The Army, The Navy, an indie music duo made up of childhood friends Mia Cambriello and Sasha Goldberg, recently wrapped up their tour with pop musician Dora Jar. In our interview, they shared how their journey together began, what it was like touring with their idol, and the inspiration behind their songwriting process.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: How did the opportunity to tour with Dora Jar come about?
Sasha: “Maya and I had been fans of Dora for a really long time. We’ve been manifesting this tour for about a year, hoping to be the ones to join her when she released her album. We were saying things like, ‘We love her so much, and when she drops an album, she’s going to tour—and we’re going to be on it.’ Then, just three weeks before the tour, our booking agent texted us, saying, ‘Guess what?’ We couldn’t believe it. It was truly a dream come true, almost like everything we had been hoping for finally lined up.”
Maya: “We literally jumped up, cried, screamed—just completely overwhelmed. We had put so much intention behind it that actually seeing it happen was wild. It was a crazy moment where it felt like all the manifesting, dreaming, and hard work we’d put in came together. It was one of those moments where you feel like the universe is listening.”
Q: What was the tour experience like? Were there any surprises or challenges?
Sasha: “It’s been a lot chiller than other tours. Dora and her team are genuinely warm, friendly, and welcoming, which made a huge difference for us. Everyone just feels like normal people, and that vibe set a very positive tone for the tour. It made everything feel more natural and less stressful, which isn’t always the case on the road.”
Maya: “Of course, there are still ups and downs. Not every show goes as planned, and we’ve had a few performances where we felt off our game. But that’s all part of the learning process. I think this tour was a huge opportunity for growth. Even when things don’t go perfectly, touring with someone you admire so much is incredibly inspiring. It pushes you to improve, and I think it’s made us better performers.”
Q: Was there a particular city that stood out to you?
Maya: “Toronto was amazing. Every time we go to Canada, they welcome us with open arms, and people sing along to our songs, which is still surreal as fairly new artists. I think we’re still getting used to the idea that people actually know our lyrics. Toronto really stood out because the crowd’s energy was just on another level.”
Sasha: “New York was definitely a special stop for us, too. We did a headlining show there, so we kind of expected a good turnout. But it’s still incredible to see how much energy the audience brings. We’re from New York, so it felt like a homecoming. But honestly, every city had its own vibe. St. Paul surprised us with its warmth, and Seattle was a great mix of laid-back and energetic. It was really amazing to feel that connection in so many places.”
Q: How did you two come together as a duo?
Maya: “We grew up in the same hometown, Marin County, just outside San Francisco, and were actually in a play together when we were five—Annie, to be specific. We were both cast as orphans, which is funny looking back now. But it wasn’t until about ten years later that we really reconnected through the same singing teacher, which put us in each other’s orbit again…honestly, we don’t even remember the exact moment we officially decided to be a duo. It was just this organic progression that felt inevitable.”
Sasha: “When we both ended up going to the same college, we were roommates in the dorms, and that’s when everything clicked. We made our entire schedules together, took all the same classes, and did our songwriting assignments as a pair. It just felt natural to work together. People started to see us as a duo before we even thought of ourselves that way.”
Q: How do you manage creative differences?
Sasha: “We’ve learned how to compromise. For instance, if I write a lyric I really love, but Maya isn’t feeling it, we’ll try to adjust it so that it works for both of us. It’s never about one person’s vision dominating; it’s about finding a middle ground that we both feel good about.”
Maya: “It takes a lot of open communication. We’ve had moments where we disagreed, but we’ve also learned that it’s okay not to be in perfect alignment all the time. What’s important is that we’re both satisfied with the final product. We’re very committed to a process where we both feel proud of the music we’re creating, and that’s what keeps us moving forward.”
Q: What is your songwriting process like?
Sasha: “It really varies. Sometimes one of us starts a song and brings it to the other, while other times, we’ll start from scratch together. We often rework older songs, add new elements, or even swap out lyrics and melodies. It’s a very collaborative process.”
Maya: “Because we grew up in the same place, we share a lot of the same references, which makes writing together feel natural. For example, we wrote a song about a specific bridge in our hometown, and we both knew exactly which bridge we were imagining—‘Brown Sugar Bridge’ in Mill Valley. It’s little things like that, where we have shared experiences and memories, that make our songwriting unique.”
Q: You mentioned that your song ‘Persimmon’ is special to you. What’s the story behind it?
Maya: “‘Persimmon’ came to life last November during Thanksgiving. My mom was putting persimmons in everything—salads, desserts, you name it. I remember telling Sasha I liked the word and thought it could work in a song. We started playing around with it, and within a few days, the song came together. It’s funny because I don’t even love persimmons that much as a fruit, but the word itself sparked something creatively.”
Sasha: “It’s one of those songs where everything just flowed naturally. The lyrics and progression felt really strong from the start. It captures that cozy, autumnal feeling we were going for, and it’s one of our favorites, even with all the new material we’ve been working on.”
Q: How do you overcome writer’s block?
Maya: “The best part of being in a duo is that we rarely experience writer’s block at the same time. If I’m stuck, Sasha usually has an idea that gets me going again, and vice versa.”
Sasha: “One trick we’ve developed is writing songs in the style of other artists. For example, we’ll look up a ‘SZA-type beat’ or a ‘Caroline Polachek-style beat’ on YouTube and try to write a song that could fit their vibe. It’s a fun exercise that helps us break out of a rut and approach songwriting from a different perspective.”
Q: What’s your favorite thing about performing?
Sasha: “Honestly, just singing. There’s something magical about sharing your music with a live audience. It’s as simple as that for me.”
Maya: “For me, it’s connecting with the audience. Seeing people sing our lyrics back is one of the most rewarding experiences as an artist. It’s like this moment of mutual appreciation that makes all the hard work feel worth it.”
Q: What’s next for The Army, The Navy?
Maya: “We’ve got some downtime after the tour, and I’m really excited to write more music. I know that’s a simple answer, but after the whirlwind of touring, it feels like a luxury to have time to focus solely on creating.”
Sasha: “We’ve been on the go so much this year, recording and touring non-stop. It’ll be nice to have a moment to just sit with our ideas and explore new directions without the pressure of deadlines. I think this break will be really refreshing for both of us creatively.”
The Army, The Navy’s journey is a testament to the power of manifesting, collaborating with a kindred spirit, and staying true to one’s roots. As they look ahead, they remain committed to crafting heartfelt music and fostering a strong sense of community with their fans. With every song, show, and interview, The Army, The Navy continue to prove that the true magic of music lies not just in chord sequences or subtle dissonance but in the art of connection and collaboration.
Wessal Bakry ’28 (wessalbakry@college.harvard.edu) is comping the Independent.