Podcast Summary: Sibling Revelry with Kate & Oliver Hudson

Episode: "You Heard It Here First...a Lucius Exclusive"
Air Date: October 6, 2025
Guests: Jess Wolfe & Holly Laessig (Lucius)

Overview

This episode centers on the musical duo Lucius—Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig—in a free-flowing conversation about artistry, creative friendship, life on the road, balancing music and motherhood, and the power of community in building a musical career. The Hudson siblings (Kate and Oliver) are clearly fans, with Kate especially revealing her Lucius obsession. The big draw: an exclusive first play of Lucius’s new single “Thickest Thieves,” and hilarious, intimate insight into the lives of female touring musicians who might not be siblings by blood, but certainly are in spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Meeting, Formation & Early Days

• Origin Story (07:27–11:23)

  • Jess (from LA’s Valley) and Holly (from Cleveland) met at Berklee College of Music via a mutual friend/roommate; bonded over musical upbringings and a shared affinity for old soul, Roy Orbison, and Sam Cooke.
  • Initial concept: girl-group White Album cover show, which pivoted to writing originals after jamming on “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.”

• Discovering Their Unique Sound (12:27–13:37)

  • Sought a unique vocal identity: “We both wanted to be lead singers, but we wanted to be lead singers together... thinking about double-tracked vocals, Elliot Smith, Phil Spector, and we thought: Oh, we could just do that live.” —Jess Wolfe (12:37)

Building Community & Career Breaks

• Tiny Desk & First "Real" Audiences (14:33–15:23)

  • The NPR Tiny Desk appearance was their first breakthrough. They’d sent handwritten letters and burned CDs to host Bob Boilen before being booked.
  • "That was the first time people that weren’t related to us showed up and we were like: What’s happening here?" —Holly Laessig (14:46)

• The New York Scene (15:37–16:58)

  • Eight formative years in NYC, surrounded by future stars and a vibrant club scene.
  • “We just immersed ourselves but didn’t realize at the time how much of a moment it was… Until you’re gone.” —Jess Wolfe (16:55)
  • Observations on how the NYC live music community’s culture has shifted since.

• The Power of Community

  • “Community’s made our entire careers. I feel like we’d be nothing without everyone in…” —Jess Wolfe (24:03)

Touring Life: Thrills, Exhaustion, and Motherhood

• Touring Milestones (24:27–25:14)

  • First big tour: supporting Jack White; followed van tours with J.D. McPherson.
  • Initial break occurred “through friends of friends,” reinforcing the networking theme.

• Burnout & Motherhood on the Road (25:14–30:33)

  • Year-long relentless touring after their debut left them “zombies in Paris.” Touring with young children adds difficulty: “Have a baby and go on tour, and it’s a whole new level of exhaustion.” —Jess Wolfe (26:09)
  • Jess and Holly swapped stories about post-partum touring and childcare challenges, like hiring new babysitters in every city and juggling work with no nanny.

• Healing & Resilience (29:11–29:57)

  • Jess describes a powerful “full-circle moment,” returning to a festival (Brandi Carlile's) where she’d previously miscarried, this time performing with her newborn son: “It felt really healing and necessary. I was exhausted, but... glad we did it.” —Jess Wolfe (29:57)

Chasing the Craft: Evolution, Style & Collaboration

• Aesthetic Evolution (36:11–38:34)

  • Their matching look? “We were a walking set. People were like: Who the f--- are they?” —Jess Wolfe (37:37)
  • Started by raiding cheap outfits and tailoring them; now collaborate with embroiderers and stylists for more elaborate costumes.

• Vocal Alchemy (39:54)

  • “Separately, we have very different voices, but together it does create this sort of unusual thing.” —Jess Wolfe (39:50)
  • “Because we have these two different timbres, we can get more dynamic out of our sound.” —Holly Laessig (39:50)

• Band Dynamics

  • Hardly any fights: “A couple in 20 years... there’s been two that were like, ‘I'm leaving!’ moments, and ten minutes later it’s over.” —Jess Wolfe (40:07)

• Collaboration—Crossing Genres (41:11–43:44)

  • Worked with artists across genres, sometimes surprising even themselves with where they fit.
  • Most surreal collaboration: Roger Waters (Pink Floyd). After being invited for two songs, ended up singing on the entire set. “He stops... ‘They’re singing on every song!’” —Jess Wolfe (43:25)
  • Balancing their own songwriting with being featured artists for others.

