Our latest Artist To Watch, Brett Steinberg, just released his album “Age of Wonder” today! Brett talked to us about everything from what music he listened to growing up to how he got the title for his album. Read out interview below and be sure to pickup a copy of “Age of Wonder” on iTunes now!
https://soundcloud.com/brettsteinberg/nothin
SecretFangirls.com: Your new album is out now! How did you come up with the title, “Age of Wonder”?
Brett Steinberg: The idea of “Age of Wonder” was inspired by a time in my life, that by all means I’m still living through, in which I’ve been questioning everything – our meaning, our purpose, why relationships of all forms fail and why they’re so significant to our happiness. I’m curious about everything and there is a positive sense of wonderment pertaining to that, but there is also the downside, because once you start questioning your own life, you’re faced with questions that you might fear to know the answer to. Ultimately, this sense of wonderment is a positive quality in my life, but it brings interesting, thought-provoking challenges that I address in this record. The ideas of potential loss of innocence and maintaining genuine appreciation and curiosity towards the world are prevalent on the album.
SF: How did you get started in music?
BS: I took piano lessons in 2nd grade, but when I realized that the ballad of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” was not particularly my jam, I quit the piano for a while. I then started singing in 6th or 7th grade. My mom would play “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel or Michael Buble’s version of “Feeling Good” on the piano and I would sing along. I fell in-love with those heartfelt, anthemic piano ballads. I really picked up music in 8th grade when I learned piano and guitar and realized that people enjoyed my singing…at least sometimes! I simultaneously learned to create while learning my instruments because besides from introductory classes in school and occasional advice from my mom, I learned most of what I know from experimenting with chords and melody without any context of formal scales, progressions, or chord names. By no means am I classically trained; I’m mostly self taught.
SF: What song means the most to you on your new album?
BS: “We’re Not Done,” holds the most meaning to me because in the song I basically take a look at all that has gone wrong to the relationships and morals that I thought I knew the truth of growing up, and I say that I’m not giving up on them. I question which side I should take in both the internal and external struggles I’m fighting pertaining to growing up and understanding what it all means. This song is really a stand for keeping hope even in times that seem bleak. Relationships mend, and hindsight is 20/20, but this song was written in the thick of the battle and yet I was still able to understand that in the greater scheme of things, everything works itself out if you maintain a level head and a spark of perseverance.
SF: What artist(s) would you love to collaborate with?
BS: Coldplay, The Fray, Paul McCartney, Ryan Tedder, John Mayer, Jay-Z, Rick Rubin, Imagine Dragons, Alicia Keys, etc. I’d love to collaborate with so many incredible artists for different reasons. To grow as an artist myself would be a big one.
SF: What music did you listen to growing up?
BS: As a kid I exclusively listened to “Livin La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin until I was around 6 or 7. Then I got into Michelle Branch’s “Everywhere” and Vanessa Carlton’s “1000 miles” and those kinds of piano ballads when I was probably 8 to 10. I then had a huge phase listening to a lot of Nickelback and Linkin Park, during their “Minutes to Midnight” era. Then I heard John Mayer and my world changed. Shortly after that I heard “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay and fell in love with this piano driven anthemic alternative rock. I’ve mainly been inspired by pop/rock ever since.
SF: How would you describe your sound?
BS: Piano driven pop/rock with some soul. I’ve worked on that genre labeling for many years now, ha!
SF: Now that the album is out, what’s next for you?
BS: I’m playing a bunch of shows in support of the record and have printed CD’s out that I’ll be selling at all future shows. Besides that, I look forward to making more memories at shows and meeting as many people as possible. I love to connect with people through music and intend to keep doing so. Also, I’m always creating and writing; that never stops!
SF: Check out Brett’s upcoming tour dates HERE!
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