of her own songs, and they were incredible. I knew that day we had something special with her.”
This mutual admiration and respect shines through at each of their shows. South American in heritage (Uniit is half Venezuelan, Charisse and Yvette are half Peruvian) and diminutive in height, the women of Five2 harmonize vocally and emotionally, conjuring an uncommonly moving experience—both for the audience and for themselves.
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Charisse Lucente ::
Photo by Jeff Folkins, www.folkins.net
Charisse likes to think that her voice came from another singer. Before she was born, her parents couldn't agree on a name. In fact, it was in the middle of disagreeing about this when they heard this singer named Charisse on WVBR’s Bound for Glory radio show. They stopped and listened, agreeing that the woman had a beautiful voice, and Charisse it was. As a child, she was known for singing in the shower as well as her backyard. Making up songs for every stuffed animal in her room, it became increasingly apparent to her mother that she could sing. She was enrolled in classical music lessons at age 8, which of course she rebelled against. In high school, Charisse found her outlet by singing in choir, musicals and vocal jazz. Singing has always been a very natural form of therapy for her. From classical, show tunes, reggae and pop to Five2, she can be found singing along. Music is what she loves, and singing with two amazing women in harmony is a dream realized.
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Photo by Jeff Folkins, www.folkins.net
Charisse likes to think that her voice came from another singer. Before she was born, her parents couldn't agree on a name. In fact, it was in the middle of disagreeing about this when they heard this singer named Charisse on WVBR’s Bound for Glory radio show. They stopped and listened, agreeing that the woman had a beautiful voice, and Charisse it was. As a child, she was known for singing in the shower as well as her backyard. Making up songs for every stuffed animal in her room, it became increasingly apparent to her mother that she could sing. She was enrolled in classical music lessons at age 8, which of course she rebelled against. In high school, Charisse found her outlet by singing in choir, musicals and vocal jazz. Singing has always been a very natural form of therapy for her. From classical, show tunes, reggae and pop to Five2, she can be found singing along. Music is what she loves, and singing with two amazing women in harmony is a dream realized.
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Uniit Carruyo ::
Photo by Yvette Lucente
Uniit sang before she could talk, and music and creative expression have been as vital to her as her own breath. There have been a variety of stepping stones that have led her to Five2, starting with a classic rock cover band when she was 16 called Stonehenge.
She went on to sing with a group by the name of Terra Firma until she graduated from high school. It was during this time that she began performing her own music and this continued throughout the next four years. She moved to Ithaca, NY in 1998, where she continued writing and performing, releasing her first full-length self-titled release. She had been writing and collaborating intermittently with Sim Redmond for a year before she became the co-singer in the Sim Redmond Band. Frequent traveling with the band caused her to leave her full-time job as an art and Spanish teacher at a private pre-k/kindergarten program and pursue music (Her background in early childhood education inspired early songs such as Pollen and Lullaby for Boys). After 7 years of national and international touring with the Sim Redmond Band (and four independently produced records,) Uniit is embracing the feminine nature and sisterhood that is Five2. Uniit's voice can also be experienced on a handful of the regions talented independent artists, most available through Itown records.com.
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Photo by Yvette Lucente
Uniit sang before she could talk, and music and creative expression have been as vital to her as her own breath. There have been a variety of stepping stones that have led her to Five2, starting with a classic rock cover band when she was 16 called Stonehenge.
She went on to sing with a group by the name of Terra Firma until she graduated from high school. It was during this time that she began performing her own music and this continued throughout the next four years. She moved to Ithaca, NY in 1998, where she continued writing and performing, releasing her first full-length self-titled release. She had been writing and collaborating intermittently with Sim Redmond for a year before she became the co-singer in the Sim Redmond Band. Frequent traveling with the band caused her to leave her full-time job as an art and Spanish teacher at a private pre-k/kindergarten program and pursue music (Her background in early childhood education inspired early songs such as Pollen and Lullaby for Boys). After 7 years of national and international touring with the Sim Redmond Band (and four independently produced records,) Uniit is embracing the feminine nature and sisterhood that is Five2. Uniit's voice can also be experienced on a handful of the regions talented independent artists, most available through Itown records.com.
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Yvette Lucente ::
Photo by Jackie Richardson
Yvette can barely remember a time when she wasn't singing. It would make sense that she is so drawn to harmony singing in particular, since she's always done so in ensembles and with her sister Charisse. She participated in her first band at age 11, a trio called the Satellites, playing keyboards and singing backups (with sister Charisse on bass/lead vocals and her cousin Diego on drums.) The group, managed and nurtured by their uncle Steve, was short-lived, but yielded an elementary school gig, a recording, and even a video. In high school, she focused on choir and vocal jazz, where she first learned about vocal discipline and harmony singing. In 1994, Yvette and Charisse joined as backup singers in the Ithaca reggae band, Les Chatiments, and performed in shows opening for Rusted Root and the Tribulations. Tribulations' lead singer, Kevin Kinsella, called upon "The Lucente Sisters" to sing harmonies with him when he started performing solo, and with his next project, John Brown's Body. The following 5 years found Yvette and Charisse singing on JBB records and live shows, and working closely with Kevin Kinsella on his solo work. Soon after the completion of work on Kevin’s record, ITown Revival, moved to New York City where she attended the New School and earned a BA in Psychology. She returned to Ithaca in the Summer of 2003, intending to stay for a few short months, yet found herself singing again with her sister, Kevin, and a new musical force: Uniit. Five2 was created and she happily remains in Ithaca, creating music with people she loves.
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Photo by Jackie Richardson
Yvette can barely remember a time when she wasn't singing. It would make sense that she is so drawn to harmony singing in particular, since she's always done so in ensembles and with her sister Charisse. She participated in her first band at age 11, a trio called the Satellites, playing keyboards and singing backups (with sister Charisse on bass/lead vocals and her cousin Diego on drums.) The group, managed and nurtured by their uncle Steve, was short-lived, but yielded an elementary school gig, a recording, and even a video. In high school, she focused on choir and vocal jazz, where she first learned about vocal discipline and harmony singing. In 1994, Yvette and Charisse joined as backup singers in the Ithaca reggae band, Les Chatiments, and performed in shows opening for Rusted Root and the Tribulations. Tribulations' lead singer, Kevin Kinsella, called upon "The Lucente Sisters" to sing harmonies with him when he started performing solo, and with his next project, John Brown's Body. The following 5 years found Yvette and Charisse singing on JBB records and live shows, and working closely with Kevin Kinsella on his solo work. Soon after the completion of work on Kevin’s record, ITown Revival, moved to New York City where she attended the New School and earned a BA in Psychology. She returned to Ithaca in the Summer of 2003, intending to stay for a few short months, yet found herself singing again with her sister, Kevin, and a new musical force: Uniit. Five2 was created and she happily remains in Ithaca, creating music with people she loves.
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