Feature: The Funny Terns Decodes “Bring Back the Beaver”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Bring Back
the Beaver?"
Natalie (that's me, one half of The Funny Terns) was in a bad mood one day and struggling to shift the funk. So I sat down to try and do something that would bring some joy to the world instead of grump! I started writing lyrics with a bit of a sense of the melody and it came out in one go, starting with the chorus. Then I shared it with Angus and he worked his musical magic on it, we refined the words, and started singing it to our friends. They liked it, so we started performing it ... and now it's a single!
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "Bring Back the Beaver?"
Only Angus told me that I kept doing a weird vocal slide at the end of each line, which I've now stopped doing!
What was your favorite moment in making the music video?
Snogging my husband.
Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?
Most of my time over the last eight years has been setting up and running my plastic pollution campaign charity, City to Sea. We're based in the UK and have a team of around 20 staff. But I love writing - books, poems and songs - and actually my charity started with a song called Burden. But then I felt like it (my song) wasn't actually going to change the world, so I focussed on campaigning and activism. Over the two years, I've been picking up my guitar and writing my own solo folky stuff, and have been signed to a label in London and I have an EP coming out next year. Meanwhile, Angus has been writing comedy songs and performing them for years, so when we got together back in 2017, the silly songs just started flowing and we decided to make it official, call ourselves The Funny Terns, and get sharing our songs with the world. Actually I first heard about Angus when someone sent me a video of him playing a song about plastic bags around 10 years ago. Who knew I'd end up marrying him! (Well, it was a good song.)
Are there any specific themes or topics that often find their way into your songs?
Most of our songs are about either environmental disasters or relationship failures. We like finding humour in the darkness! We hope they bring some light relief to a heavy subject and give all the activists and campaigners out there a needed tickle.