Artist: Turn Turn Turn
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Song: “Stranger in a Strange Land”
Album: New Rays From an Old Sun
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Label: Simon Recordings
In Their Words: “I think this song has more of everybody’s fingerprints on it than any other song on the album. It was written in my head during a five-mile walk around a lake — words, melody, everything. When I got home, I found the guitar chords that matched the melody in my head and sent it to Adam and Savannah for their feedback and help. We tweaked it for a long time before we settled on the final arrangement, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out. I sent it to my mom when it was done. She cried when she listened to it because it was about losing my sisters during the pandemic, and she thought everyone had forgotten about them. I call it a happy little song about surviving loss, moving forward, and finding peace.” — Barbara Brystad (co-writer, bassist, vocalist)
“That was a fun one to write and record. Even though the subject matter is about grieving and loss, it’s got a playful, early ’70s soul pop feel with all those layered harmony vocals, fuzzy guitars and barreling bass riff, drums and percussion — it’s a banger.” — Adam Levy (co-writer, lead guitarist and vocalist)
“It’s always fascinating to see how much a song can grow and change from the demo to the finished single. ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ went through a total metamorphosis. Barb set up an amazing foundation, Adam had a vision and it ended in this beautiful, full sound that’s really unique to Turn Turn Turn.” — Savannah Smith (rhythm guitarist, vocalist)
Photo Credit: Shelly Mosman
