Newcomer BRAYTON BOWMAN Discusses His Favorite Musicians, His Hopes To Tour and Much More!

Meet Brayton Bowman!

The Huffington Post says “Meet Brayton Bowman, The Out Singer You’ll Want To Know In 2016.” SPIN has listed him as one of “Five Artists To Watch.” Entertainment Weekly included Brayton Bowman on the Summer Must List in 2016. All signs point to an artist destined for stardom.

Learn more about Brayton 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 have been some of the highlights for you and your music? What are you most excited about for 2017? Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?

Dizzying. Disorienting. Demanding. Dramatic. I’ll keep it real from the jump with you guys. 2016 was the HUSTLE. 2017 is the reward. Best part of 2016 without a doubt was starting my label Big Deb Inc. I named it after the woman that raised me and I hope more than anything to do her legacy proud this year. My only resolution is to dedicate everything I have in me to my art… so many doors have opened for me recently & my choir teacher used to tell us that “luck is just preparation meeting opportunity.” 

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory? Could you see yourself doing anything else today?  

WHO ARE WE KIDDING? I spent more of my life than I’d like to admit, absolutely convinced I was destined to be the next American Idol. The only thing I’ve ever dreamt of being is a musician. My first musical memory is without a doubt playing the piano with my mom. I’m pretty sure that I’m too crazy to do anything but sing and write songs. If I wasn’t my own boss I would’ve gotten fired a long time ago.

You have made the list on a lot of publications “Artists to Watch in 2017.” That must feel very encouraging and exciting, right?

To be honest, I been excited for a long time coming now. Acknowledgement from magazines and blogs I grew up reading is still just flat out humbling. Sort of a slap in the gut to keep going. I think the little kid inside of me is still so in awe of my day to day reality as of late… am I allowed to admit that I’m kind of in shock? My mom always says she’s so happy for me she could spit. I won’t spit. But I’ve been crying a lot of happy tears recently. 

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When do you hope to release a full album of songs? Do you think that right now, you are going through a period of major inspiration and ideas for songs are coming to you pretty regularly? 

My next project 22 Minutes Later is due out in a months time, give or take. I’ve been buried in studio these past couple months working on my first LP & it’s starting to come alive a lot faster than I thought it would. I got my heart broken in September… spent a few weeks locked away crying, writing, smoking way too much weed & ate approximately three metric tons of dairy free Ben & Jerry’s. BUT came out the other side more alive than I’ve felt in years. I can’t remember songwriting feeling this cathartic to me at any point in my artistry. I sound like such a cliché but I’ve been waking up out of my sleep with melodies in my head recently. The stuff is pouring out of me. 

I would love to know how your cover of Britney Spears’ hit song “…Baby One More Time” came together in April 2015? How were you inspired to put it together?

I was always afraid of doing covers. So many brilliant singers I went to school with got “famous” off of covers and then spent YEARS trying to convince people of their legitimacy as an artist or a writer. I think I finally understood my sound in the beginning of 2015 & was confident enough to put my spin on something I’d always loved. I was working almost incessantly with MNEK & he looks up one day and just says “admit how much you’ve been waiting your whole life to sing Britney…” the rest is history.  (Laughter) Thanks Uzi X.

Who are some of your favorite musicians? What musicians do you think are really doing innovative things these days with their music? What musicians would you love to work with in the future?

STEVIE WONDER. AMY WINEHOUSE. BEYONCÉ. My friends are honestly the coolest people I know. If you don’t know who Donna Missal is, reevaluate your life. Google Parson James right now. Becky Hill has the voice of an angel. Leo Kalyan is one of the most important artists of our generation. Listen to Honest by my literal mother; JoJo. Watch every video Thirdstory has ever uploaded… and for the love of God: SOMEBODY PLZ GET ME IN THE STUDIO WITH LIDO. 

Do you have touring plans in your future?

Doing some pop up stuff here and there but people are really only just starting to know me. I’m hoping my booking agent calls me any day now and says “LOOK ALIVE KID. TIME TO HIT THE ROAD.” I’m so ready to lose sleep and travel the world telling my story & singing for my supper. It’s all I’ve ever really wanted to do.  

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people take away from your songs?

Honesty. I want people to know that I would never profess to share anything with you that wasn’t the cold-hearted truth. I would die a happy man to know that my songs helped anyone heal. Music has saved my life so many times and I would be so grateful to be able to do that for someone else. 

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

I’m new and I can’t do this without you. Spread the word. Tell a friend. Word of mouth has always and will always mean more to me than a billboard on sunset.