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10 Questions with ... Brandon Heath
August 14, 2006
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NAME:Brandon HeathLABELS:Reunion/Provident/Sony/BMGDISCOGRAPHY:Don't Get Comfortable - 2006
Brief Career Synopsis:
Label: Reunion/Provident/Sony/BMG
Discography: Don't Get Comfortable - 20061) Offer a brief history of your career.
I got into songwriting when I was in high school. I got a little more serious in college and began playing for writer's nights in Nashville at places like the Bluebird Café. Right after graduating from college, I signed a publishing deal with Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing and started writing with other artists. I've been volunteering for the last 10 years at camps with an outreach ministry to high school kids called Young Life. About six years ago, I started playing songs for kids at various camps. They were my first audience. Encouraged by people all around me, including my friend and producer Dan Muckala, I pursued a recording contract and signed with Provident last November. Currently, I'm sharing songs with more and more folks everyday.
2) Should a good songwriter have to be a good people watcher? What might be your favorite story that turned into a song?
I think watching people helps. Airports are probably my favorite places to observe. Sometimes you even get to know them on the plane. Second place would be a shopping mall. I wrote a song about a little girl that shot me a smile from her stroller one day. It's called "Beauty Divine." It felt like maybe God used her to brighten my day. It worked!
3) Do you have a mentor in your songwriting?
There hasn't been one, single person to mentor me in songwriting. I've certainly had my share of heroes though: Carol King, James Taylor, Sting, Jonatha Brooke and Garth Brooks. I've found that writing with people who are better at writing than I am always makes me better myself. I'll give them credit, too!
4) What's the story behind your current single "Our God Reigns"?
I was on a plane heading home from Seattle. Tensions were high in the world because of terrorism and war. I was feeling a little anxious and took a little time to pray. I promised the Lord that I would put my faith in him rather than anyone else. Reflecting on his faithfulness to us, I sang the chorus in my head for hours. When I got home, I wrote the verses to it. A few Sundays later, I taught it to my church and we've been singing it ever since. Kind of cool that it's the first single off the new record.
5) Living with other songwriters, is it all music, all the time, or do you actually get the dishes washed and carpet vacuumed?
It's less music than you would think. When we're home from the road, picking up the guitar takes some effort sometimes. The guys and I live in a pretty tight community so we are usually just hanging out on the front porch or out to eat at our favorite dinner spots. As you could probably guess, we don't cook much. We have a Wednesday night community group at the house, so that's our motivation to keep the place presentable.
6) Would you consider your first love to be songwriting? What or who gave you the push to try the artist/recording side of music? Is it what you expected, so far?
Yeah, it was the songwriters of Nashville that really captured my attention back in high school. It's such a unique community and I really wanted to see what it was all about. God's honored those desires and blessed me with a great community of writers. For me there's a certain satisfaction in writing songs. It's always been enough for me. Only in the past few years have I considered being an artist. There have been a couple of guys in particular who have encouraged me to do so. The first was Chris Davis, a producer in town who did my first independent record, and more recently, my friend and producer Dan Muckala. He's helped me develop as an artist and my latest record is the result.
7) How do you know that you've written a good song? What's your barometer?
The best songs usually come within a few minutes. They just happen. Others take a little more work. For me, the ones that have a good hook and "sing-ability" are the winners. People want songs they can sing along with; I've learned that. There's nothing more rewarding than a crowd full of people singing along with you.
8) What does this debut record talk about? What's the most important message on it?
The title track, "Don't Get Comfortable," really is the most important message in this record. I've been a believer for 11 years now and only recently found the courage to step out on faith and take risks that I know the Lord is leading me in. These songs are all reflective of my life over the last year or so. You always write best about what you know, and I know "Uncomfortable."
9) Imagine life without music - what would you be doing?
There have been two jobs that I've had in the past that I loved. One was working as a barista in a coffee shop. The other was working at a camp. It would be between those two things.
10) You're an actual Nashville native. Have you ever considered moving?
There was one time when I told my parents I was moving to Seattle. My mom bawled her eyes out. That wasn't why I stayed in Nashville, but it certainly didn't help. If I ever felt like the time was right, I would move out there. Who knows, maybe fulfill my dream as a barista. I love the Pacific Northwest.
Bonus Questions
1) Who would be a dream artist to record with (any genre)?
Sting
2 ) What is your favorite city to visit?
Seattle
3) What is your favorite road meal?
A No. 1 combo from Chick-Fil-A with a mixture of BBQ sauce and ranch dressing, and a large lemonade.
4) Musical guilty pleasures?
Country Music!
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