Chapter&Verse

Once upon a time at a legendary Houston music venue…

the Last Concert Cafe to be specific, two lonesome souls happened to wander into an open mic one random night. One by one the participants got up to share their songs for the motley crowd of patrons and performers, but when these two individuals took the stage at their appointed times, each took careful note of the other. They saw something they recognized - some sort of familiarity. Though neither could articulate it at the time, each saw a bit of themselves in the other - raw talent, artful playing, and heartbreaking stories set to song. After their respective sets, the two struck up a conversation and, ultimately, a deep friendship. That fateful night, over 16 years ago now, was the night Melissa Sambrooks and Kris Collins met.

Shortly after that introduction, they began to attend open mics together regularly, and after a brief time, they began to perform on each other’s songs weaving in soaring harmonies and stirring one another’s songwriting and repertoire to even greater heights. They also began to write together - a habit that continues to this day. For whatever reason(mainly Kris’ dedicated pursuit of making music with his own band ‘the Company Men’), they didn’t bother to name themselves as a duet. However, in early 2021 they did finally make it official and branded themselves Chapter&Verse - occasionally even adopting the onstage monikers of Chedidiah Chapter and Vanessa Verse in those early days. After many more delays, in early 2024 they stepped into the hallowed recording studio of Brian Douglas Phillips’ Rattletrap Audio in Austin, TX and laid down three songs that would eventually become the PROLOGUE EP, released in the summer of 2025.

Chapter&Verse continue to write and perform, and they look forward to producing a full length album in the years to come. For now, check back here to find out when and where they will be performing near you and make a point of catching them live if you can!