They’ve hustled their music in the true since of the word hustlers. Their resume’ extends from, performing on the streets of downtown, to cities and states across the US and Canada. This female duo made up of Toni Hill and Sindell, otherwise known as “Sirens Echo” are staking their claim in the world of hip-hop.

“Our music definitely has an under-laying spiritual theme on a lot of levels, says Hill.” “It definitely has a message to the women, of empowerment. To help encourage and inspire them be and become, greater than what they are. Our music shares a message of hope. We’ve been through things that other women have been through, or are probably going to go through, if they’re younger. That’s why we’re able to talk about alcoholism, drug abuse, rape and other issues that women are probably going to go against in their lifetime, and to be okay talking about that. We also want to send a message to the youth because they definitely are the future. We call to them to step up their game and realize who they are, because they are the next leaders. They’re going to have to fill in some shoes”

Their name was derived from Greek mythology, where Sirens were part human, part bird. The Sirens lived on a rocky island in the middle of the sea singing melodies so beautiful that sailors passing by couldn't resist getting closer to them. Following the sound of the sirens music, the sailors would steer their boats towards them or even jump in the water to get closer. Either way, it always ended in disaster on the rocks.

Echo was a mountain nymph who, over affairs of the heart, pined away until only her voice remained. These ladies have assured me that it is not their intention to allure men into peril with their music.

As we all know, for the most part the hip-hop genre is a male dominated realm, but these ladies are holding their own. “I think it’s because we’re comfortable with what we do, what we have to say and how we want to say it,” says Sindell. “We don’t have to remind you of someone else or fit a stereotype. Our music comes from the heart, the spirit, the soul, and that works for us.”

Toni Hill adds, “I think it’s also because we have a diverse range of music that we both come from.” “Coming up she played the violin, I played the clarinet. I participated in ballet, sang in the choir and different things like that. There’s a hint of a little bit of everything, so we’re able to make some gumbo. We draw from a little bit of this, a little bit of that, add some spice and serve it up. I think that aspect is what helps us stay unique.”

While working their way through an industry where sex sells, not only do these ladies maintain a certain level of integrity in their music but in the way they portray themselves as well. You won’t see them on stage half naked. The only thing they plan on dropping like it’s hot, is their lyrics.

“That’s not us, it’s not our style,” says Sindell. “We feel it’s sexier when you have your clothes on and you leave something for the imagination.”

“We like to feel sexy but the whole shaking your ass, hoochie momma thing, no!” says Sindell. “We don’t do that. We don’t know if people would take us serious if we went that route”

“I don’t think we could do the music that we do without a message,” says Sindell. “I just don’t see what the point would be. Our music has always had a message, from day one. It’s kind of been our goal.”

“Music is one of the most powerful vehicles that there is, in terms of social change etc.,” says Toni Hill. “Marvin Gaye and different artist like James Brown’s ‘I’m Black and I’m Proud’ from back in the day, they used music as a vehicle to propel whatever message that there was. Old negro spirituals were very powerful, songs that were used in terms of the movement; ‘We Shall Overcome,’ things of that nature. When you have strong music and it has a base, something behind it, more than just making a song, for the hell of making a song. People can feel that”

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This article was originally published in Flossin Magazine. This article is edited by Edna Waters. This article is optimized for web by Steven Christian (Artist | Author | Podcaster).