These Sisters Are 'Chasing Paris' and Chasing Their Dream

Kailyn and Kindyl Paris are your average high school students enjoying the first few weeks of summer vacation.  There’s time to hang out with their friends, and homework won’t get in the way of watching their favorite TV show, Glee.

Summer means a trip to the pool, a day at the beach or an afternoon in the recording studio, with a priority on the latter.

That’s because Chasing Paris—the sisters’ stage name—is chasing its dream.

Kailyn is 17 and plays the guitar; Kindyl is 15 and sings. The indie duo hope their harmony can produce hits, and they already have a recording contract to launch them on their way.

The Trabuco Hills high school students are just two of Mark and Richelle Paris’ five daughters. The girls were introduced to music during their toddler years; members of their extended family play on the worship team at Mission Hills Community Church, where the Paris family is involved. Kailyn and Kindyl began singing together as they got older, and family members and friends took notice.

But someone else noticed, too. Art Perez of the newly formed God’s Hands Entertainment record label was impressed with Chasing Paris’ sound and signed the teens to his label. “I have a hip-hop background,  and pursuing music and creating a record label just seemed like a natural step,” said Perez, who leads a band called Sole Audio. “I figured if God wanted it to happen, it would. That’s where the name God’s Hands came from.”

Kailyn picked up an acoustic guitar when she grew older, and the two girls began singing and writing songs together in their spare time the past few years. Inspired by singers and groups such as Taylor Swift, Adele and Paramore, the girls began collaborating on works of their own. Their voices, though very different, meshed perfectly together in a bluesy harmony.

They originally called themselves Remember Paris, but the girls changed their name to Chasing Paris when they discovered that another singing group had the same name. “It seemed natural to include the name Paris,” said Kailyn. “We weren’t really bummed about changing our name.”

Things have been moving at whirlwind speed for Chasing Paris since signing with God’s Hands. The pair did a show for the Gate, a local church in Rancho Santa Margarita, and collaborated on the Abolition Project. This CD was a compilation of 11 original songs by members of the Mission Hills Community Church that raised awareness for human trafficking around the globe. For this project, Chasing Paris recorded its first original song, “Forever Safe,” which can be found on iTunes.

Chasing Paris has also performed at Trabuco Hills between classes and at the school’s recent Taste of the Hills event. The group landed its biggest gig yet at House of Blues in Anaheim on June 9. There, the girls began the show with a 15-minute acoustic set and performed mash-up covers such as Katy Perry’s “E.T.” and Lady Gaga’s  “Paparazzi,” as well as originals, such as “Broken Ending.”

“This was a great experience for the girls to get a feel for a real live stage performance,” manager Perez said. “ They got to experience VIP, sound check and all the other components of a show.” This included a standing ovation from the crowd.

Chasing Paris covers many popular songs but has also written three original songs.

“Eventually, we would like to write all original songs,” Kindyl said. When they aren’t doing homework or hanging out with friends, the girls spend their time writing and coming up with fresh lyrics and melodies.

“We usually write our songs about someone we know, or some sort of experience we’ve had, kind of like Taylor Swift does,” said Kailyn.

Kindyl, who just finished her freshman year, runs track and cross country for Trabuco Hills. Kailyn just completed her junior year, works at a beauty salon and plans to attend cosmetology school in the fall. Both girls hope to someday do what they love best full time—record and sing for their fans.

They agree that their most exciting moment has been playing the House of Blues.

“It was so exciting to perform there,” they gushed.

But the budding stars are finding challenges, too. The biggest?

“Balance,” they both agree. “It’s hard to find time for school, friends, church, work, activities and, of course, our singing.”

They add that their parents are completely supportive of their venture.

“Our friends and family are our biggest fans,” Kailyn said.

Chasing Paris has spent the past few weeks in a local studio recording several singles, which Perez hopes to launch as soon as possible. He believes the girls’ sound will carry them far and make them stand.

“This is our dream,” said Kindyl. “We hope to be doing this for a long time.”

Editor’s note: You can find out more about Chasing Paris at godshandsentertainment.