Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Debut Album from Public Song Project Winners Sibyl
Date: March 11, 2026
Guest(s): Chloe and Lily Holgate (Sibyl)

Episode Overview

This episode of All Of It with Alison Stewart features an in-depth conversation with Chloe and Lily Holgate, the sister duo known as Sybil, winners of the WNYC Public Song Project’s inaugural year. With their self-titled debut album just released, Sybil performs live in-studio and discusses their unique approach: setting the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Edna St. Vincent Millay to music. The episode delves into their artistic process, sibling dynamics, personal connections to literature and mental health, and their journey as New York musicians.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sybil’s Origins and Collaboration

• Musical Upbringing (07:07):
  • Both sisters grew up making music and dancing together, but pursued classical training on parallel tracks—Chloe in voice, Lily in violin.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic offered them the “bubble” and time to finally collaborate:

    "It took the pandemic for us to say, like, wait, we could do this together..."
    —Chloe Holgate [07:29]

2. The Sibling “Blood Harmony”

• Concept and Experience (07:49):
  • Alison brings up the notion of “blood harmony”—a unique resonance when siblings sing together.
  • Chloe: “I do [believe in blood harmony].”
  • Lily describes it as a mental connection:

    "I'm listening to Lily's voice, I think she's listening to mine, and we kind of lose ourselves in the process and become kind of something bigger."
    —Lily Holgate [08:08-08:14]

  • Sometimes their voices blend so seamlessly, it’s hard for even them to distinguish who’s singing which part.

3. Training and Influence of the Special Music School (08:59–10:20)

• Chloe focused on classical piano and choir:

  "My happy place was always singing."

• Lily loved singing too, but specialized in chamber music, which translates into their duo’s intimate arrangements.

4. The Album’s Concept: Setting Poetry to Music

• Why Dickinson and Millay? (10:38):

  • The sisters felt sheepish about writing lyrics and found inspiration in classic poetry.

    "We wanted to sort of highlight the works of these two amazing women..."
    —Chloe Holgate [10:52]

  • They found that Dickinson’s and Millay’s poetry “naturally lends itself to music.”

• Different Poets, Different Musicality (11:22):

  • Millay’s structured verses fit “song form,” while Dickinson’s unpredictable forms lead to unconventional, exploratory compositions.

5. The Creative Process (15:45–16:44)

• The poetry always leads the music, not the other way around.
• Writing music for two sopranos presents challenges; part-swapping and leaning into each sister’s strengths is a key part of their arranging process:

  "We've done a lot of part swapping where all of us just swap parts just because today this isn't feeling so easy for me. You do it."
  —Lily Holgate [17:29]

6. Beyond Dickinson and Millay: Including Folk Tradition

• The album includes traditional folk songs (“I'll Fly Away,” and “Down in the Willow Garden,” a murder ballad).
• These connect thematically with the poets’ explorations of mental health and the female experience:

  "Something about the traditional songs that we arranged weirdly complements those texts...Like, there's kind of a mashup of exploring female voices."
  —Chloe Holgate [18:13]

• Performing a murder ballad as women adds poignancy and gives “voice to the voiceless.”

7. Advice for the Public Song Project (19:37)

• Chloe: “Does it tell a story and is it a story that speaks to you?”
• Lily: “There’s so many public domain things you could choose that I would be overwhelmed. So you really have to choose what speaks to you and not what is…what’s exciting to you?”

Notable Performances & Quotes

Performance 1: “Witch Wife” (Millay)

• Timestamp: [04:18–06:49]
• A haunting, evocative arrangement described by Chloe as “spooky, witchy.”

Performance 2: “I Felt a Cleaving in My Mind” (Dickinson)

• Timestamp: [12:10–15:45]
• Explores mental fragmentation and is driven entirely by the poem’s rhythm and imagery.

Performance 3: “Afternoon on a Hill” (Millay)

• Timestamp: [20:51–23:25]
• The song that won them the Public Song Project. Gentle, optimistic, and reflective of nature’s balm.

Memorable Quotes

• On artistic collaboration:

  "Because we were in each other's bubble, it just felt like the universe finally provided us the time to actually invest in a collaboration."
  —Chloe Holgate [07:32]

• On artistic inspiration:

  "What just gives you that kind of spark of inspiration? ...That for me often drives what we do, is what is the story behind this?"
  —Chloe Holgate [19:37]

• On finding your material:

  "You really have to choose what speaks to you and not what is…like, what's the most obscure thing that no one else would do?...What's exciting to you?"
  —Lily Holgate [20:13]

Timestamps & Structure

• [01:28] – Alison Stewart introduces Sybil and their background
• [04:18–06:49] – Performance: “Witch Wife”
• [06:49–10:20] – Early collaboration, musical training, sibling dynamic
• [10:38–12:10] – Inspiration for using poetry, album concept
• [12:10–15:45] – Performance: “I Felt a Cleaving in My Mind”
• [15:45–18:56] – Songwriting approach, arranging for two sopranos
• [18:13–19:37] – On folk songs, mental health themes
• [19:37–20:37] – Advice for song project participants
• [20:51–23:25] – Performance: “Afternoon on a Hill”

Tone

Warm, reflective, and intimate—Sybil’s dynamic is affectionate, thoughtful, and driven by a quiet passion for poetry, musical craft, and giving voice to both traditional and overlooked stories.

For Listeners

This episode is a compelling showcase for how classic poetry and folk tradition find new life in contemporary music. Sybil’s thoughtful discussion offers inspiration and practical advice for artists looking to engage with public domain material, while their performances highlight the power and beauty of sibling harmony. If you appreciate musical innovation rooted in literary heritage and familial connection, this episode will resonate deeply.