by Grace Harrison and Alex Bernard

Lily Ibur’s mom, Anne, regularly corresponds with Principal Dr. Dan Gutchewsky regarding the classes her daughter misses.  But Lily still has to meet the high expectations of all high school students despite her continually growing fame.

Lily and her 18-year-old sister, Bella Ibur, have been singing together since they won the high school band competition at Loufest over a year ago. Loufest, an annual outdoor music festival, draws thousands of spectators to the Forest Park event.  Since their win, Bella and Lily Ibur have branded themselves as the duo of Bella & Lily.  They have performed in many local venues, on radio and television stations, and have recently come out with their first album, “Count to Ten.”

The Ibur sisters come from a musical family.  They have both been playing music for as long as they can remember; Bella the piano, and Lily the drums and guitar.  The girls inherited their artistic talents from their parents, Ted and Anne Ibur.

“Being involved in the arts is just what we do,” Ted said.  Ted has played the drums his whole life with a number of bands, and Anne is a gifted painter.

Besides being supportive parents, Ted and Anne also manage their daughter’s duo using their knowledge of the arts.

“It’s weird [having our parents manage us] because we’re not used to it yet, but they’re really supportive and they do a lot,” Lily said.

The Ibur parents are very busy being managers of the band on top of their everyday jobs.  “This [managing the duo] is a tremendous amount of time,” Ted said.  “We’re a little bit more involved than just Mom and Dad.  We have to handle the business end as well.”

Ted, a high school English teacher, finds it hard to balance his day job and the attention his daughters’ career requires.  Ted and Anne just recently became the full-time managers, the first time they have been involved in this way throughout their girls’ entire career.

Before her parents managed her, Bella sought a solo career for a little over a year before teaming up with her sister.  She performed under the stage name Bella Kalei.

But as Lily’s interest in her sister’s career grew, it became obvious that she had potential as well.

“Every time the manager would come over for meetings, Lily would be sitting around, adding her input,” Ted said.

Lily credits her sister for much of her interest in music.

“I guess my sister inspired me to write,” Lily said.  “She inspired me, as a musician.  She’s always been there to support me and my music.”

When Lily won second place for the University of Missouri’s COMP (Creating Original Music Project) Award in her eighth grade year, it became evident that Bella was not the only Ibur daughter with a musical future.

The girls wrote their first full song together two summers ago while on vacation in Wisconsin.

“It was clear that they were just better together,” Ted said.

According to Lily, the fact that they are sisters doesn’t inhibit their musical career.  “We’re gonna have our disagreements, but we’re best friends at the same time,” Lily said.

After their Loufest win, the girls began to work together and perfect their sound.  In her senior year, Bella was faced with a decision when she found out that she was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music.  Bella could either attend the following year, putting the duo’s musical career on hold, or she could defer a year to focus on Bella & Lily.

“Talking to some friends in the music industry, they really felt their age was an asset,” Ted said. “And to try doing something now would be a good opportunity.”

Bella decided to defer, and in the spring of 2013, the Iburs launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the album.

Reaching their fiscal goal of $10,000, the girls were able to travel to New York this past summer to record their album with producer Henry Hirsch.

Hirsch is a distant relative of the Iburs who they found through a family Facebook page.  After hearing their music, he invited them to record in his studio in which he has also recorded with Vanessa Paradis, Madonna and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few.

The girls worked on their album with Hirsch for a grueling two weeks; many days lasting past midnight.

“People keep asking them how their vacation was, and they both always laugh because it was the hardest work they have ever done,” Ted said.

Hirsch has a unique way of operating.  Instead of using voice control like many modern producers, he encourages his artists to use their own instruments, and their own voice.

“I think what impressed me the most [about Bella and Lily] was their determination not to run to the computer for pitch correction,” Hirsch said.  “From my own experience, this quality of delivering music without cheating will ensure them a long and successful career.”

The girls’ father echoed this sentiment,  “If you can’t play it live, then you can’t play it,” he said.

The girls finished recording their album in New York, and released it October 11th at a Blueberry Hill premiere party.  “Count to Ten” features six original songs.

The combination of Bella and Lily’s different music preferences makes for an interesting and unique sound.

“Bella’s tendency is more pop oriented, and Lily’s style is more indie-alternative,” Ted said.  “So the producer said, ‘you guys are indie-pop. Just hybrid it.’”

As far as the future is concerned, everyone seems to be on the same page.

“The immediate goal is to build their name and their reputation and gain an audience that is wide,” Anne said.

Hirsch could see the duo going far, but he knows that they need to mature as artists before they take the next step.  “Henry said, ‘I could line up meetings with labels while you’re in the city, but I don’t want to yet.  I really want you to hone your live act,’” Ted said.

Lily sees the album release as just the beginning of their musical career.

“We’re thinking of [playing it] by ear after this album,” Lily said, “playing a bunch of shows, and just seeing where it takes us.”