You thought we were done for this week? Oh no, absolutely not. Two artists being highlighted in the same week?! What? Yep, that’s right. Week Four is getting lots of recognition.
With that being said, here is our second artist for week four. Introducing independent artist, Brian Ross.
Like many, and most, I found Brian via my TikTok ‘for you’ page and was intrigued by his process of his latest EP release. One of his captions was that he put 7 months of hard work into his EP. “Sidewalks” was released on May 14, 2021, and has done pretty well since Brian is making a name for himself in the industry. So, with that back up seven months and see how far Brian has come and grown with this release.
As an up and coming artist within the music industry, Brian has about 4,700 monthly listeners on Spotify and with his EP, there are six brilliant songs done highlighting Brian’s creative self. You can see more about how he felt after he completed it in the interview below.
I recently interviewed Brian and we spoke about how he got started in music, some of his inspirations, and what’s next for him! Check it out below.
I noticed on your TikTok that you put 7 months of hard work into your newest EP release, how did it feel when it was completed?
Oh my god, it was the most satisfying thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing! I really felt like for the last 7 months, this EP had become like an extension of myself. It started to feel less like I was making music, and more like I was telling my story, something I feel so lucky to have been able to do. These songs started to feel like a piece of me, and to see them finally done (and exactly how I had envisioned them) still doesn’t feel real.
How did you get started in music?
We could go back really early to when I was Michael Banks in Mary Poppins back in 6th grade. I’ve always had some sort of passion for music as long as I could remember, but I quit for a while. Maybe I went through some sort of rebellion, or thought I was too cool for it all, but eventually I came back to it… Around the beginning of my sophomore year of high school I picked up guitar, but I didn’t really start to seriously learn till later that year/ start of the next. I still remember the first two songs I learned, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” by The Clash and “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. Now being a senior in high school and seeing how far I’ve come, it gives me a weird sense of pride.
If you could open a show for anyone, who would it be and why?
Damn, that’s a tough one. I’d have to say either EDEN or Wallows, but for completely different reasons. I think EDENs lyricism is one of a kind, and some of the most intense and personal songwriting I’ve ever listened to. Not to mention he just seems like the nicest guy, it would be an honor to meet him. Wallows just bring a certain unmatched energy to their concerts, but more importantly… they’re just so fun. I feel like sharing a stage with them would just be an experience like no other. And of course, if you read all my TikTok comments, Rex Orange County would also be a dream come true!
Where/Who do you get your musical inspiration from?
I think the greatest inspiration for me is the relationships I’ve made in my life. As I’m sure you can tell, “sidewalks” is just as much a story about love, as it is about loss and acceptance. Every song I write tends to come from something I’ve experienced in one way or another, and I like to make sure that no matter how far away I stray from what an idea was meant to be originally, that I maintain that sense of humanity and interpersonality. Without each other, we as people are basically nothing. A scary thought! But I think it’s more beautiful than scary. It means we need each other, it means that you’re needed, in one way or another.
What’s next for you?
I have no idea! And I’m honestly totally cool with that. I’ve never really been one to plan too much ahead, but I can guarantee this won’t be the last you hear from me! I would love to release an EP of soft acoustic songs focused more on lyricism rather than instrumentation. I have quite a few songs like those in the backlog, so that’s definitely something I can see myself doing. Eventually I’d like to either make another traditional EP, or maybe even a full length album… but more likely another EP. This isn’t due to time constraints or anything like that, I just feel as though an EP is a beautiful and perfect way to tell a cohesive and easy-to-digest story. Plus, I’d rather devote my energy to make 5-6 incredible songs, rather than 8-15 really good songs (with a couple of great songs!), but a weaker package overall. For me, I care if I like my own music. As long as I’m making stuff that I’m proud of, I’ll be more than content.
That’s it for this week’s spotlight. For real this time. Stay tuned for next week!
His socials are linked below! Go check him out and stream his EP, “Sidewalks”!
