Charlie Brennan – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Charlie Brennan – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

We connected with performer Charlie Brennan for a chat. This is what he had to say.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

CB: Jason Irwin, a dogged hard worker and awesome personality. Jeff Brisbin, much respect for building a following and stamina! Both of these artists are songwriters as well, which is mostly how I appreciate them on an artistic level. Work ethic helps, though.

RRX: What was the very first reaction to your music, from the first person to ever hear so much as a practice jam or the demo of your first song?

CB: Well there were a couple. First Critic was my younger sister. She really liked a particular groove, that I “wrote”. My future songwriting partner Michael was another. Heard my song, then handed me some poetry and asked me to make a song from it. I did. First person to hear a properly recorded demo was my girlfriend at the time I recorded it and she wasn’t impressed. Neither was I really.

RRX: You sing or you rap, you play guitar, play drums, what have you, you have no doubt struggled to learn music. Something probably tripped you up. What was it for each of you? What did you have to overcome (bands, pick a member)?

CB: Tripped me up? Bloody parents. Mocking and belittling what I wanted to do, all while saying “you know, you are a better _____, than a musician you know.” Only a genius can teach themselves to play, and you’re no genius.” So, there was that at first. Then after that it was survival. Still working on that one.

RRX: What do you think is the most poorly understood thing about music, or the music you play?

CB: That pop music, rock music, whatever you want to call it…it’s an art form too. I love the art of a well made popular song.

RRX: In the universe of music, anything can happen. Bizarro doppelgangers can walk down the street in feather boas. Who would be your musical opposite and why? What do you think the “anti-you” band would sound like?

CB: There’s a young fellow in the NYC suburbs who has my name. He is the exact opposite of my work!

RRX: Part of learning to be a musician is to fall in love with a song, an album, and hammer away at your instrument until you can play that whole thing. What was that song for you? Was there a hardest part?

CB: This guy’s in love with you. Doing it justice, while just singing along with my guitar. Took a while to perfect it. It was worth it. Excellent audience reaction to that song. It’s a wonderful song.

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