THE BRANDON SCHOTT INTERVIEW
Hollywood2You: Brandon, congratulations on the new CD, I really like it. How long did it take to write and record this CD?
Brandon: We started recording this project back in May 2004 at my co-producer and friend Jason Wormer's home in Atwater Village, mixed in late 2006 - Gavin Lurssen mastered the record last month. It started it's life out as an EP, and kind of evolved over time - I found I had more to say in the context of Golden State than I initially thought. It's been quite a journey, but we got to a pretty special place in the end I think....
Hollywood2You: I've picked my favorites, but which songs are your favorites, or you feel are the strongest tracks on the CD.
Brandon: Man, that's like asking me which one of my sons I prefer best. :) It's hard to separate much from the whole, it always been like one big thought to me - but there are definitely certain scenes I hold close, at any given point (and depending on the weather) - CAROUSEL, BEACHWOOD, GOLDEN STATE and HOURGLASS to name a few...
Hollywood2You: How would you describe your style as an artist?
Brandon: Sun-drenched 70s Quiet-Pop...Neil Finn (or Crowded House) meets Neil Young meets Michael Penn meets Gram Parsons, with a shade of Brian Wilson
Hollywood2You: Whew, ok let me take that in. Ok well what’s different about this new CD, I mean is your style changing or evolving in any way?
Brandon: I've recently started wearing more jackets, some stylish hats! Ha ha....as for my music, I feel that through the first record RELEASE into the new one, I was able to kind of discover a groove - worked out what works best in my singing, playing and writing, and also developed a tone and texture to my work now that feels more distinctively my own.
Hollywood2You: Are your songs drawn from, actual personal experiences you’ve had, or are they fictitious?
Brandon: Very personally driven. Even the songs that start out as external observations, in the end the only way I can make them real to me is by internalizing what I see and finding the truth in it from my own journey, my own perspective. The names have been changed, etc etc....:)
Hollywood2You: Ah, good Idea to change the names…. Well, who are the artists that most inspired you to where you are musically right now, and why?
Brandon: As I mentioned before, Crowed House, Neil Young, Michael Penn, Gram Parsons, Brian Wilson to name VERY few, but I'll throw in a few contemporaries of mine here in LA - Plasticsoul, The Breakups, Duane Dolieslager, Tee-M...I'm always driven by the music close to me, but the most inspiring thing I've ever encountered are in my family, my community - both musical and personal - everyone in my life helps bring me to so many new places...
Hollywood2You: Are you currently playing the L.A./Hollywood club circuit?
Brandon: Absolutely - many times with the artists like Plasticsoul, The Breakups, Duane Dolieslager, Tee-M and others. I have a monthly acoustic residency at the Karma Coffeehouse, 1st Friday of every month - and am setting up more shows with my band as the record is released...
Hollywood2You: That’s cool, do you perform solo as well as with the band?
Brandon: Yeah, both, depending on the context.
Hollywood2You: Are you planning on touring to promote the new CD?
Brandon: Yes, I'm doing 10 days in England in May; culminating with a show at the Cavern Club as part of the International Pop Overthrow Festival - and then a tour of California this summer, select markets in the fall.
Hollywood2You: So, what’s next for the band & Brandon Schott?
Brandon: Well, Golden State comes out on iTunes and other digital outlets on May 15th, 2007 (just before the UK tour), and physical retail is scheduled for July 31, 2007 - in anticipation of my 'Golden State' tour of California.
Hollywood2You: Brandon thanks for taking the time for this interview, and we’ll keep in touch to see how the tour’s going… and Thanks for the great music!
For HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV – John Reed
