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Brew

Brew calms our overloaded attention on insightful interview

Showing us that classical connection and collaborating with artists all over the world, the likeable Dave from Brew had a chat with us all about his extraordinary career which started when he was just 7 years old. With his 6-track EP Frontier from 2022 still fresh in the memory and gliding in with 2023’s Editor of All Things, we learn about that footie passion infused with creative freedom.

Hello there Brew. Where exactly in the world do we find you today and how did you get into music?

Dave: I currently live in London (UK) having grown up in Yorkshire. My parents were both classical musicians and I have always been surrounded by music from a young age. I started playing the piano when I was 7 and my older brother’s love of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd introduced me to a whole new world of sound and fun.

Please tell us about your music vision and what do you hope to achieve long-term.

Dave: I came to the realisation that I need to make music I like as opposed to trying to fit in elsewhere, this has liberated me creatively and I hope that people can connect in some way to the songs as they are essentially reflections of me (sounds cheesy I know but it’s true!)

My ideal in the future is to collaborate with other artists and musicians and explore the world some more through writing.

When you close your eyes and imagine your ideal place to create, what does it look like and where is it?

Dave: Home, sat at the piano with a fresh cup of tea and my kids happily entertaining themselves upstairs so I can get lost in a new idea.

You have stated that a song a month is the mission. What inspired you to do this and who are you working with/hope to work with?

Dave: I just turned 40 and don’t want any regrets, I also like a challenge! I used to compose for computer games and had regular deadlines so imposing some structure is helpful to me.

I’m working mainly with the incredible singer Deza at present. I have a few more grooved/soulful ideas in the pipeline also so I may look for another singer at some point too.

What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Dave: Complete Creative freedom and always room to improve. I’m a big football fan and it brings people together, music is unique also in that it does the same thing. I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t like music.

What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve ever received in your life?

Dave: It’s better to be kind than to be right.

Last, if you could have a superpower for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Dave: I could sing! I’d love to be a singer-songwriter but it wasn’t meant to be.

Find the music vibration on Spotify. Check out the IG for more.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

PREMIERE: Soul Newcomer Kai Exos Announces Video For Fire & Brew

The softspoken LA-based singer-songwriter Kai Exos answered fan requests for a video with a simple Instagram post last week: “my new music video by Indrani drops 02-02.”

An independent rep for the elusive artist revealed that the genre-bending single achieved 750K digital streams this past week. Exos spent the past couple years as a songwriting gun-for-hire, but seems to have shifted back to solo performer with a series intimate pop-up shows across North America. Fire & Brew sees his first release since the critical acclaim of the title track off his debut album, Telegraph, that reached #18 on U.S. radio charts in 2015.

“We co-created such a natural love story here… the piece is a powerful expression of masculine and feminine energy,” says celebrated music video director, Indrani, best known for her work with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys and David Bowie.

Written about the vulnerability of love when physical aspects fall away, the strong melody rides lush production with all-female background vocals on a wave of emotion. Self-penned and recorded at the legendary Capitol Records, opaque visuals explore light play to hauntingly reveal the all-consuming nature of the [now dissolved] couple’s relationship.

With nods to Sam Cooke and Prince, Fire & Brew was co-produced with Atlanta powerhouse R&B duo POKET. The artist instantly connected with the drummer-half of the duo, Bennie Rodgers II (Mariah Carey, Keri Hilson) when Exos appeared for his notable live Daytrotter session. Ron Avant (of Anderson.Paak’s Free Nationals), a longtime collaborator, played keys on the original recording. “Kai started out in church and a lot of his roots are on this record; it’s that classic song structure that takes you back to The Motown Era,” added Rodgers.

The video premieres worldwide on VEVO at the close of Grammy Week, Friday 2nd February and streams there, and is also available on TIDAL. Toronto’s VMP Music Group in an earlier statement, said “He [Exos] wanted Fire & Brew to be a standalone single. We’re excited about his next album and can right now only say… it’s Kai doing what he does best. Kai’s sophomore project is slated for Summer 2018.”

Connect with Kai Exos

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