Local Sisters Write Custom Songs for Special Occasions

It's all about the music. At least, that's what Kate Smith and Jen Mishkee are hoping.

The two local sisters recently launched a songwriting business called LifeSongs, which offers customized songs for any special occassion, including weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and graduations.

The sisters have been writing music and performing as an accoustic duet together for 12 years. They have played around the Twin Cities in cafes, coffee shops and the 7th Street Entry club downtown Minneapolis. Last year Smith thought it was time to take their music in another direction. 

Smith was at a songwriting workshop in Nashville when she first heard of the the customized-song concept.

"One of their suggestions was to do custom songs for people and it clicked with me," Smith said.

She pitched the idea to her sister and they decided to tackle the new venture together. Now they run the business from Smith's home studio in Oakdale.

Clients choose between the Accoustic package or the Accoustic+ package, which includes percussion, shakers, harmonies and synth. Then clients fill out a questionnaire that provides details for the sisters to use while writing the song.

"With LifeSongs, we can take what we've learned throughout the years and share our love for songwriting with others on a very personal level," Mishkee said. “We are really excited to help people capture the special moments in their lives through music.”

If you buy a customized wedding song then the questionaire would ask a series of questions, include when and where you first met, what was your first impressions of each other and what are your favorite things to do together. 

"Our focus for a while was making it as an artist, but now we're trying to make it as professional songwriters," Smith said. "That's why we love this idea and that's why it clicked so well with me." 

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