Tennessee Twin: The Sound of Real Life in Harmony

When Victoria and Geoff of Tennessee Twin first met in a Cambridge recording studio, they had no idea they were about to become one of the UK country scene’s most distinctive duos.

Today, the pair’s combination of heartfelt songwriting, rich harmonies, and effortless chemistry has taken them from C2C to the British Country Music Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, and even showcases in Nashville and Amsterdam.

Their story is one of timing, teamwork, and truth — and, above all, of music that feels unmistakably real.

“Country music is about real people and real life. We just have a slightly different slant and a slightly different way of saying some words.”

Geoff Meads, Tennessee Twin

From Cambridge to Country Charts

Tennessee Twin’s journey began with their debut EP Tips in a Jar, which reached No. 1 on iTunes UK Country in 2019. Their song “Wings of Red, White & Blue” won the British Airways/Nashville Songwriting Contest, earning them a trip to Music City and cementing their reputation as one of the UK’s most promising Americana acts.

Their latest record, Shifting Sands, captures their signature mix of stripped-down acoustic storytelling and full-band energy.

But behind the accolades lies a duo who are happiest when the focus returns to the songs themselves. Victoria recalls The Shires song “Made In England”:

“We’re not afraid to sing about fish and chips or the fact that it rains all the time. That’s what makes us who we are.”
— Victoria Meads, Tennessee Twin

The Roots of a Duo

For Victoria, country music was always part of her story.

“I was obsessed with Crystal Gayle as a child,” she laughs. “I wanted to be like that when I grew up. And then you’re gonna hate me saying this, but Andrew Lloyd Webber, because I love him!”

Geoff’s early influences came from his father’s record player.

“My father was a massive fan of the ladies of country — Dolly, Tammy, Billie Jo Spears — played far too loud, far too late at night. It just soaks in.”

A defining moment arrived when Geoff’s band played on the same stage as Nanci Griffith at the Cambridge Folk Festival. “Her songs, like Love at the Five and Dime, were storytelling at its finest,” he recalls. “That was the turning point for me.”

Writing Life, One Appointment at a Time

Balancing life as both creative partners and a married couple takes a little organisation.

“We almost have to make appointments as if we weren’t a married couple,” Geoff admits. “Like, Tuesday night, that’s writing night.”

Victoria agrees. “Real life gets in the way sometimes, so we have to be strict. But we’re always jotting down ideas. There’s always fresh material.”

Their songwriting process is a true collaboration: Victoria creates the melodies and harmonies, while Geoff focuses on lyrics.

“I tend to put really weird chords in,” Victoria jokes. “And then Geoff complains he doesn’t have enough fingers to play them!”

“Not all chords translate from piano to guitar,” Geoff adds with a grin. “But we make it work.”

Unexpected Hits and Honest Stories

One of their most loved songs, When We Move, began life as a lockdown songwriting challenge.

“We challenged ourselves to write a new song every week during lockdown,” Victoria explains. “We didn’t think much of it, but then Sarah Jory added pedal steel, and it became something beautiful.”

Geoff remembers the inspiration.

“It’s about that moment after an argument when you can’t storm off because you’re stuck in the same house. It’s about who makes the first move to mend things. Everyone could relate to that.”

British Country, British Voice

While Tennessee Twin’s sound often draws comparisons to Nashville acts, their lyrics are proudly rooted in British life.

“Our villages are a lot like American small towns,” Victoria says. “The same dramas, the same heart.”

Geoff adds, “We wouldn’t sing about pickup trucks, that’s not our life. But the first thing I ever drove was a John Deere, so maybe that counts.”

Their blend of country and folk has led some to call them “a cross between The Shires and The Civil Wars” — a compliment they happily embrace.
“In Nashville, they love that we sound different,” Geoff says. “It’s like we’re bringing a new accent to the genre.”

On Stage and Beyond

Crafting the right setlist is both an art and a science.

“We always do our homework,” Victoria explains. “We look at the venue and audience first. Then I like to mix it up — a couple of uptempo songs followed by a slower one.”

“If the crowd isn’t moving, we change it on the fly. We give each other a little wink to swap something out.”
— Geoff Meads

Their live shows often open with Two Heart Rendezvous, a harmony-driven fan favourite. And soon, audiences will hear their newest single, Beautifully Scared.

“It’s about that lovely tension when you realise a friendship might be something more,” Victoria says. “Everyone’s felt that.”

Carrying the Torch for UK Country

Tennessee Twin are passionate about supporting fellow UK artists.

“We love Luke Flear,” Victoria says. “He’s going places.”
“We’ve been friends with Kezia (Gill) for years,” Geoff adds. “Seeing her rise has been amazing. And we have to give credit to The Shires, Ward Thomas, and The Wandering Hearts for pushing UK country forward.”

For all their success, the pair remain grounded.

“We go home, put on The Big Bang Theory, have some cheese and crackers, and a bit of Jack Daniels,” Victoria laughs. “It’s not very rock and roll, but it works.”

Moments That Made It Feel Real

Ask Tennessee Twin when they first felt they had “arrived,” and two very different stages come to mind — one in Nashville, the other much closer to home.

“We played Two Old Hippies in Nashville, which is sadly no longer there,” Victoria recalls. “Sitting in that venue, knowing how many incredible artists had played there, and remembering seeing them on TV — that was a big moment for me.”

For Geoff, it was the British Country Music Festival that left its mark.

“We were on around lunchtime and half expected the room to be empty. But when we walked out, it was jam-packed — and full of other artists who’d come to watch.”

Victoria laughs at the memory.

“They were all standing in a line — Kezia, Jade, everyone. It wasn’t intimidating at all!”

Geoff smiles.

“That was one of those moments where you just think, ok, maybe this is still going alright.”

The Heart of Tennessee Twin

At the core of Tennessee Twin’s music lies an honesty that’s as unmistakable as their harmonies. Whether they’re performing on a Nashville stage or in a listening room back home, Victoria and Geoff carry with them the same sense of gratitude and authenticity that first brought them together.

“Someone described us as what would happen if you mashed up The Shires and The Civil Wars. That was about the best compliment we could have had.”
— Geoff Meads

Their songs are about connection — about the ordinary moments that reveal something extraordinary when wrapped in melody and truth. From When We Move’s lockdown vulnerability to the romantic tension of Beautifully Scared, each track feels lived-in, relatable, and unmistakably theirs.

As UK country continues to grow and diversify, Tennessee Twin are helping define what it means to make country music on British soil: music that celebrates real life, rain and all, told in their own voices and through the stories that unite us.

“We’re proud to sound like where we come from,” Victoria says. “That’s the heart of it for us — real stories, real people, real music.”

Tennessee Twin’s latest release, Shifting Sands, is available now. Their new single Beautifully Scared arrives this winter.
Follow our Tennessee Twin artist page for upcoming gigs and social media links.