Brandon Furtado Interview | Respect the Artist
How did you get your Artist name?
I started making music originally under a different name, Boulevard 96, it was a different genre and as I developed as an artist and changed styles I realized I didn't need to go by anything other than my actual name, it felt more authentic, which is how I strive to write.
How did you get into creating?
I had a lot of influences that pushed me into making music starting with one of my cousins who was older than me and always played in his own bands as well as musical groups in school. I always had that around me growing up and it really drove me to start creating myself. Around the time I graduated high school and was getting into college a lot of my friends were getting into their own bands and playing at local shows so that really gave me the push I needed to start creating myself. Although what I was creating was different from what they were they were vital in giving me inspiration to get into the craft of songwriting and performing.
How has creating changed your life?
It's honestly given me such a great outlet to express how I'm feeling. Creating gives me something to work on everyday because there's never an endpoint and you can always keep improving. I often think about what life might be like if I wasn't writing music and its really hard to imagine what else I would be doing. It really does feel like this is my purpose in life. As I get older it is continually a constant where it feels like most things around me are changing and it gives me comfort to know there's always this outlet that I can view growing up through.
Where are you from?
I'm from Somerset, Massachusetts. For people not familiar with it because its such a small town, I usually say I'm from Boston because its more recognizable and its sort of counts since half of my family has the accent (haha).
How did growing up in your neighborhood/city affect you?
I would say growing up in a small town helped me identify with the authenticity of artists that come from a similar background. I've always loved the idea of the kid from a small unknown area rising to the top, and its always been a dream of mine to be that for my town.
What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?
I did a lot of listening to others who have made the journey ahead of me. One of my favorite things to do to advance my knowledge and improve my frame of mind, is to watch my favorites create. I love to listen to them talk about how they think and how they go about creating. To me its really important to keep an open mind and try to incorporate as many diverse ways about thinking and creating as possible. I will always say even if its not a type of music put on or even something I'd like there's something of value in every artists art. Even if I don't understand it, I know there's something to be learned there.
What does your current setup look like?
My current setup is a MacBook with Logic and two studio monitors with a MIDI keyboard. I don't do any final mixing and mastering, but I love to demo my own ideas and collaborate with the producer at the studio I work with to get the final product over the finish line. We usually work best that way.
Who inspires you? Why do they inspire you?
I have a lot of modern pop inspirations. My top favorites are Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Lauv, Charlie Puth, Justin Beiber, Jon Bellion and countless others. They inspire me because they have that authenticity I was talking about earlier. They all had something there that was genuine, good, raw talent, that continues to inspire me to become a better artist.
What is your goal when you create?
My main goal is to create a product I am proud to call my own. I also want to make music that people want to put on voluntarily. I constantly strive to make songs that aren't good because they are forced on you or are good for the first listen, I want to make something that is genuinely special and connects to the listener.
Why do you create?
I create because I feel like its why I am here. I create because it feels like what I need to do.
What's your go-to song right now and why is it important to you?
At the moment the go to song for me is Lifetime by Justin Beiber. Its important to me because it reminds me of my earliest days before I actually tried to write my first song. I remember hearing all these like really sappy, yet sweet love songs on the radio and always wanting to write something gentle and moving. Lifetime is this really sweet ballad with such incredibly moving lyrics that just make you as a songwriter go, damn, why cant I write like that and deliver the lyrics with such passion. I love listening to it.
What is your dream as an artist and what steps are you taking to reach your dream?
My dream as an artist is to go meet the level that all of my favorite artists have been. To get there I'm constantly pushing my self to improve my songwriting skills and musicality everyday. I try to make sure everyday I work on either performance, songwriting, marketing, or some aspect of my musical career.
What is the best advice you would give someone with a dream?
Although its sort of cliche to say, never give up. Always try to keep the initial emotions and commitment you felt towards your dreams at first close and let them be the driving force to help you improve everyday. Also, don't ever be scared to talk about your dreams and passions, it helps to manifest them.
Tell us about your most recent release
My most recent release is my favorite I've done so far. Its a track called "Selena" and its a really catchy and fun song about just meeting someone and running with those emotions. It's so different than anything else I've ever released in a really good way. It was inspired by Sweet and Sour by Jawsh 685, and I really tried to capture the emotion in that track as best as I could. It has some really cool references to some pop icons in a way I've always wanted to write but could never find how until I put this song together. I think it really represents how much I've changed as an artist and the direction I'm headed in. I think its a great blend of what I started as, an acoustic artist, and where I want to be a pop artist with lots of production.
Share a link to your most recent release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeN3Y1EXObc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_brandon_furtado/
Facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/Blvd96
Photography credit: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=ashlee%20giovanella%20photography
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