Exclusive Track Premiere: ‘Papernote,’ Tigertown (BØRNS and Tommy English Remix)

Sydney-based band Tigertown’s “Papernote” began as so many songs do: with a story of heartache. While on tour in London two years ago, their drummer kept telling the band that he wanted to go to Paris. His interest in the “City of Love” was personal; he wanted to right his wife’s upsetting experience there. “He told us that his wife was once broken up with over an email while she was in Paris and cried alone in an internet café,” recalls Chris Collins, the band’s guitarist. “Our drummer wanted to go to the same café and write her a love letter. We were so moved by the story that we wrote the song about it that day.”

The upbeat electro-pop track that emerged inspired musicians beyond the family band (the rest of Tigertown consists of Collins’ wife Charlie, brother Alexi, and sister Elodie). Tigertown was already working with producer Tommy English on their music—in part because they are “massive fans” of his frequent collaborator BØRNS—when English and BØRNS began experimenting with a remix of “Papertown” without telling them. Then, out of mutual admiration arose the idea of a remix swap: Tigertown released a version of BØRNS’s “American Money” earlier this month and today, we’re pleased to premiere BØRNS and Tommy English’s remix of “Papernote.”

The new “Papernote” begins more softly than its predecessor, as though emerging from the haze of smoke later referenced in its lyrics (“Maybe I should go … Take a papernote / Wrap it up in smoke”). Its synthetic sounds soon emerge full force, with BØRNS lending an entirely new verse at the center of the track. It’s apparent that the song’s meaning for the band has only grown over time; tomorrow, they will release their second official EP, which is also titled Papernote (Neon Gold/Atlantic Recordings).

“‘Papernote’ has always been pretty close to our hearts,” says Collins. “I guess we were just lucky that Tommy showed this one to BØRNS because it is a really amazing remix. It’s more than just a version of the song; it’s almost like a sequel,” he continues. “When we heard the new verse BØRNS had written, we couldn’t believe it.”

TOMORROW, OCTOBER 28, 2016, TIGERTOWN WILL RELEASE PAPERNOTE (NEON GOLD/ATLANTIC RECORDINGS) AND NEXT WEEK, THEY BEGIN THEIR TOUR OF EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA. FOR MORE ON TIGERTOWN, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE.