Hey from the back of a van. I have a lot of time to think back here. And you know what? No one can ever tell me I don’t try things in life. Management? ME? Uh, that sounds insane. I spent the better part of the past decade begging people to manage ME. But okay. Sure, I’ll try it. (One year in, I can confirm: it is definitely insane, but I am alive!) I really wish I didn’t get overwhelmed and crash out so much, but I think that’s just kinda the nature of this forsaken industry, and maybe my nature too. But I’m proud that for a few years, I’ve been holding on as best as I can and trying to help people navigate it all. At the very least, I show up! That said, apologies if you’re on an advance thread/merch thread/label thread with me. Emails are not my strong suit. Emails frankly shouldn’t exist. Nor should texts. Communication should really just be verbal. Like on YouTube! Even so, shows are happening! And it’s fun to see people singing along and Brendan/the band crushing. The music is good, or I wouldn’t care! Anyway, hi!
Thanks for letting me work the carpet @countrycentral and @christinaabosch . Blast from the past feeling to do that again. My go to question if I don’t know what to say is, “So, uh, are you a Swiftie?” Honestly always leads to interesting convo however people answer.
I’ve made a lot of things in my life. Paintings and mosaics and something like a thousand magazine articles and way too many videos to count. But there is nothing I’ve ever been prouder of getting to *help* make than the debut album by @brendanwaltermusic called “Disappearing Days.” This process started in Brendan’s (I’m sorry) awful apartment in Texas over two years ago, him sitting on a frat sofa that was also my bed when we were recording music down in Austin, and finishing up a song called “Pipe Dream,” that he’d half written and I was obsessed with. Fast forward through two years of vision boards and a bunch of unremarkable shows, and then some really good shows, and then a record deal(!), and then recording in Nashville and making music videos and so much I can’t fit in a post. But there’s no person I’d rather be in business with than Brendan. The talent is a given, the vocals and musicality obvious, but it’s the willingness to learn and listen and hustle and treat everyone like they’re better than you that I’m most honored to get to be around. Brendan wrote an album about growing up, and it’s halfway between Texas country and, I dunno, the Goo Goo Dolls. But it feels fresh to ME. I listen to this record and think, “I feel like I’d like this even if I weren’t involved,” which is probably a narcissistic thought, but hey it makes my heart sing. There’s a million thanks to musicians and writers and people at Records/Sony and the crew at True Grit and every publisher and everyone else in this biz that just wants me to email them back (I can’t promise I’ll ever get good at that), but it’s too many to list right here. But thanks especially Lake Wilkinson for all your work on this record. You’re patient and kind and we couldn’t have made it without you. And to Brendan, you don’t need me to tell you, but you’re the very best.
Okay I saw the comments. So here is a new YOUTUBE video! I’m trying a different off-the-cuff style on this (as opposed to an elaborately edited mini-documentary), so I just ask for a little grace on the content. My hope is to see if posting this kinda stuff is appealing to people, cuz I could legit make videos again if so. But as it stands, I’m kinda at creative capacity and can’t imagine doing video essays rn. I know wah wah poor Grady the delinquent YouTuber. But just trying to be honest with you!
Did my face make Google’s Year End commercial? ❌ But did my stunning voice?? ✅✅✅✅ IT DID! Pretty cool but maybe this a sign to film in 4K in the future. #Ilove1080p
I’ve been a believer in @brennanedwardsmusic and his songwriting/picking/voice ever since I saw his Red Barn session almost 2 years ago. But I think it’s fair to say that for me and Brennan both, it was an unexpected turn this year deciding to work together to bring his “Stones” EP to life. I’m glad we took the leap. These were recorded at Goosehead Palace back in July with @lake.wilkinson on the board and and @ivyphillipsfiddle , @lucas_rennie , @dickthegentleman , and @mopthof on fiddle, steel, drums, and bass, respectively. Thanks to Lake on mixing and @montmillery on mastering. The goal was to make something that felt “natural,” and everything about Brennan’s music and persona feels that way to me. Hope yall enjoy. Proud of you, Brennan. (📸: @jj.baer )
A week ago, @brendanwaltermusic put out his debut project “I don’t know what I’m doing yet,” and I just gotta say I’m proud! Took a full year and half to figure out how to record and put this out, and there’s a million people that helped us do it. We started in Jeremy Ferguson’s studio in Nashville, and then recorded the bulk of this at @5thstreetstudios with @nickyknobs in Austin, TX. And Nick was such a patient guy, helping us learn the ropes, and just has a great ear for what sounds cool. So many musicians played and sang on these songs - @shaangreenberg , @elikjazdzewski , @jordan__espinoza , @elijahthedelgado , @kate_stephenson , @juliadigrazmusic , @mason_lively , and then one dude too humble to be tagged! Quite literally couldn’t have done it without all of you and your talent. Even more thanks to @taylorjkimball and @lake.wilkinson for some help on a few mixes and @infrasonicsound and also Monty Miller on mastering. And @harrisonhargrave with cover pic! But Brendan, this all really is driven by you and your drive to write cool songs and make cool art. Here’s to all the music ahead!
I didn’t mean to take a 3 month break from YouTube, but I did. And now I’m back! New vid is just an update on all I have been doing offline and in music before I’m back to the regularly scheduled programming. Sorry for the delays, as always!
