Countless trailblazers call Detroit home. From Motown-era heavyweights like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder to turn-of-the-century game changers such as Aaliyah and J Dilla, Motor City upholds a legacy of innovation. It continues in the music of Ar’mon & Trey. Born and raised on the East Side, the brotherly duo emerges with a focused, fresh, and fiery take on R&B, imbuing simmering soul with 21st century style.

Moreover, each individual leaves an inimitable imprint of his own.

“We’re not just compatible as a duo because we’re brothers—even though it helps,” smiles Trey. “Ar’mon brings a lot of swag on the beats as he’s dropping ad-libs. I bring more emotion. We can hype people up, or we can make them feel something. We love the classic and modern elements. There are two sides to what we do.”

“We’ve got soul, but we sound modern,” agrees Ar’mon. “We’ve got our own demeanors, tastes, and voices, but we just mesh so well.”

Born only a year apart, the boys can recall singing together by the ages of four and five, respectively. Mom consistently played Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince, Usher, and Chris Brown around the house as the budding singers crooned along. By their early teens, they had started leading the choir at church in between performing in musicals and plays at school. Simultaneously, Ar’mon indulged a passion for sports as Trey worked on screenplay ideas.

Adopting Vine early on during 2014, the brothers made show-stopping 6-second covers that generated millions of views and hundreds of thousands of Re-Vines before they transitioned to Instagram in 2015. Engaging a growing fan base, they dropped the “The Same (So Gone Challenge)” on YouTube in 2016, surpassing 500,000 views in under a month and eventually tallying over 2 million.They caught the attention of Compound Entertainment who assumed management for the group. A few months later, the “Moment 4 Life (mash up)” blew the doors open for online superstardom as the pair seamlessly segued from Rihanna to Young M.A. to Beyoncé to Trey Songz to Chance the Rapper. It amassed 14 million-plus views and hinted at more to come.

“All that work we put in set the foundation for original songs,” adds Trey. “We realized we could mix the old and new schools on the covers. We did the same thing with our music.”

At the same time, they showcased their personalities via hilarious prank videos, speaking to a lifelong love for the likes of Friday and Madea. By 2018, cumulative YouTube views totaled over 100 million as they attracted 1 million Instagram followers. Debut singles “Drown” and “Breakdown” caught fire as Warner Bros. Records signed the guys.

Their 2018 debut EP, Long Story Short, properly introduces their sizzling and soaring signature sound.

“We wanted to give you all of us inside of an EP,” continues Trey. “It’s the storyline of how we’re just young teenagers who love making this type of music—and women,” he laughs.“It’s our Long Story told short.”

The first single “Forever” sees the two vocalists lock into a hypnotic harmony over a minimalist beat and unshakable groove. With its echoing call-and-response, the hook practically rings out “Forever.”

“It’s a song basically saying you’re going to be with your girl no matter happens between you,” explains Ar’mon. “It’s you two forever. We loved that idea and vibe.”

Elsewhere on the EP, “Bounce That” turns up the heat. Over a fast and high-energy tempo, an upbeat verse curls towards a hashtaggable chant that lives up to its title.

“When most girls go to a club or party, that’s what they do,” Ar’mon goes on. “I’m telling a young lady, ‘I see you over there having fun, but come bounce that on me’. It’s a fun one.”

In the end, they elevate R&B to new heights through a tireless grind that doesn’t let up.

This story is about to get a whole lot longer.

“When we put out anything, I want fans to say, ‘Dang, they always give 100% to everything they do’,” Trey leaves off. “They see how much content we drop. They know we work hard. We show that anything is possible if you’re willing to really go hard. We got the chance to do something different. We’re not going to stop.”