Meet The Hissy Kits: a Milwaukee music duo creating a new kind of purr-fect pitch with 'feline expressionism'

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee is no stranger to a diverse music scene.

And as every artist knows, finding your own unique sound can be a challenge.

However, two longtime local musicians have found theirs -- and not only that, but they've created a new kind of purr-fect pitch.

Inside of a hidden music studio in West Allis, you can find Howl Street Recordings, where sounds of jazz, classical, cabaret and ragtime trickle out to listening ears.

But if you listen carefully? In between lyrics, you might also hear... meows?

“How can you explain becoming an enchanted cat?”

That's what Whiskie Cat, who is black-and-white, tells CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White, while sitting in front of her instrument of choice: an analog theremin that produces music without being touched.

“Surfing invisible sound waves," Whiskie Cat explains.

There's an on and off pedal, volume antenna and pitch control. But other than that, Whiskie Cat plays energy and proximity.

“I’m just in the moment and in fact, the more I think about it, the worse it’s gonna sound," Whiskie Cat says.

Next to her on the piano, following the theremin's lead, is orange-haired Scotch Cat.

“We’re doing music for the fun of it," Scotch Cat says, who then adds that she's been a musician since she was "a kitten."

The two are longtime friends, who also identify as American Shorthairs, can be found decked out in cat hoods and whimsical sunglasses.

“Scotch is our lead singer, I’m our lead meower," Whiskie Cat says.

Together, they worked to create what they call "feline expressionism" -- a term that is now trademarked.

“Feline expressionism is an artistic genre and a philosophy based upon the question, how would a cat do it?" Whiskie Cat explains. “You have to put aside perfectionism, which is great because if you’re a cat, you already assume that everything you do is going to be perfect.”

The duo is currently working on recording their fifth studio album and preparing for upcoming performances in Chicago this fall.

“Basically, our motto is, who’s going to let the cats in?” Whiskie Cat says. “The reactions are a mix of bewildered to delighted.”

They've performed around Milwaukee, including at bookstores, in holiday parades and the local art museum.

“Some people don’t come in as fans, so we thought we might make up a T-shirt, came to jeer, stayed to cheer," Scotch Cat says. “They might be coming in to make fun of us, and they think it’s going to be lame and stupid and before you know it, they’re singing meow meow and joining in and having a ball.”

That's because the two believe that music is a universal language -- whether you're human or a different species.

“Music wins over people, music is something everybody can enjoy," Scotch Cat says. “We’re doing music for the fun of it.”

For a full list of upcoming performances and more information, click here.