By HOLLY LENNON

PERFORMING husband and wife duo JOHNNYSWIM are hoping 2017 will be the year they crack the UK.

The pair have developed a taste for success in America where their new album, Georgica Pond, debuted at number 13 in the charts.

Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez met in Nashville in 2005 after Abner spotted his future wife across a crowded room.

“When we met I invited her to a solo show and she came and found me at the bar afterwards and asked if we could write together and I said ‘I do’ and that’s how it started, the music was just a rouse, I honestly didn’t care about the music, I just wanted to be alone with her”, he explains.

“And to this day the music is purely secondary. That’s how this partnership came about for me.”

The partnership brought them JOHNNYSWIM, which they describe as a little bit pop, a little soul and a little funk.

Amanda, who is the daughter of ‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer, adds: “We jokingly refer to it as ‘brown-eyed’ folk since there is a blue-eyed soul thing we feel like we’re brown people kinda leaning of the folk side of thing so that’s how we lovingly refer to ourselves.

“We both kind of love a large variety of genres of music, I think the biggest thing that goes across the board for all the people we like is people that write songs like stories, people who can bring you into a moment.

“Whether it be Joni Mitchell or Adele, they’re people whose songs can pull you into these moments and that’s what we hope our music does for people.”

Back home in the US, JOHNNYSWIM’s debut full-length album Diamonds, sold over 50,000 copies and has notched up over 30 million streams.

Since the release in 2014, they have also put out three EP’s, a Christmas EP and a live album.

With lyrics drawing on love, devotion and family, there is a certain sense of vulnerability when it comes to the couple’s music.

Amanda describes crying on stage as a ‘pastime’.

“I definitely feel vulnerable and I think I enjoy that, I enjoy being able to put aside where I am”, she explains.

“I think anybody has when you’re on a stage in front of people and to just be there with the people and with the music and with what’s happening, I look forward to those moments more than I’m afraid of it.

“Getting to sing love songs to your spouse on stage, I’m sure there’s a large portion of our audience who want to puke a little bit so I feel sorry for them because we do like to look at each other and sing to each other, it’s kind of gross but we love it so who cares!”

On their quest to break into the UK market, they will be stopping off at Glasgow’s St Luke’s for a special Celtic Connections show on February 4.

The tour will be the duo’s first headline show and could be the foot in the door that they need.

Amanda explains: “I’m really curious to see the differences between the audiences in the states and the UK, but from what we experienced on that first little taste when opening was how everyone was so fun and such music lovers.

“I think it’s going to be really, really exciting and I think every show’s going to be different and special.

“It’s going to be fun to see that we have fans; I mean people have bought tickets”, Abner adds.

“Glasgow’s sold out, London’s sold out, Amsterdam’s sold out – to be across the world and hear people sing our songs I think is going to be… to say it’s a dream come true doesn’t do it justice, I think it’s going to kind of rock my world in a big way and I’m so stoked.

“God willing 2017 is the year we break into the UK, that is absolutely something we’re keen to do and the reason is purely selfish.

“It’s not to make money though, it’s not for fame, it’s because we want to be in the UK as much as possible.

Before beginning their career together, the duo always planned on starting in the UK and Europe first.

“American success would be preceded by European success because we feel like UK audiences can listen more, they’re less easily distracted”, Abner explains.

“And it seems to be the case; the love for us in a short time has been super humbling so we are overwhelmed by the great feedback so far.”