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10 Questions with ... Brandon Heath
February 9, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Discography:
- 2006 Don't Get Comfortable
- 2008 What If We
- 2011 Leaving Eden
- 2012 Blue Mountain
- 2013 Christmas Is Here
- 2015 No Turning Back
1. Brief history/synopsis
I was born in Nashville, TN. Neither of my parents were musicians but music lovers nonetheless. I started playing the guitar when I was in high school and took songwriting more seriously in college. I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2003. I currently live in Nashville, TN with my wife and our longhaired miniature dachshund Dixie.
2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?
I usually get up around 7:30. I hit the gym around 8:00am and run with my pastor for a few miles. Then around 10:00, I usually have a co-write. Sometimes with someone I write with a lot and sometimes someone I've never met. I like to be creative as much as possible, but I usually keep my Mondays open for a Sabbath day. I get home around 5:30 and my favorite part of my day is coming home to my bride. We both love to cook, so we usually share duties. I'm on the grill, she does the sides. Then it's Netflix and ice cream.
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?
I love David Gray, always have. His newest album Mutineers is constantly on my playlist. The song that gets stuck in my head is the first track, Back in the World.
4. When did you first realize that you had a talent for telling stories through song? What's that process like?
I think I've always appreciated the story telling process. I remember my librarian in elementary school would read us stories aloud and it would always take me somewhere else. I never loved school so that was always a welcome escape, ha. Jesus spoke a lot in story because I think He knows we can see ourselves in the story. That's the same approach that I like to take. You can sometimes get people to answer their own questions all they need is a setting.
5. What Artist or Pastor has had the greatest impact on you?
My Young Life leaders probably had the greatest impact on me. Young Life is an outreach to high school kids. I was one of those kids, and my Young Life leaders were college students at Vanderbilt. They were the first to share the gospel with me, and I would say it's made an eternal impact on my life. A few of them are still close personal friends.
6. Talk a little bit about the success of "I'm Not Who I Was". How did the reaction of radio to that song affect you personally? Professionally?
It first became very real to me, the impact that radio has, when I was doing a brownbag concert in Houston, TX. "I'm Not Who I Was" had only been out a few weeks and people were starting to call in to tell their own stories of who they were before Jesus. KSBJ put together a compilation of all of these phone calls and intertwined them with the song. They were now playing this version on the radio and gave me a copy. I just wept. I felt so humbled and honored.
7. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?
You can actually find this one on YouTube. One time a band called, Revive, pranked me and made me think they were radio djs, and that I had missed an interview. I was embarrassed to think I had missed it so we did the interview on the spot. Of course they asked me all kinds of goofy questions and I remember thinking "how did they get my number?" Later that night, they used their same radio voice and it dawned on me that they had pulled one over on me. Good one!
(editors note: Check out the video....pretty stinking hilarious!)
8. Take us thru a couple songs on your latest project?
I've noticed that people love statements of faith, and "No Turning Back" pure and simply is a statement of faith. From what I hear, in the responses that I've gotten on social media it sounds like it's making quite the impact.
My favorite song on the record, at the moment, is "Only Just Met You." It's the most aggressive pop song that I've written in a while, but it captures my feelings the day I found Jesus. Now that there is 20 years between now and then. I can see that life only got better. A song that I am excited for people to hear is "When I Was Young." I think God wants us to have a childlike faith, and I'm always looking for my innocence.
9. What's a favorite passion outside of God, family, music and ministry? What puts a grin on you face and helps you relax & recharge?
I love working in the yard. My wife and I just purchased a home on a few acres and a creek runs through it. I just love being outside, working with my hands. Even manicuring the yard. It gives me satisfaction to take care of a piece of land.
10. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead?
CS Lewis. His words inspire me. I would love to just spend a day with him, and ask him how he created such ornate places like Narnia. Where do you find room in your brain to construct such a beautiful world?
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