2023 has been a really exciting year for Alabama based artist Brenn! The 19 year old singer-songwriter has had massive breakthrough success with the honest “4runner”, which connected with a large audience through TikTok. Since then he’s continued introducing himself to listeners with the warm “Valapriso”, and is now ready to show an angsty side of his artistry with “Rearview”. But at the heart of the song is still honest and beautiful songwriting with emotional undertones. With lyrics like “What can I say to bring you back to me?”, he draws you into this retrospective space that feels intimate and powerful.

I recently chatted with Brenn! about the creative process behind his new single “Rearview”, discussed breaking his two ankles while filming a TikTok for “4runner” and his recovery since, as well as the production influences behind “Valapriso”. Check it out BELOW:

THOMAS BLEACH: Your new single “Rearview” is this cinematic and boldly produced track that shows a slightly angsty side of your artistry. Can you explain the creative process behind this one?

BRENN!: I originally wrote this song about a year ago, and it stayed that same way for about 11  of the 12 months that it’s kind of been alive. It definitely is more angsty and dark, and it’s almost the alter ego of what I’ve put out already. But at the same time, I think it keeps some of the same elements as my previous music, and is kind of sad but uplifting. 

But this one was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever written because we had the whole first verse and chorus, but then everything else was like, “well, what are we gonna do?”. And then I go up to Nashville again and I’m like, “Okay, let’s just spend as much time as we need on it and get it done”. And I think I came in there with a verse ready, and we just didn’t use any of it, and decided to go right off the top of our heads.

I really wanted to find different ways of saying things in this song as it’s the same story as “4runner”. It’s the same story just told differently. I’m also too far away from that experience now as it’s been over a year and a half, so channeling those emotions was interesting. But I was able to get back into it and write the rest of the song. And honestly, it turned out way better than I expected.

TB: How many versions of the song do you reckon you went through then to get it where it is now, as it is a very powerful version you’ve got now?

B: I’d say… seven. The different versions basically just had a pre chorus, and a few had different verses and structural things. It’s honestly been a wild ride trying to write this one

TB: “What can I say to bring you back to me?” is a lyric that immediately stands out because it’s so vulnerable, honest and simple. Where in the writing process did that lyric come from, and what inspired it?

B: I was at a point where no matter what I have done, what I’d been doing, anything like that, I had been kind of left behind by a lot of people in this particular situation. And this was somebody I never thought would leave me behind. At that point I was just kind of grasping for whatever was left of everything, and trying to figure out what I could have said to fix that. I love that lyric a lot. 

TB: There is a cinematic feel to this song, and I can imagine it playing in a rom-com during a dramatic scene. If you could insert this into a pre-existing soundtrack for any tv show or movie, what would you choose?

B: I think The Perks Of Being A Wallflower would be really good. The only other one I could think of is the TV show Beef, but I feel like that might be too adulty, and this song is definitely more like young adults and teens. 

TB: You’ve been promoting this song a lot on TikTok with videos of you running away from the camera. And my question for you is, did you not learn your lesson from breaking your ankles making a video for “4runner”?

B: *Laughs* I definitely had to tone it down a little bit. But during my last photo shoot I did some cartwheels. And I go live on TikTok quite a bit, and I’ve been doing a bunch of handstands and stuff trying to build my agility back because it definitely did a number on me. And there were these other artists kind of keeping my spot warm with the same type of videos, so I felt kind of like a past legend and needed to prove to them I was still here *laughs*. 

TB: How has your recovery been? Are you starting to feel back on track, as it is a big journey.

B: Yeah, it’s definitely been a process to say the very least. But my recovery went pretty smoothly. I wouldn’t say I’m feeling back to normal, but they’re definitely not weak. Like I can run pretty fast still. I can jump. I could probably do a backflip now, but I have PTSD. But I’ve been working out quite a bit and building my strength back in my legs. So yeah, I feel like the recovery went really smoothly in terms of what it could do on a physical level. 

TB: “rearview” is bold, and I feel like in comparison your other recent single “Valapriso” is quite the contrast and juxtaposition. There is a calming energy to it, and while the production is bold in a different way, the harmonies on this one hit hard. Did you play with many different harmonies and melodies for this one to find the right balance?

B: “Valapriso” was actually a completely different song originally. Like, that part where it goes, “do, do, do, do”, that didn’t exist for most of the song’s life. It was quite different. I really wasn’t a fan of the song, so I gave it to my producer to have a play around with it. The first thing he sent over was that bridge, and I was like “holy crap, this is amazing, let’s run with this”. It was his idea to throw all the harmonies on there, so we did that and it turned out fantastic.

TB: This one gives me big Mumford And Sons and Noah Kahn energy. Do you remember some of the references you had for this track?

B: One that we pulled quite a bit from for the very beginning, just because it had a mandolin and a kick, was “All My Love” from Noah Kahan. It’s not intentional, but it definitely kind of feels like that. 

TB: I love the birds chirping in this song – it makes it feel so warm.

B: Thank you! If you actually listen to “4runner” and “Valapriso” with the crossfade, you step out of a car at the end of “4runner” and then at the start of “Valapriso” you hear footsteps and then a door closing. So I kind of want to tell a story with the intros and the end of the songs. It’s a work in progress and we may have to redo some stuff, but it’s been a dream of mine to have a fading album.

TB: “Valapriso” explores long distance relationship coming into fruition in a town that you can’t spell correctly, and so it’s purposefully spell wrong. Have you had anyone reach out from Valparaiso angry about the spelling since it came out? Have you created a turf war?

B: Not yet! Even if people were mad, I don’t care. I was in a special education reading class for a while, so if push comes to shove, just know I’m dyslexic, you know?

TB: “4runner” has had a life of its own on TikTok and in-turn has experienced a little bit of virality on there. So what has been your favourite TikTok you’ve seen using the sound? 

B: Honestly, this is being selfish. But the one where I broke my ankles is my favourite one *laughs*. 

TB: Looking back at the creative process of “4runner” what is a fun fact you could tell us that people may not know about that track?

B: “4runner” was actually the very first song I sat down and intentionally wrote with a purpose, that tells an actual story. The reference for that song was “Small Talk” by Briston Maroney. I love that song. 

“Rearview” is out now!