Inspired by music icons James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, American singer-songwriter and pop-pianist BRENDAN JAMES has checked off some major career milestones over the past 2 decades. Having been signed to Capitol Records, Universal Records and releasing music independently, he has also toured and collaborated with the likes of John Mayer, John Legend, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Keb Mo and Andy Grammar. James has seen multi format radio success, sync placements in over 15 major television shows and films worldwide and has amassed over one million fans in 65 countries on Spotify. Despite all this, James shows no signs of slowing down. He released his latest album in October 2020. It’s a reflection of a time in his life prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and inspired by a trip around the world with his wife and 2 children.
LEG: Before Covid-19 hit you embarked on a journey around the world with your wife and two young children. You are a brave man. What was the best and worst thing that happened along the way?
BJ: Thanks yea, that was a life changing trip. I’m so glad we took the leap. One of the toughest parts of it was the physical aspect I guess ... literally carrying around a 1 and 4 year old whenever they couldn’t, or didn’t want to walk! It provided some challenging and laughable moments for sure.
The best part of the trip was easily just being a family, watching our kids so closely, seeing all the sights through their eyes. It was like putting the pause button on our real life, our careers, our routine.. and just being together with no plan. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
Brendan’s daughter waits for a train in Milan
Hillside in Croatia
LEG: Did you know that an entire album of music would come from that trip around the world? What’s your favorite piece of new music that came out of that adventure and the story behind it?
BJ: No, I really didn’t have any idea I would write so much along the way. I was actually in a huge writing drought in the year leading up to the trip. So I was pretty happy and surprised when it all started to flow. And it flowed all the way up to the last week in New Zealand, where I was scrambling to finish lyrics before coming home.
I think my favorite songs from the trip are ‘Through Our Hands’ and ‘Barcelona’. They each seem like a mini journal entry of where we were at the time. And for that reason, they will always be special to me.
LEG: Fast forward a year later to the opposite experience of quarantine, how has the pandemic impacted you as a touring and recording artist? How have you adapted to the new world and still maintain that connection with your loyal fans? Do you think a new album will come from this past year’s experience?
BJ: Wow, so many things come to mind here. I have been all over the map as a creative during quarantine. It started off feeling like the worst possible scenario.. and is ending up feeling like it might have been the best. One of the real positives is that it has let me create with far less boundaries and constraints. I’m letting myself fly into different genres and just have fun with music for once.. as opposed to staying so tightly to a certain sound, or thinking of which predecessor to honor or emulate. It has been liberating really. I have no idea if I’ll
put all the stuff I’m making on a full album, or if I’ll just make a few short EPs and singles out of it all. But it’s definitely gonna come out in one way shape or form.
LEG: Many people come to your shows to hear the stories you tell as well as the songs. You are an exceptional storyteller and have been compared to some of the greats including James Taylor, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon. A few stories that you tell on stage that come to mind are the ones about the waitress Hilary, writing in Carly Simon’s house, and the family you stayed with in Barcelona. What is your favorite story to tell on stage and why? What is the secret behind storytelling and keeping the audience engaged?
BJ: Yea, somehow I went from a shy performer who could never open his eyes, to a full on storyteller up there.. (who has to remind himself to shut up sometimes;)
I just love the process now. Not just giving my crowd a sentence about a song, but really painting the entire picture. It brings us so much closer from tour to tour.. and they really know me as the full person now, not just the performer. My favorite story to tell is probably the one about Hillary. There are just so many layers to it.. really a ridiculous chain of events.
LEG: You’ve been signed to a major label and have also released music independently. What do you think the pros and cons are to being an independent artist in the industry today?
BJ: Definite pros and cons to both.
I was little too young and under developed when I was on the majors i think.. and therefore will never really know if I could’ve gotten more out of the experience. I know I benefited greatly from the money they put into building my early fanbase, and from the connections they had in areas like radio and publishing. But I also suffered greatly under the regime changes and the poor and slow decision making abilities of the majors. And I also hated all the differing opinions.. of who I was, and what was ‘best’ for me.
And now being independent, though I have to fight harder for connections and extra capital, I am a much happier person. I make all my own choices, set schedules the way I need, and best of all, own my own masters- something so crucial to making consistent money in this game. So if you’re gonna go big, ride the wave, take what you can get from the big companies while you’re with them.. but always hold on to a piece of yourself, and be ready to thrive on your own should it come to that.
LEG: For all of the success you’ve enjoyed through the years can you think of a time that you failed to reach your goal? How did you learn from that experience? How did you bounce back and turn that defeat into future success?
BJ: I’d say one of the most dramatic examples of failing to meet my goal.. was not being able to finish my first record while on Capitol Records. There were so many factors at play, so much money being thrown around, and I was so young at the time. I wanted to make it happen so badly, but just couldn’t. Having it all fall apart was one of the hardest things I’d ever faced. But like anything there was reason for it. I got a pretty big ‘severance’ check to leave, when a new president and staff took over the label... and with that was able to finally make my first album.. with the producer of my choosing, and on my terms. I’m proud of that to this day.
LEG: We know you are avid hiker and a lover of the great outdoors. Our Lakeside Living Co. brand slogan is “Find Your Lake”. What does your version of peace and relaxation look like? Is there a favorite lake you have from all of your travels and adventures through the years?
BJ: Ha, I love that. There are so many lakes I love. I’d say two of my favorites are (1.) Newfound Lake, New Hampshire.. known for being one of the cleanest and most beautiful in New England. My aunt has a house there, and we used to go there a lot as kids.
And (2.) Blue Lake in Colorado.. which is a glacial lake only accessible by hiking... but so amazing to reach. The last time we were there as a band, we jumped in, despite the water being a 49 degrees. You can reach it from the Mitchell Lake Trailhead if anyone’s interested.
Newfound Lake, NH
Hiking on snow to Blue Lake, CO
LEG: How has being a parent changed your perspective on life? How difficult is it to manage being a good father and husband but still do everything it takes to be successful? Are there any work from home tips you have for other musician parents?
BJ: Parenting has certainly changed my life in an enormous way. And it was a tricky transition for me.. from solely pursing my goals, to becoming the full time caregiver a good parent needs to be. But eventually I learned to strike the balance.. and that balance itself is what I take the most pride in. The best advice i can give is to work really hard, but not necessarily on both aspects at the same time. Create the time and space for each to shine. When I’m tour, or in the studio I am THERE, and trying to nail it. When I’m home with my family, I am THERE and trying to nail that. It’s certainly not easy, and you have to be okay with losing momentum on one, to give time to the other.. but you come to learn it all adds up, and all balances out. The pendulum always swings back the other way.
LEG: Can you tell us what’s on the horizon for you in 2021 both personally and professionally?
BJ: Well, I’d be lying if I had a clear answer here. But i can tell you I really hope to tour “Leap Taken” as soon as possible. These are songs that I can’t wait to play live. So I’ll be putting some intimate private show tours together for the spring and summer.. and then I may even attempt to bring the tour to some real venues in late Fall 2021. We’ll see. As for music releases, I’ll definitely be putting out at least a few singles, if not an whole EP. I’ve been writing some crazy shit during quarantine, and I figure I’ve gotta share it ;)
