Sons of Sylvia have been playing music for years under a couple of different names, but brothers Austin, Ashley, and Adam Clark have recently found a ton of success -- and major fan -- as they tour the country with Carrie Underwood. They even got to sing on American Idol this year! The boys sat down with J-14 at our office to dish on their music, Carrie, and Idol judge Simon Cowell.
J-14: Why did you change names from The Clark Brothers to Sons of Sylvia?
Ashley Clark: We went in a different direction musically, so we wanted to change our name with the music, and we felt it fit better -- and we are momma's boys. Our band name is after our mother -- her name is Sylvia, so we thought Sons of Sylvia.
J-14: How did she react when you told her you were going to name the band after her?
Ashley: She was crying. She was happy. But dad was like, "That will never work. Now, Sons of Frederick -- there's a better name." We're like, "Thanks, Dad. She had eleven kids, remember?" It's Allen, Aaron, Adam, Ashley, Andrew, Austin, Alexander, Abraham, Avery, Amy, and Amber. That is why we named the band after her -- she's still recovering from it all.
J-14: What was it like growing up in your house?
Austin Clark: It was fun and crazy. That's why we bailed. We were like, "Let's start a band." It's definitely been interesting. Never a dull moment.
Ashley: One night, we stripped Austin down to his underwear and handcuffed him to a swing set. We took a water hose and sprayed him for a while. I don't even know why we did that or why we had those handcuffs. We had nine boys running around - it just got insane.
J-14: What's the story behind your single "Love Left to Lose"?
Ashley: We wrote it with our cousin, Ryan Tedder, from OneRepublic. We wrote it in probably like, an hour. We just went in there, started writing, and it just popped out.
Austin: We've been hanging out for about ten years. Not our early childhood, but as we got a little older we started hanging out.
J-14: What has it like working and touring with Carrie Underwood?
Ashley: Unbelievable. She has just been a dream. She put us on her latest record, and she called us six or seven months ago and asked us to open up on her tour. We just did American Idol and she introduced us. There is nothing phony or fake about her. Even in interviews, when she is talking -- that is who she is.
Austin: When she offered us the tour, I didn't know what to say because what do you give someone who has everything? So I was like, "I'll wash your bus." I just got out there and started washing it.
Ashley: After we did American Idol, our album went number one on iTunes. Austin was washing Carrie's bus and she called and said, "You know, if you have a number one record, you shouldn't be washing a bus." Austin said, "Just keeping my word."
J-14: What was it like performing on American Idol?
Ashley: I could feel it start to get overwhelming up, but I had to block it out. I focused in on the song.
Austin: Luckily we weren't competing and didn't have to take any of Simon's criticism. It was a good feeling knowing that no matter what you do, you are not going to get kicked off. We had to go through enough of the on The Next Great American Band, thinking every week you are going to get kicked off.
Ashley: I didn't see him this time, but I did meet Simon one time backstage at the Next Great American Band. He just shook my hand and was like, "You guys are great." That was about it. I was just like, "We'll take it." I'll never wash my hand again.
J-14: Who is your celeb crush?
Adam Clark: I have a bunch of crushes. One of them right now is probably Julianne Hough. She is gorgeous, man.
Austin: I like Kristen Stewart. She did great [in New Moon] -- I'm glad she lived.
Sons of Sylvia performed their single "Love Left to Lose" acoustically when they visited the J-14 office -- check out the performance here, then let us know what you think of the band:
Photo: Courtesy of Lauren Dukoff/Interscope
