Music is nothing without emotion.

That especially rings true for Milwaukee-based indie guitarist and singer/songwriter duo Willy Porter and Carmen Nickerson.

The duo will perform at 7:30 tonight at Songbird Cellars, 129 E. Abriendo Ave.

"I've never played Songbird Cellars, but it looks like they're doing some good work," Porter said. "I'm always excited to play a new room and show people our music. You always hear your own music a little differently in a new room, too."

The two have been performing and writing together for the past six years. Nickerson joined Porter's band as a backup singer before Porter decided to collaborate with her.

Recently, the two recorded their latest album, "Bonfire to Ash," in just two days with Grammy Award-winning producer Ben Wisch.

"It was a bicoastal collaboration," Nickerson said. "We wrote a lot of the album while on tour from California to the East Coast. Willy would start with an idea and I'd walk in and add my touch to it. It was fun."

Together, Porter and Nickerson have developed an eclectic style of music ranging from indie rock to pop and country.

The two have a vast taste in music, which is evident in the duo's sound.

"Most of the songs are written on guitar first and there's a really strong post-British folk thing, too," Porter said. "John Martin, as well as Richard Thompson and Lindsey Buckingham .?.?. those are the (guitar) players I really look up to. That's what has been what I've brought to the table as far as the folk and blues idiom."

An even larger influence for the pair is emotion.

"We tend to write things that are a little more emotionally direct than what I would write on my own," Porter said. "The interesting part of making a record is that it always (has to have) a center to it and that has to tie the music together, whether emotional or spiritual. The dialogue between two people was the cornerstone of this record. The majority of the record really deals with the conversations we have with the people closest to us."

"There's an arc that follows the songs," Nickerson said. "The arc is that of a relationship."

With such a short time to record the album, it was easier for Porter and Nickerson to capture that emotional feel of intimate dialogue.

"We didn't have much time to think about it," Nickerson said. "I know I'm a perfectionist and it's hard for me. I want to do it over and over, so it's probably good to be forced to not be allowed to."

Porter said limiting takes helped capture the emotion.

"In the first two or three takes you're going to get everyone having fun and being emotionally invested in the song," he said. "After that they think about what they're doing. Most of the songs we got in one or two takes."

Audience members will be able to hear that emotion at Songbird Cellars,

"We're going to play a lot of this new record and some new songs we've recorded (recently)," Porter said. "We're excited about it. We have some really fun music and good improv to bring to the fold."

"We play all kinds of music from heartfelt loves songs to comedy to easy-going lighthearted songs," Nickerson said. "There are some story songs as well."

llyons@chieftain.com

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IF YOU GO:

WHO: Willy Porter and Carmen Nickerson

WHEN: 7:30 tonight

WHERE: Songbird Cellars, 129 E. Abriendo Ave.

TICKETS: $20

INFORMATION: songbirdcellars.com