W: Khumzi Faku

West London’s got a new sound and it’s coming in stereo. Meet Two Tone, the R&B duo rewriting what it means to be young, fearless, and female in today’s music scene. Best friends Dara Awosala and Ruby Harrison-Sears, both 19, are turning teenage diaries into polished harmonies, crafting songs that sit somewhere between heartbreak, healing and feeling empowered. 

In their first feature for their debut single, we sat down with the duo to talk friendship, self-definition, and finding power in your own rhythm. When we met, they’re exactly as you’d imagine: quick to laugh, finishing each other’s sentences, and radiating that kind of grounded confidence most artists spend years trying to find. “We were Two Tone before we were Two Tone,” Ruby states. 

On the duo’s origin Dara tells us, “we’d be harmonising in the corridors, just singing random songs, and people would say, ‘You should start a band!’ It was all fun at first, and then we actually thought, why not?”. That easy chemistry and natural dynamic is at the core of what makes Two Tone special. They’re not just a pairing of two strong voices, they’re a genuine duo in every sense. 

Their creative push-and-pull is the heartbeat of their music. “Nowadays we challenge each other,” Ruby explains. “If I come with lyrics to a melody, Dara will be like, ‘Nah, you can do better.’” Dara laughs, “it’s all love though — that’s what makes the music better.” 

The pair’s debut single, “Jordans,” is the perfect introduction to that alchemy. Co-written and produced by Frank Nobel, it’s a breakup anthem with bite taking inspiration from Kelis’ “Caught Out There”, and combining that with a little bit of post-heartache empowerment. “We wanted it to be like Kelis’ vibe — not sad heartbreak, but powerful,” Dara says. 

But “Jordans” wasn’t born from heartbreak alone. Ruby describes how the track “started as a joke, like, what’s the pettiest thing you could do after a breakup?”. They laughed as they recalled how the song came to life — when they first heard the beat in the studio, they were completely stuck on what to do with it, so they did what felt natural: they flowed with it, moved with it and danced it out until the lyrics found them. 

They describe how the song really got its legs when they both went home and got to sit with it, “we would, like, send voice notes on our group chat at like 3:00 a.m back and forth,” brainstorming ideas for lyrics and more importantly the story they were trying to tell, until they crafted the finished product. “It’s about not letting anyone make you feel small.” Dara nods, adding, “It’s not a sad song at all. It’s about confidence: that post-heartbreak moment when you start remembering who you are.” 

Their sound is a fluid blend of R&B, soul, hip-hop and pop — and it is also unmistakably West London. “There’s actually nowhere like West London,” Ruby says. “There’s a community, a vibe you don’t get anywhere else.” Dara adds, “A lot of our music is based on real-life experiences, not just breakups but literally our lives.” 

It’s that balance between soulful polish and storytelling honesty that positions Two Tone as the next major voice of UK R&B. Their inspirations, from Brandy and Floetry to Victoria Monét and Kojey Radical reflect their range, but their voice is distinctly their own. “It took a lot of trial and error to actually find our sound and find ourselves,” Dara admits. “We wanted to stay authentic and raw — British girls reflecting our lives as they are now.

Two Tone aren’t just another R&B act coming out of London — they’re part of a new generation reshaping what British soul and R&B can sound like. Ruby and Dara’s chemistry goes beyond the mic; it’s rooted in shared honesty, laughter, and a refusal to be boxed in. “We want to be known for Two Tone,” Ruby says firmly. “We want to break any expectation of what a duo should be and say, ‘this is who we are.’” And they mean it. What emerges is a sound that moves between confession and celebration, raw emotion wrapped in a modern, melodic polish. 

They’re also clear about carving space for themselves without being boxed in. “We wanted to get out of that box of being relatable to just the girls. Everyone can sing our songs and shout them from the rooftops,” Dara says.“The UK’s female artists are winning right now.” 

Two Tone might still be at the beginning of their journey, but they already speak like artists who know where they’re going. “We want listeners to feel like they’ve grown with us, seen us go through different eras and emotions,” Ruby says thoughtfully. Dara smiles, “I want people to listen to our music and feel like they’re there with us, like a little trio.” 

If ‘Jordans’ is their first step, Two Tone’s next moves promise to be even bolder. “A new song coming soon… maybe a music video for ‘Jordans’?” They tease. Whatever’s coming, one thing’s clear: Two Tone aren’t just finding their sound — they’re defining it.