“September 3, 1999. Dear Diary, why can’t I be in Theo’s band?” So began Sasha Spielberg’s pursuit to make music with her older brother, Theo, a quest that took over a decade to come to fruition as the indie-folk duo Wardell. “She wasn’t super upfront about it,” says Theo Spielberg, whose sun kissed guitar lines are the perfect foil to Sasha’s enduring Fleetwood Mac-esque vocal hooks. “I grew up listening to punk that Sasha wasn’t really into. However, I remember one of my greatest victories as a brother was getting her to like The Distillers when I was in ninth grade.” Following the aptly titled EP Brother/Sister, “Dancing on the Freeway” hints at the siblings’ forthcoming debut album, with director Yousef Eldin’s accompanying hitchhiking music video making good use of their hereditary thespian chops (Sasha starred in her father Steven's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and indie rom-com The Art of Getting By). Now signed to Roc Nation, this week Wardell performed at The Troubadour, the legendary West Hollywood venue where Guns N’ Roses played their debut gig. “One of our first shows was at the El Cid in Silver Lake and I remember being so nervous,” says Sasha, who also makes chilled-out ambient music as Just Friends with electronic prodigy Nicolas Jaar. “But I remember looking over at Theo in the middle of set, and he looked back at me as if to say 'you’re doing great.' It was a nice moment." 

Dancing on the Freeway is available August 6 on the Wardell Soundcloud