Here’s the latest single from the Twin Cities’ Turn Turn Turn. The core trio of Barb Brynstad (bass and vocals), Savannah Smith (guitar and vocals) and Adam Levy (guitars and vocals), aided by drummer Josh Kaplan and keyboardist Peter J. Sands, create dreamy folk-pop full of lush sounds and striking harmonies. ‘New Rays From an Old Sun’ is the title track from the band’s second album, released earlier this year. At its heart are the bandmates’ voices – they journey through a surprising and beautiful melody, creating a captivating blend. Along with the light, high and brightly shimmering guitars and sonic layers, the band’s vocal harmonies are genuinely enchanting. Halfway through, the percussion bursts with energy and the end result is a sun-blushed tune that soars. This is a perfect song for the waning of summer.
The band say of the song: “The title track, ‘New Rays From an Old Sun’, captures the notion of reconciling with the past to find a way forward. The song is an allegory about a beast living in a desert who loses her children. She baits a murderous and greedy religious demagogue into getting trapped in a beautiful palace, where he dies. The beast escapes into the desert to find a peaceful life elsewhere.” The accompanying video was created by Sarah Richardson and her striking animation helps to tell the story of the beast that features in the song’s lyrics.
Smith says of their approach to songwriting: “I think the best songwriting is about lived experiences, and we all have full, rich lives with ups and downs. We’re all born optimists, and with music, we are in the enviable position of using those ups and downs as fodder for some really great art.” Turn Turn Turn’s ethereal sound is timeless; Brynstad explains how they manage to sound new and fresh and yet familiar: “Whatever we end up creating, we draw from the well of great American music. We try to nod to the past while making something that resonates with the present.” And resonate it does – this is immediate and affecting music. Enjoy.
