A Dirty Dozen with BRETT WISCONS – July 2022

Photo credit: Will Byington

According to a recent press release: “Indianapolis-based roots rock/pop singer-songwriter Brett Wiscons releases his new album, Late Bloomer, today, July 13, 2022, via Wiscons’ own label, MAD Diamond Entertainment. A labor of love created with mix engineer, producer, and collaborator Thom Daugherty (The Elms, The Band Perry), Late Bloomer was born of trying times, yet a silver-lining mentality ended up permeating the songs on the record. “I just wanted to offer hope in a seemingly hopeless situation,” Wiscons, who is also a five-time author, says of the genesis for this album. “These songs wouldn’t have existed without the kindness of my Kickstarter backers, and I wouldn’t have written some of them if it hadn’t been for the global pandemic.” Wiscons plans to tour in support of Late Bloomer, and he has already confirmed a handful of dates with more to come. Fans should check Wiscons’ website and socials for tour updates.” We get Brett to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I think my fans are pretty intelligent and will pick up on the emotions and themes fairly quickly. However, they may not realize I sang all of my vocals in a makeshift vocal booth in a garage during the height of the pandemic. There are not any hidden nuggets this time around—we considered including a hidden track on the back end of the CD and vinyl releases, but we ultimately decided to keep it to these 10 songs.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

The notion of making a career and a living out of singing songs always appealed to me. It was probably 1995 or 1996. Hootie & the Blowfish dominated the airwaves and MTV, and I heard (and later saw) them and thought, “OK, those guys seem relatively normal, and their songs are catchy and relatable, so maybe I could do this.” I never looked back.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Yep—the aforementioned Hootie & the Blowfish’s Cracked Rear View—which will turn 28 years old in July. What an album and what a band.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I’d like to do a song with Sir Paul McCartney. I think he and I could make some magic—his incredible gift for melody and my decent lyrical ability would surely be spun into gold. Ha ha.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I ride my bicycle a lot to recharge and keep my heart healthy. I meditate every day, and that’s good for the soul, body, and mind.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I would say my music is a mixture of all the stuff I grew up listening to—Hootie, Eagles, Pearl Jam, and The Beatles. I put out a single once and someone said it had a lot of Kenny Loggins vibe to it. I was certainly glad to hear that comparison, although that wasn’t part of the musical inspiration. Happy it seeped through, though.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

At this point, unfortunately, I play most of my shows solo acoustic. Sometimes, I’ll do a band gig here or there. But most of the time, we might do a rehearsal and then just play the show(s). Been missing the band hangs. Guess I need to remedy that.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I saw Evander Holyfield in the Atlanta airport over Labor Day weekend in 2019. He wasn’t as big as I was expecting, but I thought that was pretty surreal—and I’m sure he could still whoop some people if need be. The former heavyweight champion of the world!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part for me is connecting with people—all over the world—through my music. I am grateful for that fact. If I could no longer be a musician, I’d probably be a fiction writer.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Always wanted to answer: how I take my coffee. Only decaf for me and with a little Planet Oat creamer  Tired of answering: if I’m from Wisconsin. Ha ha ha.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I played on the Jon Bon Jovi Caribbean Cruise in April 2019. I never got to meet Jon. Would’ve loved that opportunity to thank him for having me on the ship.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Part of me wants to say the Eagles’ Hotel California sessions, because I bet those after-session parties were something else, but I’d have to go back to wanting to be a fly on the wall for the Hootie & the Blowfish’s Cracked Rear View sessions that happened in LA for the band’s major label debut. Would’ve loved to see how they captured those songs.

BRETT WISCONS LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews