An Interview With Provident Label Group Pop Artist, BRANAN MURPHY!

Branan Murphy recently premiered his brand new single “Enough” on The Hype Magazine.com and is causing a chatter among fans and critics alike. It is the follow up single to his debut summer hit “All The Wrong Things.” The Voice Season 8 finalist and RCA Inspiration recording artist Koryn Hawthorne joined Murphy on this single and it features a rap bridge written and performed by Murphy himself.

This pop recording artist and singer-songwriter first got notice4d when he released SMPLFY, a mixtape showing off his skills as a vocalist, rapper, songwriter and producer. Piquing the interest of several record labels, Murphy ultimately signed with Sony Music Entertainment’s Provident Label Group.

Listen to “Enough”

Connect with Branan Here:

Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

Learn more about Branan in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! So where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it? What’s a song you are loving these days? What music instantly lifts you out of a bad mood? I’m at home today, and oh yes, it’s #MJMonday Currently listening through the Thriller album! As far as a song I’m loving right now, “Hericane” by LANY is one, and I also really dig the latest albums from Lecrae (“All Things Work Together”) as well as Post Malone (“Stoney”). Great records! The record I keep coming back to though, I guess to “lift me out of a bad mood” as you put it, is Jon Bellion’s “The Human Condition.” He’s my favorite artist right now.

Did you approach the start of this year any differently then you did last year? What have been some of the highlights for you this year? What are you excited for in 2018 which will be here before we all know it?! Yea, 2017 has been an unforgettable year so far, no doubt. My daughter was born in December 2016, so this year has been unbelievable watching her grow. Nothing in the world like being a dad to a little girl! I love her like crazy. She owns me. On top of that, I released my debut single and a follow-up. I’m very proud of both songs and grateful to be sharing my music and my passion with the world. For 2018, I am looking forward to touring more than anything else. I gotta be with the people!

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory? Was there ever a time where you thought about doing something completely different? What do you think it finally was that pushed you to this career? Actually the first thing I wanted to be when I was a kid was a professional baseball player. I’m a serious sports fan. But music has been a major part of my life forever. I remember riding in the car as a little dude, and I got a hold of one of my dad’s Beach Boys records. I listened to it over and over until I learned every word, every melody, every harmony. I was probably 6 or 7 years old. I would sing out loud in the car, and my parents would let me for as long as it took for my brother to punch me. Then I had to stop. Shout out to mom and dad for letting me sing ha! That was the beginning for sure. All my life I have been singing in some capacity – in church, in bands with my friends in high school, musical theater, whatever. I’ve just never been able to see myself doing anything else. That’s a big part of chasing your dreams I believe. One of the things I will never forget that pushed me over the edge though was my best friend in high school telling me I wasn’t good enough to be a singer. I text him about it every now and then. I guess I’ll text him and tell him to read this interview.

I always like to know how a particular city has influenced an artist. How do you think your hometown has affected the kind of music that you are making today?It has affected me in countless ways. We are all products of our upbringing. I grew up in a really small town in Georgia. Not throwing shade at all, I love my hometown, but small towns in the South have a tendency to be characterized by people who put on a good face without showing people what’s actually going on or who they actually are. As I have developed as a person, and definitely as a songwriter and an artist, I value being real and honest very highly, probably because I didn’t see a lot of that growing up. I saw relationships suffer because of it. Now, I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, and I think it really shows in my music.

What was the inspiration for your brand new single “Enough”? What was it like working with The Voice Season 8 finalist Koryn Hawthorne on it? How do you think the track reflects how you have grown since you latest single summer single “All The Wrong Things”? Koryn is dope. She is so talented – great voice and an even better person. It was good to really push each other in the studio. She made “All The Wrong Things” really hit on an amazing level. The new single, “Enough,” is definitely a big next step for me musically. I think it really showcases my voice, I use a lot of different vocal styles in the song. The production is crazy and has progressive elements, which is important to me. Shout out to my man Jordan Sapp who produced the track! So much of the song is who I want to be and I’m very proud of it. The song came out of a conversation I had one night with one of my boys. He was frustrated about things not going his way, and I started thinking about how we all get like that from time to time. Who we have or what we have never seems to be enough. The human heart has a big problem with being satisfied. We are always looking for the next thing instead of being content with how blessed we are in the moment. I wanted to connect with people about that struggle.

When do you hope to release more new music and a full-length album of new material? I am hoping to put out an EP or possibly an LP in 2018. Follow me on social media @brananmurphy and stay tuned!

Why do you think Provident Label Group is the right place for you and your music today?Most people know this just from following me, but I am a Christian. My faith in God informs my music and how I interact with the world we live in, so I wanted to partner with a label who would support that vision and would help me put out music that would connect with people wherever they are in life.

Now that the summer is over, what was something fun that you did or tried for the first time? Did you get a chance to play out live much?I was playing in South Carolina in July, and on an off-day my band and I got a tour of Clemson’s football facility. We got to go on the field and inside the locker room too. I am a big college football fan, and they were the National Champs last year. Very inspiring.

How do you think being a musician gives you all the most joy in life today?I think art is what moves the world and makes it beautiful. Music is a language everyone on earth speaks. It’s an unbelievable responsibility to make art for this portion of history we live in, and being on stage, being in the studio, it makes me come alive. I feel like I have something to say, something to offer the world, and to be able to sing and perform and to live out my passions professionally is a blessing beyond words.

Do you believe that the music being created right now will be greatly influenced by the intensely politically charged times we live in right now? How has it affected you as a musician in general? Absolutely. Music helps tell the story of the times and helps people process and move forward. This is an emotionally-charged, thought provoking time, a pivotal era in American history. I want to be one of the ones who speaks for people and I hope to be able to make music that says some things that people can’t put in words right now. America is hurting and confused. We all feel it. Art will play a major role in where we go from here.

What artists have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?I have too many influences I feel like. Some of the major ones, past and present – Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, 2Pac, Eminem, Lecrae, Tori Kelly, Jon Bellion, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Twenty One Pilots. I would love to work with Jon Bellion, Tori Kelly, and JT. That’s dreaming for sure!

What advice would you give to a young person who is considering becoming a musician one day?I would tell them to look deep down inside themselves and ask the question, “Can you live with doing anything else?” I think that’s what it takes. Following this dream is hard work and very disappointing at times. Your passion for music and for people has to dominate that. It has to outlast that. It has to win. If it does, you will love every day, even the hard ones.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? What do you hope is the message of your songs?I want people to be able to see themselves in my songs. It would mean the world to me to write songs and put out music that really belongs to my fans more than to me. I want to make great art that is undeniably honest. When you listen to my music I want you to have a good time, be challenged, and feel something, whether it’s for you or for someone else. Dance, think, and be moved.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music? I really appreciate the love! There’s nothing I love more than singing live, so I hope to play your city soon.