Tell us about Becoming Young.
Hey, it’s Brandon, I write and release songs under the alias, Becoming Young.
I live in Nashville and make records in bedroom studios. I feel incredibly fortunate to call it “work.”
What is the message behind your art?
My project and songs are about the journey to squeeze the juice of life and do the things that remind us we’re alive—whether that’s sharing a first kiss with someone, or telling your father you love him for the first time.
I try to write from a place that reminds us of our true spirit, so we can let go of everything we are not and become who we were meant to be all along.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
Mostly my personal life and the lives of my friends/family. I started writing songs because I had things I wanted to say to people, but when I was younger, I was too shy to just say them. Most of my songs are letters to another person—stuff I needed to get off my chest.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
Dermot Kennedy for sure. I admire his lyricism and presence. He’s a true artist and writes from such a deep, thoughtful place.
All-time favorite record?
Without Fear by Dermot Kennedy is an absolute masterpiece.
Tell us about your latest release “Wild & Free” and how it came about.
‘Wild & Free’ is about rediscovering your power and finding freedom in knowing that you can overcome your demons. It’s easy to get caught up in our tribulations, and we often let missteps and struggles weigh us down. This song is an acknowledgment that we are collectively coming back stronger… no matter what’s happened in the past, we are resilient. We can and will break free from the darkness.
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
You’re right. At the center, what drives my music is the message behind each song. There must be a story surrounding what I’m writing about. In the past, I’ve experimented with a few songs that were more ‘tone pieces’ than real moments from my life—and that can be fun sometimes. But I don’t typically connect with songs unless they come from a real moment and are a reflection of something that actually happened in my life.
As I’ve matured as a writer, I’ve started to focus deeper on the sentiment people are left with after hearing my songs. My new musical direction incorporates a lot of positive affirmations I want and need to say to myself.
What excites you the most about what you do?
The process of writing a song will never get old. It’s downright magical to capture and compose something from the ethers of infinite possibility that only exists because I made it.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Headlining Red Rocks in my home state of Colorado!
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
Thank you. I’m pretty selective about who I work with, and I almost always have a strong vision for creative projects. It’s hard to develop a brand when you don’t know what you want—or if you’re just following someone else’s direction. I love to collaborate, but I have a heavy hand in every part of my brand, from music production to mixing to video production to marketing.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
Honestly, carrying around old emotions from an album I made about an ex, and then having to wait a long time to release that record due to Covid. The long delay made it hard to move on in my personal life. When The Songs I Wrote You finally came out, I was in a completely different phase of my life, so it was hard to promote it and relive the past like that. But that process also led to considerable personal growth and healing. I’m glad things unfolded the way they did because the journey set me on a new musical direction that I feel great about.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
A mentor of mine pulled me aside one day and said, “Brandon, you need to get out of your hometown. Colorado is amazing, but it will always be here. Go find your people and give your music career a real shot.” He was so right. I’m really glad I listened to him and moved to TN. I’ve met such amazing friends and collaborators in Nashville. (Thanks, Anthony!)
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music and entertainment scene?
Blockchain is likely going to revolutionize the music industry by removing the entities that stand between artists and fans, and this will lead to more transparency surrounding royalty accounting. All of which will be empowering for independent and big label artists.
I appreciate all the thoughtful questions!
