If after hearing “Two Sunglass Town”, you’re wondering where Brittany Banowsky has been all your life, well, you’re not alone. We couldn’t believe we hadn’t heard of her music before the demo of this incredible song showed up in our inbox last year. Turns out being a pop star hasn’t been her main focus for the past few years.
WL: What element of this song came first and how did the song unfold from there?
BB: The lyrics definitely came first. I took notes while listening to the confession then used those notes to write the lyrics. They only slightly changed once I had the tune worked out. I also always try to make my lyrics ambiguous if I can. I want my songs to seem like they could be about anything. I feel like this song could also be about the start of a questionable relationship, but I've also heard other interpretations from friends who didn't know the confession. Then from there I just wanted it to be like I was scoring a scene. I was seeing this guy just cruising on his bike enjoying figuring out his new town, but with a little foreshadowing that something was coming with the added synthy atmosphere sounds in the background. I knew I wanted to add elements that sounded like sirens when the bridge hit, which is also the climax of the story. Then the lyrics “caught in a t/daddy’s the dean” convey that he’s realizing he’s been caught and also the repercussions of his actions. I tried to use instruments/effects that would make that bridge scene come to life with a slight nod to the late 70's/early 80's, which is when I think this story occurred.
WL: You told me you made your original demo in headphones. That can be quite challenging. Why did that come about?
BB: That came about because I actually don’t have any speakers right now. I sold them a few years ago (to Kalu James actually) because I just wasn't making any music while taking care of a newborn. I’ve been doing all my recording on headphones recently. I just test it out on several speakers that people will actually listen to it on. I feel like my ear is good enough to at least mix the tracks to decent levels.
WL: I felt like we only slightly latered your original demo. Do you feel that way?
BB: Yeah I think the biggest change is that groovy bass. It brought something really new and exciting to it that it didn’t have before. Plus the melodies added by the guitar in the bridge were very nice. That's one of my favorite parts. I think there were just lots of tiny details with the drums, the added mellotron, etc etc that just made it a lot more full. And I love the motorcycle sound we added at the end. Made the movie scene complete in my head.
WL: Would you be friends with this confessor if you met him in the wild?
BB: I mean I'm not trying to be friends with older men, but he sounded like a good guy. Would definitely have a nice chat. He sounded like someone who would be friends with my Dad. I felt like they were the same age which is what made me think this happened in the 70's/80's. But yeah, if he wants to, he could buy me a beer at sholz :P
TWO SUNGLASS TOWN
It was my first time
On this street
Didn’t know what I was in for
But I was on his beat
(I was) One sunglass down
It was just a warning
In a two sunglass town
I’ll do it in the morning
Well I drank a few
And it was time to go
There’s that boy in blue
We’re puttin’ on a show
(I was) One sunglass down
Started off as a warning
In a two sunglass town
I’ll be the news in the morning
Caught in a T
Daddy’s the dean
One sunglass down
It was not a warning
Two sunglass town
Check out more of Brittany’s music here and maybe lend her a few bucks to make some more of it.
xoxo
WL
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