10 Questions with The Army, The Navy
While on their first headline tour across North America, Sasha and Maia take an intimate look at their creative journey, from shared memories to a growing sound.
By: Spencyr Aronson
March 27th, 2025
Sounds by Spencyr: Hey Sasha and Maia! Thanks so much for taking the time to participate in my 10 questions series, I really appreciate it! Let’s dive right in.
Given your deep history together, do you ever find yourselves tapping into shared childhood memories when writing music, or is your writing more focused on current experiences?
The Army, The Navy: Since Sasha and I grew up in the same hometown, our experiences are very similar. We’ve known each other for a long time, and we know everything about each other. Usually, Sasha and I don’t write about one specific thing; we discuss a theme and go with that. After the song is written, we break down the lyrics and see how they relate to us. If we find that a lyric doesn’t ring true, we change it. It’s so important for us to be as authentic in our writing as possible!
I love that you emphasize authenticity in your writing.
Earlier this month you kicked off your first North American headline run. Congratulations! How has the tour been going so far? Have you been writing new music or feeling inspired while on the road?
ATN: Tour has been a whirlwind. This is our very first time headlining, and the experience is so different from opening. We’re a lot busier; we have a lot of equipment and a lot of responsibility. But it’s been unbelievably rewarding. We ride the high every day. As far as writing goes, no, we don’t usually write on the road. Touring takes up all our mental capacity, and we truly just don’t have time to write. But we like it that way. When we’re on tour, we put 100 percent of our energy into the performance. When we’re home, we’re able to relax a bit and write.
Speaking of tour, before this headline run you opened for Dora Jar. That must have been such an amazing and unique experience. I actually saw your performance at the Los Angeles date, you guys killed it!
Were there any particular moments on that tour which solidified how much the live experience is integral to your music? Can you recall any specific times when the connection with your audience felt most meaningful to you?
ATN: Thank you! That was such a dream. Dora Jar has been Sasha and I's favorite artist for years. When we were asked to join her tour, we literally jumped up and down, screamed, and cried. It was the biggest honor. We specifically loved her song “Lucky” and I would cry every night when she sang it. She actually invited us on stage to sing it with her for the last few shows, which was so meaningful to us. Dora’s audience welcomed us with open arms and gave us so much light. We are so thankful to have been a part of the magic.
Amazing. When working together, how do you push each other outside your comfort zones creatively without compromising the sound that makes The Army, The Navy unique?
ATN: We aren’t “yes” people. If one of us doesn’t like a lyric, we say so. If we don’t like a melody or guitar part, we vocalize it. We continue to practice utmost vulnerability and honesty with each other when writing so we’re both happy with the final product. Sasha and I have a very particular way of writing, and we put a lot of effort into that.
Definitely! I think that particular writing style is what makes your lyrics stand out to fans. Speaking of lyrics, from songs about heartbreak to tackling service industry struggles, the content of your work spans a wide emotional range. How do you decide which personal experiences will become a song and which ones remain private?
ATN: Nothing is private anymore! Everything is on the table.
Of course, if one of us is uncomfortable saying something specific, we nix it. We know each other very well, so we know which experiences are safe to sing about and which ones are better left alone. Our lyrics usually aren’t based on one specific experience alone, so it helps make the experiences a little more abstract.
I really respect you both for having such an open mindset! On a different note, your sound is a beautiful fusion of pop, jazz, folk, and indie rock. How do you see your style evolving, especially as you get more exposure in different cities and on tour?
ATN: As we continue to write and grow together, our sound will continue to mature. Our writing will always be our writing, regardless of new audiences. Being exposed to new cities and new listeners is such a blessing. I think Sasha and I constantly aim to be the most polished writers and vocalists we can be.
Let’s talk about the awe-inspiring optics behind all of your work. It’s evident that your visuals are an essential part of your creative output. What’s your process when collaborating with artists like Lucy Black to ensure the visual world aligns with your music’s emotional depth and themes?
ATN: Lucy Black is an artistic mastermind. She just gets us so truly, and we are always blown away by her art. She is very left-brained; the way she works is unlike any other artist I’ve met, which makes her so special. We are very aligned with what inspires us visually, and she’s done such an incredible job creating a world for Fruit for Flies and Sugar for Bugs to exist in. We will work with her forever and ever and ever!
Switching gears a bit, as childhood friends who have seen each other grow through so many phases of life, how does your personal connection influence the way you handle the challenges of the music industry together?
ATN: Our friendship always comes first. Working with your best friend can, of course, have its challenges. We’re in a constant state of adjusting and learning. Sasha and I have learned to grow together, practice patience and confrontation, and be honest with one another. The fact that we are so connected makes it such a joy to write music together. Our morals and inspirations are so aligned, and we care deeply about one another.
Just a few questions left for you both! When you listen back to the tracks on your debut project Fruit for Flies, what moments still stand out to you as pivotal moments of discovery? Also, I know you’ve mentioned before that all songs for both of your released projects were written around the same time, but how (if at all) did your process, both in terms of development and rollout, evolve from Fruit for Flies to Sugar For Bugs [your sophomore EP]?
ATN: “Persimmon” was a standout for us. We took a risk with very crunchy, dissonant harmonies, and it paid off. We were worried people wouldn’t like it, but when they did, we felt so confident about our abilities. The majority of the songs on both EPs were written at the same time, and we created each tracklist based on what our listeners wanted to hear. Of course, we paid attention to the sonics of each record, but both projects came to us very naturally.
I love “Persimmon”.
Who are your favorite smaller artists you’d love for readers to discover?What projects have you been listening to on repeat lately?
ATN: Well, of course Dora Jar. We’ve also been obsessed with Saya Gray’s newest record, Oklou, Ryan Beatty, Kevin Atwater, Elliott Smith, Beyoncé, Caroline Polachek. The list goes on and on.
Who are your biggest musical influences and why?
ATN: All of the artists listed above have a huge influence on us. Sasha grew up listening to Alanis Morissette, Beyoncé, and Whitney Houston. I grew up listening to Maroon 5, old-school Katy Perry, The Beatles, and Kurt Cobain.
Lastly, what can fans expect from you for the remainder of 2025? Beyond that, what are some of the big goals you’re hoping to achieve in the next few years as you continue to grow both artistically and professionally?
ATN: An album! More performances. More music. More visuals. More connections. Sasha and I are so grateful to be moving at the pace we’re moving, but we don’t want to be thrown into anything we’re not ready for. We want to take all the necessary steps to get where we want to go. We aren’t afraid to take our time. It’s so important that our career has a natural progression and longevity.