As kids growing up in Southern California, sisters Aly & AJ Michalka were enthralled with the West Coast vibe they’d hear in the Beach Boys tunes their dad played when he’d drive them to school. It’s no wonder the platinum-selling singer-songwriters’ own music often boasts soothing sibling harmonies and a similar SoCal spirit—like on their sixth and latest album, Silver Deliverer.
The talented siblings first won legions of fans as Disney Channel stars in the early 2000s: Aly starred on the sitcom Phil of the Future and the duo was featured in the movie Cow Belles. In the years that followed, AJ’s role as Lainey on The Goldbergs led to her own spinoff series, Schooled, while Aly scored films such as Easy A and TV roles on shows like Hellcats and iZombie.
As a musical duo, they’re known for hits including “Potential Breakup Song,” “Rush,” and “Take Me,” and they’re enjoying reconnecting with fans on their 2025 Silver Deliverer Tour. Here, they share how growing up in Southern California has shaped both their sound and their lives.
Where do you live? We were born in Torrance and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. We currently reside in Laurel Canyon and Santa Barbara.
Why there? The canyon became a really evocative backdrop to our music. Since coming back to making records in 2016, all of the music we write is born out of Laurel Canyon and we feel a deep connection to what this place means to our sisterhood.
When we moved out of our parents’ house, Laurel Canyon was the first place we called home together. We even made an independent film set in the home we were living in at the time. We still have homes right in the heart of that neighborhood.
Who or what is your greatest California love? Our greatest loves are the drive down PCH, the Big Sur coastline, the unbelievable Mexican food, and the outdoor music venues. The Hollywood Bowl, The L.A. Greek Theatre, The Ford, the Santa Barbara Bowl, and the Libbey Bowl are some of the coolest places to not only perform but also to see a show.
What is the biggest misperception about Californians? That the film and music industry is super glamorous. It can have its moments.
What is the stereotype that most holds true? That the more hole-in-the-wall style a Mexican joint is, the better it probably tastes.
What is your favorite Golden State splurge? Carmel.
Time for a road trip—where are you going? When Aly met her husband, they started doing yearly trips to Big Sur and that has now become a tradition the whole family gets in on. We usually get a couple of rooms at Deetjen’s and experience a true cabin getaway for a few nights. Aly’s husband proposed there, we’ve taken her son there, as well as both of our parents. That place has a lot of soul and it's always a perfect destination after a long and hard year of traveling.
If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? Without question we would have to say Bell’s in Los Alamos. It’s rare that a place will actually make you tear up (in a good way) and somehow Bell’s manages to do that. That’s how good it is. The food is an otherworldly experience, the setting is relaxed and thoughtful, the owners are incredibly lovely, and the staff is always warm.
What is your favorite way to play in California? Outdoors, under the stars. We’ve managed to now sell out The Greek (the very evening Aly found out she was pregnant) as well as play The Bowl. Our next iconic outdoor venue endeavor will be two nights at The Ford on September 19 and 20 to kick off our Silver Deliverer Tour.
Where would you go for the ultimate shopping spree in California? Our favorite store in L.A. (especially for a pre-tour shopping spree) is a place on Beverly Blvd. called Mister Freedom. This boutique is a mecca of vintage clothing, books, and rare textiles. They’ve got ranchwear, indigo denim from Japan, and so much more.
Best California song? “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” [by The Beach Boys] is our No. 1 go-to California song. We’ll never forget the first time our dad played this song in his white truck driving us to school. It was like our whole world opened up to the quintessential sound of West Coast music.
How would your California dream day unfold? It would start at our favorite Pilates studio that we’ve been going to for years called Pilates Addiction (formerly WundaBar). Then an iced latte from Verve. Hike Fryman Canyon, followed by a lunch on the patio at Superba. A film at the Academy Museum or The Egyptian, maybe stop by Scout for some vintage shopping, then Korean BBQ at Soban and end our night with a cocktail at The Line Hotel or Taylor’s.
This would entail quite a bit of driving for the day but we like driving around town. Another dream day would be sitting in the studio in Topanga Canyon writing music with our producer Jonathan Wilson for a good 6–7 hours, then cooking a cozy meal with provisions from Canyon Gourmet and eating it under the stars (with some pizza from Endless Color and some Madre mezcal) before cutting a rough demo of what we had just created that day.