The Malpass Brothers: Brother Harmony, Gospel, and Keeping Country Traditional

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Chris Malpass of The Malpass Brothers for a conversation about traditional country music, brother harmony, gospel, and the music that Chris and his brother Taylor have carried with them since they were kids.

A big part of our conversation centers on their gospel project Satisfied and why making the album felt less like exploring new territory and more like coming home. Chris and Taylor started out singing gospel music when they were young, and many of these songs have been part of their musical vocabulary for years. We talk about working with Ben Isaacs, his role in shaping the project, and why recording it in front of a live audience captured something that would have been difficult to recreate in a studio.

Chris also talks about The Malpass Brothers’ relationship with Gaither Music and what it means to become part of an organization they grew up watching with their family. We get into the natural connection between traditional country and gospel music, from The Louvin Brothers and Merle Haggard to Buck Owens, Ernest Tubb, and the Happy Goodman Family. For Chris, those traditions aren’t separate worlds. They have always informed one another.

We also spend time talking about one of my favorite parts of The Malpass Brothers’ sound: Chris and Taylor’s harmony. Chris explains how naturally their vocal chemistry developed, why The Louvin Brothers became such an important influence, and how being siblings creates a musical connection that can be difficult to manufacture.

Along the way, we remember the great Jimmy Capps, talk about the upcoming season of The Malpass Brothers Show, a traditional country Christmas album, another appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, and a busy touring schedule. At the center of it all is a deep respect for the people and music that came before them — and a desire to keep those songs alive without turning them into museum pieces.

Key Takeaways

Satisfied represents a return to The Malpass Brothers’ musical roots. Chris and Taylor performed gospel music as kids, making the project feel like a homecoming rather than a stylistic departure.Ben Isaacs helped shape the album while allowing Chris and Taylor to remain themselves. His suggestions included “Sheltered in the Arms of God” and Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag,” while encouraging the brothers to interpret the material in their own style.Recording the project live was essential to its character. Chris believes the shared connection between the performers, songs, and audience created an emotional quality that would have been difficult to reproduce in the studio.Country and gospel have always shared musical and emotional territory. Chris sees both traditions as music about real life — hardship, redemption, faith, struggle, and the things people hold onto when life gets difficult.Brother harmony developed naturally for Chris and Taylor. Their musical communication goes back to childhood, when Taylor began singing harmony with Chris without the two of them ever formally planning it.The Louvin Brothers remain a foundational influence. Chris points not only to Charlie and Ira Louvin’s harmony, but also their songwriting, gospel recordings, country recordings, and instrumental sound as an enduring model.Respect for musical history remains central to The Malpass Brothers. Whether talking about Jimmy Capps, Leon Rhodes, the Happy Goodman Family, Merle Haggard, or the Grand Ole Opry, Chris still approaches the people and traditions that shaped him with genuine admiration.Songs from the Episode

Satisfied - The Malpass BrothersAbout the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast about the people who make music and the experiences that shape them. I sit down with musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and other creative people for thoughtful conversations about craft, collaboration, careers, influences, and the realities of making music. The goal is simple: get beyond the résumé and talk about how music act