There is no denying house music is the true backbone of the electronic dance music genre and has recently been giving the bass music scene here in the United States a run for its money in terms of popularity with BRANDON being one of the many blossoming talents that continues to push the genre forward.
After years of experience on the dance floors of Germany, he has continued to make waves throughout the scene with a number of impressive releases on Tchami‘s Confession, Ministry of Sound and AC Slater‘s Night Bass.
Still buzzing off the release of his recent single “Going Gone” on Confession, we took the time to get to know BRANDON a little better!
BRANDON – Going Gone | Download |
TSS: Who or what introduced you to the world of electronic dance music?
BRANDON: The German band “Scooter” introduced me to the world of electronic music. I was 6 years old when I first heard their songs on German radio and immediately went to the local CD Stores here. Unfortunately I was too young to get to go to one of their concerts.
TSS: DJing or production – which came first for you?
BRANDON: DJing came first for me. Back in High School I basically was considered a “Music Dealer.” I always searched for cool club music on YouTube and SoundCloud in 2009, and just had to share the IDs I found with all of my friends. In 2010 my dad bought me a DJ Controller so I can record mixtapes with the songs I loved. That opened the doors for promoters to book me to shows (Mixtapes on SoundCloud had a huge impact on DJ Gigs in that time)
TSS: What made you want to follow a path in music?
BRANDON: My passion for music was discovered by my teacher in elementary school. It’s basically in my DNA. After I learned to play the piano and discovered electronic music as a child, it then just became a big part of my life. To see people enjoy the music I produce and play is the best feeling ever!
TSS: For anyone who may not be familiar with BRANDON, how would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
BRANDON: I think the best way to describe my music is to think of deep and groovy basslines, rap vocals and very simple song structures that makes it really accessible to dive into my music, even for people who may not be familiar with electronic music at all. I say it’s my personal take on “G-House,”or a blend of Tech and Bass House.
TSS: What gear and programs are you using these days when it comes to production?
BRANDON: I’m making my music with Logic Pro. I got two hardware synthesizers in addition, which is the Novation Bass Station and the Behringer TD-3 AM. Basslines from my releases like “Lets Try It” were recorded from that hardware. I’m also a big fan of Logics Stock Plugins!
TSS: What’s your creative process in the studio?
BRANDON: Inspiration has multiple sources. It can be literally everything. What inspires me is any kind of melody or loop that can be repeated for a long time without it getting boring. The Bass Station hardware synth is a great starting point to roll out ideas. I can recommend using arpeggiators to get creative! Also, my cellphone is full of random recordings of me singing melodies that came into my mind during the day which accelerates the creative process in the studio. Last but not least remixing existing songs and then turning those remixes into originals is also a way I get creative.
TSS: When you have a rough week or hit a wall creatively, how do you get back on track?
BRANDON: Whenever this happens I would open old projects and see if I can get “old” ideas sounding good. My Song “Gucci Slides” is an example of how I wasnt creative at all in the first place, opened a project which I started in the pandemic and one year later I catched a vibe, even though I started the session with no ideas.
TSS: Tell us a little about your recent release, “Going Gone,” and how that one game together.
BRANDON: “Going Gone” was a loooong process. I received the Vocal-Demo from the Label “Ministry Of Sound”. I made several drafts and ended up finishing the version that is released now. However, the song was not suited for Ministry of Sound, so I thought it would never see the light of the day. I’m so happy that MOS connected me with the songwriters and gave me the opportunity to release the song on other labels if I wanted to. All vocal songwriters were really happy with the tune, I sent it to Confession and they loved it!
TSS: How does it feel to continue to have releases on the powerhouse dance music imprint that is CONFESSION?
BRANDON: I am super proud to be part of the CONFESSION family. Tchami is a huge inspiration for a lot of house music producers. Having their trust gives me a lot of confidence about my productions. Especially in Germany (where I live) House Music is not as popular as it is in the United States which makes it even more special for me to put out songs from here on such an incredible label!
TSS: What does BRANDON have in store for the remainder of 2023 and beyond?
BRANDON: 2023 continues with my first release on Sonny Foderas Label “Solotoko” and another release on CONFESSION in November. Can’t wait for both songs to come out. In addition to that, my summer is packed with a lot of big festivals in Germany. My plans beyond are to get a chance to play shows in North America in the future for sure. Especially because my music is already supported there. Thanks for the interview!
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