After a decade as Rico & Miella, husband and wife duo Rico and Michelle Caruso have closed a musical chapter, to write an entirely new vision as Years of War.

I am fortunate enough to call them both friends, and have also worked with Michelle as her personal trainer. I have watched the transition from Rico & Miella into Years of War, and as with any other big changes and phases of life, their decision to rebrand was not taken lightly or made hastily – it came with highs and lows, success and disappointment, tears and excitement.

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They came to a point, musically and professionally, where they felt like their brand of Rico & Miella were no longer going to be able to sustain the musical direction they wanted to go in.

“ Years of War, for us, is about this battle we’ve been fighting with ourselves, ultimately for a long time, and now just being like, this is who we are as artists. ” – Rico

As emotional and bittersweet as it was for Rico and Michelle to put and end to Rico & Miella, witnessing their excitement to forge ahead leaves no question that they have made the right decision. With their first release ‘Gave Up My Own Name’ on Subsidia’s Dawn Vol. 8, it only makes sense that they made their festival debut as Years of War at none other than Bass Canyon, which took place at The Gorge on Aug 18-20.

When Elaine and I had the chance to sit down and catch up with them, we talked about everything from their experience at Bass Canyon to their excitement over their performances on Groove Cruise – an experience that is near-and-dear to our hearts, because it is the event that brought us together and solidified our friendships.

We were also curious to learn how their relationship as a couple plays a role in their musical partnership. They gave us insight into how the evolution of their personal relationship with each other – starting out as friends, then getting engaged, to now being married – has inevitably played a part in the direction they have decided to take their music, and ultimately, their brand.

Watch the full interview below!

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