LYNNWOOD — Sisters Kernadine and Natasha Mullings miss their home in Jamaica.
Since coming to the United States with their parents in 2007, they’ve moved from Memphis, Tenn., to Issaquah and finally to Lynnwood, all the while searching for a place to belong while holding on to the essence of the country they still consider home.
It was in the midst of a lonely period in Tennessee, during the 2008 presidential campaign, that the girls turned inward and crafted a song full of hope and optimism — meant as an encouragement to their peers as much as themselves.
Friday, they were scheduled to perform the original reggae song, “We Are the Future,” at the More Music @ The Moore show in Seattle, a prestigious concert for gifted young artists in the area.
“A lot of children don’t realize we are the next generation and we will be the next leaders,” said Kernadine Mullings, 19. “We are the ones who are going to be out there to show the world we can do it.”
As they prepared for the biggest concert of their lives so far, the sisters hope their personal story also resonates with teens and drives the message home.
“We can be an example to them — that they can do something in life,” said Natasha Mullings, 16.
The song already has received good reception at their high schools, first in Memphis and now at Mariner High School in Everett, where Kernadine is a senior and Natasha is a sophomore. Classmates have hummed their song down the hallways, asking how a particular phrase goes. It’s a catchy tune.
“It’s amazing to know we brought that energy to this school,” Kernadine said.
They worked with professional musicians to rehearse for the show at The Moore Theatre, including rhythm-and-blues singer Bernadette Bascom and music director Daniel Bernard Roumain, a Haitian-American who most recently performed at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
“It’s really a professional training experience,” said Vicky Lee, director of education and community programs for Seattle Theatre Group. “We help open doors for these young artists in the music industry and work hard to make sure the right people see them.”
One of last year’s performers, a trio dubbed the EriAm Sisters (for Eritrean-American), went on to NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
The Mullings sisters — who call themselves Leah Marie, after their middle names — are already generating a similar buzz to the EriAm Sisters.
“Someone said, ‘You’ve got to hear these girls. They just moved into town,’ ” recalled Lee, who soon after auditioned the Mullingses and immediately gave them a spot in the show. “We thought, ‘Oh my God. We want you in.’ ”
It’s a big step forward from the school stages and church pews where the girls often sing.
“I’m the shy girl,” said Natasha, with a sweet laugh. But she says she’s sucking up her nervousness. “I’m really excited to perform in front of a lot of people and bring them that message we’re trying to get across.”
For Kernadine, there’s a feeling of being overwhelmed, but she’s eager to see what this brings next.
“I want to make it out there in the music industry. It’s my main goal,” said Kernadine, who plans to start at a two-year college in the fall before pursuing a master’s in music. “So it’s been an experience just to work with all those other artists. It’s been incredible.”
The girls’ parents, Patrick and Sharon Mullings, are proud of their girls.
“I’m excited,” Patrick Mullings said. “They have talent and they love to sing. … We’re glad they’re doing what they love and what they do best.”
The Mullings family moved to the U.S. in 2007 for Patrick Mullings’ job with T-Mobile. Like many other Jamaicans, they left their Caribbean home for the educational opportunities here — if not the soggy weather.
They still miss Jamaica. They grew up near the capitol of Kingston in St. Andrew Parish.
“It was really nice there because we grew up around music,” Natasha said.
“There’s no place like home,” Kernadine said.
Their Jamaican roots show up in “We Are the Future.” So does their faith.
Both sisters draw inspiration from their mother, who has been a lead singer in their churches. Gospel is at the root of much of their songwriting and composing.
“We’re church girls,” Kernadine said.
For her part, Sharon Mullings said she’s particularly proud of the positive messages her daughters bring to their audiences.
“It really does something to my heart,” she said.
The family hopes the girls’ music touches other hearts, too.
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