M2M: From Bubblegum to Sweet and Sexy Chocolate By The Young Star Staff "Don’t Say You Love Me", "Mirror, Mirror", "Girl in Your Dreams", "Everything You Do." Any of these song titles sound familiar to you? Of course. They’re Norwegian pop duo M2M’s current chart-toppers. And M2M is only the most popular pop duo in the music scene these days. Marit Larsen and Marion Raven make up M2M, whose first full-length album, Shades of Purple, was released recently. They had already made a name for themselves when they made their US debut with the single "Don’t Say You Love Me" which was in the Pokemon: The Movie soundtrack. And as early as their first ever release they showed everyone what they’re capable of. The song was certified gold just a few weeks after its release. And to think that they’re only just 16 and 15, respectively. "We’re inseparable!" said the duo in one interview. Songwriters, performers, and friends from their earliest years, the two say that they couldn’t be more than happy with the way their careers have turned out. The album, they says, is a dream come true for both of them. Aside from their own numbers, in the CD, they also collaborated with award-winning talents Carole Bayer Sager, Phil Galdston (Celine Dion, Vanessa Williams), and Matt Rowe. The album also thrives under the girls' instrumental performances - Marion on piano and Marit on guitar. "Sometimes the songs are in a pop rock style, some are pop-R&B, and some are just pop-pop," explained Marit. "It's important to us for people to see that we sing, we play, and that this is what we like to do," said Marion, who took up piano at 8-years-old. "Some people think we're too young to write songs," added Marit. "I can understand. But that's good, too, because it makes us all the more excited to prove ourselves." When asked what the best things is about being famous, they say next to traveling, it’s "cute boys. And a lot more cute boys!" "Seriously, we travel together constantly so when we're at home we try to spend more time with our own families," said Marion. "Still, we call each other all the time. Some of my other friends say it's gotten to the point where I even talk like Marit." "I would never have done this album alone," said Marit. "I couldn't have handled it. We're experiencing so many new things so it's cool to have someone who is right there with you to talk to. It's really great to be two." Marit and Marion met back in 1990, when Marion was just 5-years-old. Living just a few houses apart in their hometown of Lorenskog, just outside Oslo, the girls soon discovered a common love for music. "We were singing all the time so we got this band together with kids at school. We called the band Hubba Bubba, after our favorite gum." Before long, what began with impromptu performances for family and friends turned into their shared appearances in professional musical theater productions of, among others, The Sound Of Music, Annie, and The Wizard of Oz. They also made a series of theme park appearances, performing in a pop revue backed by a team of even younger dancers. The pair made their official recorded debut with a Norwegian language children's' album, released before they became teens. "We did kid songs, but they were cool - really funky stuff," recalls Marion. "Not the same boring old thing." Hopefully, the same can be said about their new album.