• Creative Partnerships (44:44–45:57)

  • Praise for longtime collaborator/producer Shawn Everett: “Watching him is like watching, I don’t know, Basquiat or something... The most creative person we’ve ever met.” —Jess Wolfe (45:09)

The Business of Art & Surviving the Industry

• Fame vs. Sustainability (54:25–55:35)

  • “I don’t think we’re famous.” —Jess Wolfe (54:35)
  • The real goal is longevity and creative freedom, rather than celebrity.

• Social Media & the Business Side (55:35–56:52)

  • Struggle to adapt to TikTok and new forms of promotion. “It just does not come… so unnatural to us.” —Jess Wolfe (55:54)
  • Necessity to be entrepreneurial in both art and business to survive.

• The Role of Luck, Networking, and Money (56:52–59:12)

  • “It’s meeting of luck, talent, hard work…” —Jess Wolfe (56:58)
  • Touring is barely profitable for most artists, even those drawing crowds. “You’re lucky if you’re breaking even. That’s considered a win.” —Jess Wolfe (59:09)

Sibling Energy, Inspiration & Affection

• Closing Reflections (60:57–63:15)
  • Hudsons ask Lucius their ‘sibling’ signature question.
    • Admire in the other: “Social boldness” (Holly about Jess) and “gentle thoughtfulness” (Jess about Holly).
    • If they could help alleviate a burden: “Take your baby for a day” (Holly), “Send you on a big free vacation, pay all your bills, maybe win the lottery too” (Jess).

Exclusive Single Premiere: "Thickest Thieves"

• New Song Debut: (64:43–68:25)
  • Lucius’s “Thickest Thieves” played exclusively for podcast listeners.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "We both wanted to be lead singers… but we wanted to be lead singers together."
  —Jess Wolfe (12:37)

• "That was the first time people that weren’t related to us showed up and we were like: What’s happening here?"
  —Holly Laessig (14:46)

• "Community’s made our entire careers. I feel like we’d be nothing without everyone in..."
  —Jess Wolfe (24:03)

• "Have a baby and go on tour and it’s a whole new level of exhaustion."
  —Jess Wolfe (26:09)

• “He stops… ‘They’re singing on every song!’” (on Roger Waters at Newport Folk Fest)
  —Jess Wolfe (43:25)

• “You’re lucky if you’re breaking even. That’s considered a win.”
  —Jess Wolfe (59:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Meeting and Berklee days: 07:27–11:23
• Forming the Lucius sound: 12:27–13:37
• First big break (Tiny Desk): 14:33–15:23
• New York era/music scene: 15:37–16:58
• First major tours and burnout: 24:27–26:07
• Motherhood & healing on the road: 28:01–29:57
• Creative style and costumes: 36:11–38:34
• Collaboration stories (Roger Waters): 41:51–44:14
• On fame, business, and network: 54:25–59:12
• Sibling-inspired closing Q&A: 60:57–63:15
• Exclusive premiere: "Thickest Thieves": 64:43–68:25

Episode Tone

• Warm, playful, and confessional: Candid tales of struggle, joy, quirky fashion, and musical passion.
• Supportive and authentic: Hosts are genuine fans and friends, fostering unscripted laughter and deep personal stories.
• Inclusive for listeners: Emphasizes universal artist struggles—creative search, balancing personal and professional life, and forging community.

Final Thoughts

Lucius illuminates how their partnership is a near-family bond, thriving on musical harmony and emotional contrast. Their journey reveals the grind and glory behind the glamour—creative connection, vulnerability, and the work required to survive in today’s industry. The exclusive single “Thickest Thieves” encapsulates their evolution toward greater artistic self-definition, balancing collaboration and independence—themes echoed throughout this lively and heartfelt episode.