The Young and the Restless: The Dolls

Photography by Therese + Joel
Innovation comes from mixing things up, something The Dolls know very well. Shortly after they met four years ago in New York City, DJ Mia Moretti (right) enlisted electric violinist Margot (a.k.a. Caitlin Moe, left) to play with her while she spun. What sounds like an unlikely combination ended up taking them around the world, making them the toast of festivals and fashion parties alike (they've teamed with brands like Maje and Alice + Olivia). Last year, they took their act a step further, releasing their first single, "Summer of '93," a sweetly nostalgic track that showcases the duo's pop chops. "Having grown up classically trained as a violinist, I'm definitely more of a music-and-melody kind of person," Margot says. "Mia is more of the lyricist and producer. I think between the two of us, it's the ultimate songwriter combination." Years of collaborating have taught them to play to their individual strengths. "It reminds me of what a perfect marriage is supposed to be like," Moretti adds. "When I get stuck on something, Margot can come in, and that's where she's amazing." They're also open to outside contributions, with their upcoming single "Southern Swing" featuring the Original Pinettes, an all-female brass band based in New Orleans. It's clear their tastes run the gamut, but Moretti sums up their genre-hopping simply: "You never know where you might find something you like."

LISTEN TO: The singles "Summer of '93" and "Southern Swing"
FOR FANS OF: Early Christina Aguilera, Icona Pop, Imogen Heap