Interview with Pennan Brae
Pennan Brae is an Americana, folk-rock, singer-songwriter from Canada, the prototype of a musician who believes in his work and feels comfortable with what he does. His Music is simple and romantic, regardless of fashion, taste, and criticism. Penan does what he likes, and he does it good. Song by song, video by video, this Vancouver-based musician has personally gained me with his originality and a human sense of music that makes me feel good.
Having a chance encounter with producer Paul Milner (Keith Richards, Sting) on a small island off the Canadian coast led Brae to work with many musicians, and then he found himself with final mixes from the acclaimed producer.
In 2011, Brae released a third record Early Rise. This 7-song disc starts with On The Highway, campaigning a magnificent music video shot by Spool, a young but extremely talented director from Los Angeles.
“Setting music to a visual is a real pleasure and joy,” Pennan Brae stated. This creative process, while fulfilling, comes with all sorts of delays and disasters; the pink convertible Pennan drove from Oregon made it all the way down to LA and then Las Vegas for the shoot, but blew a cylinder and needed a rebuilt engine before they could continue. Six weeks later, the shoot was back on and the resulting video is an outstanding gem of a story that belies any kind of mechanical breakdown.
The rest of 2011 will find Pennan Brae traveling parts of the world with Early Rise and his collection of songs about love, adventure, gratitude, and life.
1. How did the band begin?
The band began in 2008. I was on an Island in Canada & met Paul Milner, who was the producer of Keith Richards’ first solo record. I talked to him about recording & he introduced me to these other musicians. We went into the studio & laid down the tracks.
2. How would you define the sound of the band?
Laid-back, chilled pop-rock.
3. Talk to us about your last work.
‘Early Rise’ is our most recent release. It is a bit more upbeat, with faster songs such as ‘Need A Woman So Bad’ & ‘On The Highway’. ‘Pennan Brae’, another track, is about my grandfather from Northern Scotland. He was from a village called Pennan & it’s there I take my name from.
4. How are your concerts? What can we find there that we wont find on your studio records?
We arrange the songs a bit differently live. Yonny has done some very nice work on the guitar to make this happen.
5. What do you think about the music industry and what do you think is your place within it?
The music industry has always been the Wild West & I think it always will be. It’s the nature of the beast, really. It’s fun that way because you never know what might happen when you wake up in the morning. I like the fact now that musicians can empower themselves via the Internet to promote & share their work. That’s very motivating.
