Smith and Levy first met almost a decade ago as student and teacher when she took a songwriting class he taught at the Institute of Production & Recording. “That’s been really an inspiring part of this band: It’s a true, comfortable collaboration.” “I’ve always been an active songwriter,” Smith said, “but it was a lot more freeing knowing that song was going to be channeled through two other people and not just sitting there mired in my own scrutiny. Her song “Fourteen”- a slow-burning, Stevie Nicks-channeling gem - became one of the highlights on the new album, recorded with Levy’s pal Jason Shannon at his Zoo School Studio in scenic St. It was Smith who broke the cover-band mold one night. “After a few gigs and it was clearly going well, Barb suggested doing some originals,” Levy recalled, “and I stuck my nose up in the air: ‘No, I’m not gonna!’ ”
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Their wide variety of classic audiophile material ranged from Nick Drake and the Velvet Underground to Fleetwood Mac and America, with the requisite Beatles songs here and there.
Their first few gigs over the winter of 2018-2019 were sit-down affairs filled with cover songs. “You don’t know what six months from now is going to look like.”Ī year ago, the trio did not even know if it would be a vehicle for original songs. “The way I live now is: If there’s something that seems good to do, good to put out in the world, do it now,” singer/bassist Brynstad said. At least their warm harmonies can resonate from record players this summer, if not from any stages. That’s all the more reason their album - recorded before lockdown - is coming out now. Over the past months in quarantine, though, they haven’t been able to sing a single note together. Levy formed the group with fellow singer/songwriter Savannah Smith and sidewoman Barb Brynstad specifically to have two female bandmates for singing three-part harmonies. Their debut album, “Can’t Go Back,” lands online and in stores Friday. The Twin Cities rock vet from the Honeydogs and Sunshine Committee (aka Hookers & Blow) is forging ahead with the new band even in the pandemic. “This has felt really good to me, something that has grounded me and kept me looking ahead,” Adam Levy said. Spiritually and emotionally, though, the members of Turn Turn Turn are happy their new trio came together when it did. Logistically and professionally, now is a terrible time to launch a new three-part harmony group.