Recently I reviewed the Bandana Splits debut album here on the blog. I was lucky enough to get a chance to interview this lovely ladies as well. Here’s what they had to say…
1) What inspired you to focus on the old-school 50s sound your music primarily showcases?
A couple years ago, the band Balthrop, Alabama (occupied by an imaginary town and fronted by Lauren and her bro, Pascal) invited Dawn to sing a song for one of their fab Christmas shows. Annie was also a member of the band, and Dawn pinched Lauren and Annie to come sing oohs and ahhs along with her. She wrote this really cool song about falling in love with a Salvation Army guy, in the style of an old doo-wop tune. We had so much fun singing together in that style that we just didn’t stop! Every time we hung out afterward, a melody would erupt from out of nowhere and the next thing ya know we’re just riffin’ on a new idea. Kinda like Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in Ishtar, only real and more critically acclaimed…
That said the 1950s style doesn’t necessarily define our sound. We all play with a lot of different musicians and listen to everything from Mary Ford to Missy Elliot.
2) What were some of your favorite artists growing up?
Picasso, Rothko, and Monet… but musically speaking, we all grew up with a love for the great girl groups. Some faves are The Caravelles,The Andrews Sisters and The Ronettes.
3) What was the process like making this first record?
Fun! We recorded at Dawn and Steve Salett’s studio, Saltlands, in DUMBO. The three of us sang around one mic to capture the classic girl group sound. With producer Sam Cohen of the band Yellowbirds at the helm, we experimented with lots of sounds and ideas were flowing pretty quickly.
It was great working with Sam. He acted as our one-man backing band, and even let us put lipstick on him one day when moods were low. He’s a pretty amazing musician and we’re psyched he was able to produce this record.
4) Now that the debut album is out, what do you think is your next step?
Next year Carnegie Hall!
5) What is one random/fun/interesting fact you would like your fans to know about yourselves?
Nous aimons à parler le français ensemble!*
*We like to speak French together