Rocketships & Tangerines: Brooke

I've always been interested in the stories behind songs. Today, Brooke Buffington, from Rocketships & Tangerines, shares some of the stories behind her band's Anchors Aweigh album.


BB: One of my favorite things about writing music is that everyone gets something totally different from each song. No matter what I write the song about, it can be interpreted so many ways, and I love hearing about those different interpretations. 


26: The song "Dear Darla" almost has a break-up vibe, but it truly seems as if the speaker is waking up to the realization of the limitations of a small town. What did you have in mind with this song?


BB: Actually, I wrote "Dear Darla" to be a break-up song. I was just inspired by some friends' situations and decided to write a song about them. But, when we began working on our music video for "Dear Darla," the song took on a whole new meaning. We planned to have the video about a break-up between a girl (me) and a guy, but those plans and ideas gradually evolved. Brian brought on a whole new interpretation of the song when he suggested that, for the video, I break up with myself. As strange as it initially sounded, we decided to run with the idea. "Dear Darla" became something completely different for me. The break-up with myself is representational of the things in our lives that we need to let go of: addictions, insecurities, etc. Sometimes we need to "break-up" with ourselves, and it's really hard. We're comfortable where we're at. It's even bittersweet. 


26: "Sellout" seems to be about the vanity of celebrity (and the desire for it) from someone who is insecure inside.


BB: You hit the nail on the head with "Sellout." Brian's total inspiration for this song was seeing this happen to other artists and not wanting the same to happen to him, or us.

26: "Hope" features an emotional vulnerability but the speaker holds on to hope. Awesome job singing, by the way. Hearing this song I keep thinking about how interested you are in To Write Love on Her Arms. 

BB: "Hope" was actually one of the first songs I ever wrote. I wrote it about a friend who was struggling with depression and addictions. She couldn't seem to find a way out. As much as I tried to help, there was nothing in my power that could ever change her or the way she felt. It broke my heart. I wrote this song to let her know that she's not alone. I want to make it known to the world that there is hope beyond the suffering. And yes, I totally support To Write Love On Her Arms. I love what they're about and what they stand for. So many times, people who struggle with depression or cutting or addictions are so misunderstood. People don't understand and people don't know how to talk about it. The more we talk about it and the more we become aware, the better we'll be able to help those who are hurting.

26: "Summer" is a powerful song that features a homecoming theme. What's the story behind this song?

BB: "Summer" is, essentially, a homecoming song. The season of summer is symbolic of that long-awaited time together, or that time of "coming home." I wrote this song at a time when my sister and her baby were staying at our house while her husband (who's in the Air Force) was deployed for four months. I think that's the perfect example of feeling total distance and then experiencing a complete homecoming.

26: "Oh Captain, My Captain": When I first read this title, I thought about Whitman's poem of the same name.  After listening to the song, it seems like the real allusion is to the Gospel stories  when Jesus calms the storms. 

BB: Yes, Whitman! Oh, and I love Dead Poets Society, such a good movie--one of my all time favorites. I wish I had actually titled the song before I ever wrote it. But, alas, I did not. The title came after the lyrics, so there are no allusions of the poem...at least not on purpose. The intent of "Oh Captain, My Captain" was to just write a song about how Christ is always there as an anchor in desperate times. I mean, that's what captains do, right?

26: "Rocketships & Tangerines" begins with a set of sweet and funny similes. Then, when the song hits the chorus, it speaks about the depth of love extending beyond death. In my mind, I picture Brian writing this as a love letter to you. How did this song come about?

BB: Well, this is definitely the oldest of all of our songs as a band. Brian wrote "Rocketships & Tangerines" when we were dating (back when I was still in high school).


Rocketships & Tangerines'  CD Release Bash is Friday, September 24th at The Loft (101 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia) from 7pm to 11pm.

Rocketships & Tangerines: Brian

Brian and Brooke Buffington’s band, Rocketships & Tangerines, release a heartfelt debut with Anchors Aweigh. 

Rocketships & Tangerines can be booked to play church youth/college group functions, coffeeshops, house parties, amphitheaters, and stadiums. Their CD Release Bash is Friday, September 24th at The Loft (101 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia) from 7pm to 11pm.

  

26: Brian, where did you record this debut album?

BB: We recorded it with good friend and musician Sean Crawford, in Valdosta. It took a period of over four months to finish the six tracks. We drove up from Jasper every chance we could get. Sean's vocals can be heard on “Summer,” the fourth track.

26: Did you have a concept or theme in mind while you and Brooke were recording Anchors Aweigh?

BB: As far as a concept, we initially thought that "Oh Captain, My Captain," the fifth track, was going to be the first single off the album. Therefore, we went ahead and named the album "Anchors Aweigh," giving it a nautical feel. But after recording all six tracks, we agreed that "Dear Darla" had more potential as a hit and we went with it as our first single. And that's why we made a music video for the song (which turned out to be awesome). We also named the album "Anchors Aweigh" because it was Brooke's first music endeavor. Sort of like her "setting sail" in the music world. 

26: Brian, you and Brooke met in an interesting way. Didn’t you ask for her number at the Zaxby's drive-in?

BB: Not exactly. You see, I liked chicken. One night while doing my usual drive-through run at Zaxby's in Douglas (Zaxby's Club Sandwich to be exact), I met Brooke working the drive-through window. Surprised, she asked for my number (no girl had ever asked for my number, I thought it was my leopard skin seat covers that wooed her). Then, she never called me. So, I kept coming back for more chicken. Sometimes, I would even dine in to see her. Eventually we went to her ATCO Homecoming dance and she confessed that her initial drive-through flirtation was no flirtation at all. It was a contest that her and the rest of the female Zaxby's employees had going on, in which they would see who could get the most phone numbers. I think the prize was a chicken sandwich or something like that. But I thought she wanted me all along . . . Funny story.


"Dear Darla" music video