On the Record with Brenn!: The Hidden Rhythm of a Road Trip

Brenn! is a rising Indie-Folk artist who's mastered the art of creating music that simultaneously hurts yet heals you. With his sold-out Days on End North American Tour, Brenn’s cinematic sound continues to resonate with fans all over the country. Off The Record had the chance to talk with Brenn! as he dives into the art of storytelling.

Credit: Hayley Mikell

A lot of your songs talk about dropping everything and starting over. If you were to go off the grid, where would you go?

Oh, man, probably Montreal, I went there one time, and I loved it. I love the French language. I wish I had taken the time to learn some. 

Your growth has been substantial over the past year. How are you finding balance between your music and personal life?

I kind of just do music all the time, so there's no real separation. I call it work, but in reality, I get to work from home. Like, my studio is in my house, I don't do a lot of sessions with other people, and I don't have deadlines. So, everything just comes and goes in its own flow. And I'm totally there to yield to that.

A lot of the time, there’s a negative connotation with being an artist who grew in their career because of TikTok. Are there any feelings of inadequacy or a wish for a more traditional way of being discovered?

No. No one listens to CDs, no one really buys music anymore, and I feel like that's not the artist's fault. TikTok is where everyone consumes their media, and TikTok itself has a negative connotation, so you can't really get around it. 

With that, did you expect “ 4runner” to blow up the way it did?

No, I did not. When it started blowing up, the part that actually blew up, the yell part, wasn't even made yet. So I had no idea what was to come. 

You’re a storyteller. Your writing consistently remains intimate and vulnerable. What does it take to remain open and honest even when you’re in the wrong?

I have gone through seasons of pride and arrogance, but since I've given my life to Christ, it's been much easier to put away my pride and lead with a simple “I'm sorry.”  Apologizing has opened a door to growth, and it’s been a good thing for me.

In Franklin house you address this with the lyrics “cause I’d never take the blame on all the things that I know are my fault.” Has there ever been any sort of internal pushback that holds you from fully immersing yourself in a song?  Where do you draw the line?

Yeah, I draw the line at the most intimate parts of a relationship. I kind of just don't talk about those things [sex]. I'm not going to take advantage of that kind of vulnerability. 

What's been your favorite song lyrically, and what’s the story behind it?

“Franklin House,”— this girl that I was with— the only girlfriend I've ever had— started going to this bar on Franklin House, and over the course of a few months, as she kept going, she grew more distant and agitated towards me. And eventually, after being out one night, she broke up with me. I was so devastated that I ended up driving 10 hours there. She didn’t end up seeing me. So I drove 10 hours back, and on the way back, I wrote “Franklin House.”

You recently moved out of Alabama and up to Nashville. How are you adjusting to moving away from a place that's filled with experiences that have shaped your career? 

Yeah. It's been nice moving, but I honestly miss home a lot. I wrote a lot of music outside and on the road. I love driving, so when it comes to finding inspiration, I take in the scenery around me.

Lastly, is there anything fans should look forward to in the new year? 

Lots of touring, lots of music, and lots of aesthetics

Listen to Brenn!’s latest single “brand new car” below.