Brynn Andre is back after 12 years with an album that’s very danceable, poppy, clever and sad at moments. It’s a snapshot in time for many women with young children when we love the parks but miss the parties. You can see her play live on July 29 at the Bryant Lake Bowl.
Please tell us about yourself and what inspired you to release a new album after 12 years.
I’m a singer/songwriter with piano as my main instrument. I grew up on Tori Amos/Jewel/Alanis in the 90s. Over the last decade I’ve really cultivated my own style. I’d describe it as confessional indie pop.
I decided to release another album because I got tired of feeling like a huge part of me was missing. I’m always writing music. I never stopped. But the act of recording and releasing music demands confidence and time.
Once I had kids (3 year old twin daughters) I wondered if music was a thing that would be in my past. Like, I’d show my kids photos of me on stage like it was a hobby I “used” to do. I hated the idea of that. So, even though I worried if I was too old or self-indulgent I did it. I think the exact reason it was hard to do is the reason I wanted to make Honeymoon. To defy my own inner critic. To defy my own sense of ageism. Also, I want my girls have a role model of a woman who has a creative life. Truthfully, music haunts me if I’m not writing or playing, so I’m just trying to answer that call.
Almost contrasting the lyrics, Sad is an upbeat song with hint of melancholy. It gives voice to those times when we just have own and ride through a hard time. Can you tell us more about it?
I’m so glad that’s the impression you got from the song, that’s exactly what I wanted and I was deliberate with my producer about keeping levity in the song. The song itself is a response to a lot of family members’ opinions on my earlier music which was, “your music is so sad!” I always felt self-conscious about that.
So when I wrote this song, I wanted to achieve two things. Put my stake in the ground and say, yes sometimes I am sad. No apologies. And the second piece is that, as I’ve grown up I have learned that the way to make sadness more palatable is to literally let yourself have a staycation in the sadness. There’s a lot of power in embracing those feelings.
I love that ironically, Bambi, is such a fierce song. The lines are clever and even kind of sinister. What made you flip the imagery in such a way?
This is a song I wanted to write for a long time, probably ever since #MeToo. I had this realization that I had been in some pretty sinister situations myself as a young female in the corporate world. This is my exploration of what it would be like to go back to those times when I felt manipulated by men in power and flip the script. I also think there is a cleverness in knowing that you may be seen as an innocent “Bambi” and how you can use that to your advantage. This is one of my favorite songs on the record because I get the opportunity to show power and anger which I think women should feel more open about sharing. It was cathartic to write Bambi.
Is Good Time a cautionary tale for the 20-somethings, or an anthem for the 30-somethings, or just a look in the rear view mirror? You both celebrate and recognize the downside of both eras.
It’s an anthem I needed to write for myself. I wrote the song itself in 20 minutes while my kids were with a babysitter. I was grappling with a feeling that a lot of parents feel which is, wait how did I get here? I’m a decade older. It’s about the feeling of: I love this life beyond measure, but I still grieve my old life. Ultimately this song makes me so happy because now I know what they say is true – youth is wasted on the young. I was too tortured to enjoy a lot of what was happening when I was in my twenties. Now, I really know the joy and sweetness of the era I’m in.
Please tell us about your upcoming show at the Bryant Lake Bowl.
It’s going to be such a celebration of the music I’ve written. I’ll play some of my favorite songs from previous records and then all the new songs from Honeymoon. I plan to really share what it was like to record this project with stories and context on the songs. So if you like intimate, candid shows, I would love to see you there!
Mostly Minnesota 