Brandon Furtado shares his musical growth, balancing genres, and staying true to his creative vision.
Brandon Furtado ©️ 2023
Today we have the pleasure to have Brandon here on Goathead
GH: Congratulations on your upcoming releases, Brandon! Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from your new singles and the upcoming EP? Any particular themes or musical styles you've explored?
Brandon: Thank you! Definitely! Up next, I have a really exciting EP coming out on June 30th called Songs About Jules. The first single, "Jems," drops on June 2nd. It was a really fun project I worked on over 2021 and 2022 and encompasses a snapshot in time for me and some thoughts and emotions I felt while discovering the show Euphoria on HBO. All the songs belong to this concept, and although they’re tied to this concept, they were purposely written so they could stand on their own, without the listener having to know the source material. There’s a good mix that explores different lanes of pop on the EP. "Jems" is a dance-pop song that I think really sets a good tone for the EP, showcasing my development as an artist. The second single is called "Run." This was one of my favorite songs to write on the album because it plays on a concept in pop music that I love, which is how can you make something like a main riff that repeats throughout the whole song interesting for the length of a song. I love trying different styles for each of my songs and really try to go somewhere new with each one. Especially as a growing artist, I want to try my best to not write myself into a particular "style corner" to really see what sticks.
GH: You've participated in the New England Songwriting Competition and PBS' Celebration of Music. How have these experiences shaped you as an artist and influenced your approach to songwriting?
Brandon: I think they were first and foremost a really cool way to connect with other artists that were in my area of New England. It definitely helped me see what talent I had around me as well. Overall, I would say they were worthwhile experiences to get out in front of people who haven't heard about me or my music, even if they didn't help me as much on the songwriting front.
GH: Your music encompasses both pop and acoustic genres. How do you strike a balance between these two styles in your songs, and what elements do you consider when deciding which direction to take a particular track?
Brandon: That's a great question. I think finding and listening to a lot of artists that balance these two lanes of pop and acoustic, that I find interesting, helps. Some of my favorites and most important influences do these very well. As a unique artist, you average all of your own influences and interests when writing your own music, and I think the direction I take when deciding what elements, structure, or even lyrical content branch from something I've heard before with my own twist on it. Sometimes it's placing something I've heard before in a new part of my song that it may be different from the original. I am a guitarist and singer, so for the most part, my process for songs starts with either a melody I come up with based on something I've heard before that comes out a little different, and then I head to my acoustic guitar to try to figure out the chord structure. From there, it's really trying to tap into that bank of what have I heard before that can help me progress this idea and how can I make it more "me." This is usually where I decide if a track will be more stilled down or if it will get all the bells and whistles of a modern pop song.
GH: With several years of songwriting under your belt, how do you feel your music has evolved over time? Are there any specific aspects of your craft that you've focused on improving?
Brandon: Although I doubt myself probably too often, I feel like I’ve gotten better at simplifying and understanding what makes a great pop song or a hit. I would like to believe as I write more songs and discover new artists, I’m able to incorporate more of my observations about music I find compelling into my own music. I feel like overtime my music has opened itself to using more production and pop ear candy so to speak. I originally started out as a solo acoustic artist but now I have developed as a more open pop artist that wants to allow the music to be what It needs to be. I try to be as open minded as possible to let me songs come to life as naturally as possible. As a singer, working on my voice will be a lifetime journey that I will always be on. I’m never 100% happy with where I am because I will always have something to work towards. I definitely also especially recently have been
driven to play outside my comfort zone as a guitarist. Some of my favorite artists are really great guitar players and I envy that and want to improve my playing in anyway I can.
GH: As a singer-songwriter, what are some of the biggest challenges you face when it comes to creating and sharing your music? How do you overcome these challenges and stay motivated in the industry?
Brandon: One of the biggest challenges I have as a singer/songwriter is staying on top of the consistent content game. Balancing, making new music,practicing on the above mentioned elements of my craft, trying to get gigs to get in front of more people and working full time as my main source of income; while maintaining a steady stream of content to build a fanbase is tough. But most successful artists are really good at balancing all of these and pushing themselves to constantly improve. They are able to find their niche in a sea of a lot of other people trying to do the same. So seeing successes happen and new artists sprout helps you push to keeping looking in at yourself and saying how can I push myself now or what should I be working on now. So in that way I stay motivated to keep working. I also just love making and performing music so at the end of the day that helps me stay motivated in the industry. I truly believe that if you’re in the industry for any other reason than you love the craft you’re taking a misstep.
GH: Was a pleasure to have you here! Can't wait to hear Songs About Jules!
Brandon: Thank you for having me!
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