More than three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, musicians are still releasing work created during this tumultuous time. One such example is the twin sister duo of Maris and Bryce O’Tierney, who perform as Maeve & Quinn. These Alaska natives, who make intelligent, quirky and earnest pop music for the astute listener, recently released their debut full-length record, “Another Door.” For the O’Tierneys, creating the record has been a journey of discovery for themselves as a creative duo and for what they hope to bring into the world for other people.

All of the songs for “Another Door” were written at the beginning of the pandemic while the two lived together in the city. It was their fourth year living together. Like other artists, the urgency and uncertainty helped them create art with a mission.

But by the end of August 2020, they had separated again. While Maris stayed in Chicago, Bryce moved to Colorado for a teaching fellowship.

Their previous concentrated songwriting style turned into protracted creative bursts, with Bryce regularly returning to the city so they could record, produce and refine the efforts of their labor. In the end, they say this time apart (something they’ve experienced before) became a growth opportunity for their relationship as twins and as artistic collaborators.

“Discovering and exploring more as individuals — artistically and in friendships, in two different places — has enabled new dimensions of trust and collaboration when we’ve come back together,” said Bryce.

There is richness and excitement in their reunion. Maris agreed, adding, “Every bandmate and also sister relationship is different. I think that we thrive when we have periods of intense togetherness, and then we also are able to take these independent paths, and then reconnect.”

Clocking in at only 28 minutes, “Another Door” is a succinct introduction to Maeve & Quinn’s music for new listeners. But those handful of minutes certainly pack a punch. The moodiness, the eclecticness, the offbeat melodies and song structures sound familiar, like a sonic throwback to the female singer-songwriters of the 1990s and early 2000s. Think Tori Amos or Regina Spektor. But inspiration only goes so far, and what one hears in “Another Door” is an arresting brand of indie pop and rock pushing against contemporary trends. In the end, the record, like past music they have released, is something entirely of its own. Or rather, something of their own.

“I Am Her,” a standout track from the record featuring an interplay between electric guitar and piano, focuses on mental health. The genesis for the lyrics were written while Bryce was living in Ireland. “It was a period of deep depression for me and lyrics arose from that, reflecting on those times when you’re kind of looking in the mirror and just can’t recognize yourself when in that state,” said Bryce.

Born from a personal place, the quiet, muted track has developed into a communicative gesture for anyone who may struggle with their mental health. There’s a kind of self-acceptance permeating within the track, helping it end in a more hopeful place than where it began. For listeners craving work that speaks to the realities of contemporary life, “I Am Her” (and really, the album as a whole) may feel like a comforting balm.

“I would say this new record feels so true and right now in terms of where Maris and I are in our womanhood, in our twinship,” added Bryce. “The instrumentation, the interplay, the lyrics, the process itself of making these songs just feels very much in alignment with our values.”

Their new art-making has led to more cause for reflection. How do they better align their values with their actions and behaviors? And how can the music kind of embody that? Some of those values include expanding the possibilities for other artists. It speaks to the title of their album, “Another Door.”

“The value we really feel there is this idea of really seeing the opportunity to open doors for other people in our lives and in our community,” Maris said. “I think that from our upbringing in Alaska to pursuing a creative career in Chicago, we are so deeply appreciative of the artists, mentors, friends and extended family that have believed in our work and helped to open doors for us. We’re talking about building another door and walking through it, building another door and she walks through it. For me, that really is just embodying our joy and our hope and commitment to amplify others and bring them in.”

Britt Julious is a freelance critic.