An Interview With The Artistic Pop Visionary Band, BRAVES!

Last month on February 23rd, the artistic pop visionaries BRÅVES released their debut self titled album via Rostrum Records. The album features their compelling new single “Catch Me“.

Listen to BRÃVES Here:

SPOTIFY

SOUNDCLOUD

APPLE MUSIC

BRÅVES utilize what’s at their disposal to create art-nothing more and nothing less. Instead of hammers and brushes, their tools are digital, visual, analog, and vocal. The result could just as easily be found at an archeological dig site as it could be on the internet. Known for raising awareness through their music, they have teamed up with numerous organizations to raise funds and awareness for various causes, including video for their track “Lovely Bones,” which premiered on Huffington Post and raises awareness and funds to stop child sex trafficking.

The video for their new track “Me the Thief” debuted on Vogue Italia and has been added to the New Music Friday, Indie Pop! and Hiptronix playlists on Spotify. They debuted their impassioned track “A Toast” on W, which also saw inclusion on Spotify’s New Music Friday and Weekly Buzz playlists. Additionally, their music video, “Dust,” went viral and racked up over 2 million views in under a week and has been nominated for a Berlin Music Video Award and was accepted into the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.

Learn more about Braves in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! So, now that 2016 is over, what are some words you would use to describe the year for you? What were some of the highlights for the band? What are you most excited about for 2017?

Oneiric, raffish, and euphonius (I like interesting words). This year was pretty much a non-stop highlight for us. We released our first music and video last February – it went “viral.” We signed a record deal with a label that’s made us feel at home and liberated to create the art we want. Our song is entering the radio playlists, we had a six-page spread in Italian Vogue, we’re about to release our LP and start playing shows in a geodesic dome. Not too shabby for year one.

We’re excited to support this record in live settings. Also excited to write LP2.

Growing up, did you all always want to be musicians? Can you recall some of your earliest musical memories?

Thorald and I always wanted to be musicians but Jericho didn’t start singing until he was 15; a testament to his natural ability.

My earliest musical memory is at 6 years old, seeing Led Zeppelin perform Kashmir on television and immediately wanting to know how to play it on guitar. My father got me this little, black, electric guitar with a built in speaker and whammy bar from Fred Meyer and that was that.

Can you talk about how this band first came together? How did you come up with your band name? Was it difficult to settle on one name that described your music?

We met in a writing session for another artist that our manager, Nick Jarjour, and A&R, James Mormile, setup. I remember being blown away by the Brothers Koren’s voices and the way they used their bodies to achieve certain sounds, also how in tune we all were with each other. It was like we had been writing together for years.

In my mind’s eye, I saw and heard them in a very specific way and that is exactly what you see us as now.

As far as the band name goes, we had been tossing around some ideas – none of which we were all happy with – when one morning, I shot up in bed after a deep sleep and said, “BRÅVES,” aloud. I brought it to the guys and we all agreed.

Later this month, you will release your newest self-titled album. Can you talk about what it was like putting that collection together? What was the inspiration for these songs?

We wrote for a year straight before releasing any music. A number of these songs are from that period of time and are inspired by different life events we each experienced. It’s wild to think about all we go through in such a short span of time but it’s great to document it through song. What a beautiful keepsake.

How involved are you three with the making of your music videos? Do you enjoy making them?

Very involved. Thus far, I’ve directed all of them. It’s not something I ever thought I’d do, but necessity can sometimes expose latent-talents.

I enjoy making them. It’s a lot of work and can be stressful but I have a great DP (Thor Wixom) and editor (ERIEL INDIGO) that make things go smoothly.

That being said, we actually hired our first outside director, Sean Flynn, to direct our video for Joan of Arc. I was on set and it looked amazing. Very excited.

What musicians continue to inspire your music? Is there anyone that you would all love to work with one day?

So many. Too many to list. I just listened to the new Bon Iver record today while driving. I am always putting on Mura Masa, Tycho and Flume. I know the Brothers Koren would slap me if I didn’t say Prince.

We love collaboration and welcome any opportunity to work with great artists of any ilk.

When you aren’t performing, working in the studio, what do you like to do for fun? How do you all like to unwind from it all?

Movies. I watch lots of movies. Good ones, shitty ones, old ones, new ones. That, and hiking, going to the gym, reading, and eating – I LOVE eating.

The Brothers Koren live in a more rural area and enjoy spending time in nature with loved ones.

But honestly, we work a lot.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

Some form of enjoyment. I like music that sets a mood. I hope that’s what we’re creating.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about your music or the band?

There’s lots more of it coming. Rather quickly.