Trixie Mattel Shares the Origins of Nostalgic New Shakey Graves Collab “This Town”: Exclusive
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The post Trixie Mattel Shares the Origins of Nostalgic New Shakey Graves Collab “This Town”: Exclusive appeared first on Consequence.
Our recurring music feature Origins gives musicians a home to share exclusive insights into their newest release. Today, Trixie Mattel takes us back to the country childhood that inspired her new single “This Town.”
Trixie Mattel has a double album on the way. While the project, dubbed The Blonde & Pink Albums, doesn’t have a release date yet, the first single “This Town” is out now.
Though she made a name for herself as an animated Drag Race superstar, Trixie’s music deals in warm, introspective folk, and “This Town” is no different. Sharing vocals with Austin singer-songwriter Shakey Graves, Trixie looks back at her childhood in rural Wausaukee, Wisconsin with knowing specificity, remembering speeding down empty roads and working at the local fiber glass plant. In the accompanying music video, directed by Matt Amato, old home video footage from Trixie’s youth alternates with current day footage of Wausaukee corn fields and bars.
“’This Town’ was written during the depth of 2021 lockdown when I was fantasizing about quitting drag and moving to my hometown,” Trixie said in a press statement. “The simplicity of such an honest place appealed to me at a time when [Los Angeles] seemed doomed. However, even the sweetest small towns have a dark side and all the reminiscing made me remember the duality of such a place.”
Trixie expanded on this duality in a statement to Consequence, acknowledging that as a gay person, living in a small town doesn’t always inspire warm and fuzzy feelings. With “This Town,” she equally recognizes the positive and negative sides of Wausaukee, appreciating certain comforts and recognizing certain pains with equal respect.
Old Crow Medicine Show Share Origins of Raucous New Single “Bombs Away”: Exclusive
“Unlike most gay people, I have all positive memories of my high school experience and my small town experience,” Trixie says. “As much as I loved being from a small town, this song acknowledges the underlying darkness in these corners of the map. Alcoholism and domestic abuse can hide in plain sight.”
She continues,
“My high school and driving around town remain my most positive memories because my at-home situation was so awful. I remember seeing the lights of the football game and playing in the pep band and feeling so relieved I didn’t have to go home for a few hours. That being said, I think being from a small town made the best parts of who I am. ‘This Town’ is sort of a love letter to small towns, even with their flaws.”
Listen to “This Town” below, and scroll onward to read Trixie’s full Origins of the song.
High School Marching Band
Photo by Jeff Muceus
I played clarinet in the marching band and music became such a big part of my life at this time because my musical extracurriculars kept me at school and not at home. I’ve integrated my clarinet into some comedy performances, but I hope to play more soon.
Getting a Car
Photo via WikiCommons
My first car was a 1984 Dodge Intrepid in Emerald Green. I moved in with my grandparents at 15 after my school found out about my home situation because of an anonymous tip. My grandparents bought me this car to drive to school and it made it possible for me to get my first job at a chicken restaurant in Crivitz, Wisconsin. This is pretty much when I discovered the joy of work and independence.
Michelle Branch
It was around this time I was listening to a lot of Michelle Branch and her Hotel Paper record was a lot of acoustic guitar. It was great driving music for me during my long commute to and from school.
Blackberry Brandy
My grandpa used to drink blackberry brandy and after school we would sit at the kitchen table. He would still have his work clothes on and I would have my school clothes on and we would trade guitar licks while he sipped blackberry brandy.
Trixie Mattel Shares the Origins of Nostalgic New Shakey Graves Collab “This Town”: Exclusive
Carys Anderson
Popular Posts
