Biography-Press Biography
Press
In casual conversation, Brian Wheat is a man who pauses occasionally, carefully pondering each exchanged word before responding. Similarly, his songwriting demonstrates fascinating detail that surpasses simple storytelling, and delves into patient studies of the emotional context surrounding a moment. Wheat's recent transplanting to Minneapolis, MN seems a fitting extension of his formative years, which were spent in rural Western New York, surrounded by a close-knit network of musicians and family. He developed a deep admiration for the tradition and intimacy of rural life school, homework, listening to classic rock radio, learning to hunt and farm. Wheat also explored his fascination with the relics and cast offs of his hometown the things that other people left behind or gave away. As is typical for most growing up in a small town, he yearned for a broader scope and greater diversity; one found through his travels. Somewhere in between the corn fields and the rust belt, he performed at Moroccan festivals, busked in Spain, played for room and board at Australian hostels, shared folk songs with Fijian natives, and earned degrees in botany and education. I'm always on the search for quality and connection, says Wheat. Be it the bikes I restore, the vintage jewelry I design, or my learning family traditions, there's always something more a quality about things that are one of a kind, things that many people have put their energy into. It helps you understand the present and the journey to that point.Wheats 2007 CD, Where You Have Been, was a collection of songs exploring themes of love and loss. I had been struggling with a good friend leaving - struggling with connections as we all moved around - noticing our general disconnect with nature and each other. There are a lot of travel-tales in the album - all of the searching for the next exciting thing, the inspiring moment...the serendipity of getting lost and discovering something beautiful, explains Wheat. The album received critical acclaim locally, receiving Top 10 End of the Year status at NPR-affiliate WBFO as well as Wheat being named Best Solo Artist by Buffalo Spree magazine that year. The Buffalo News declared, Wheats lyric-writing [...] is provocative and poetic without being too precious about it. Balancing such detailed, well-honed lyrics against musical arrangements that both support and elevate their sentiments is one of the great battles of record-making. Many a good record has one or the other. Only the great ones manage both.With such strong accolades, crafting the next release could be a daunting task. For his sophomore release, Looking Alive, released August, 2011, Wheat looked beyond the rural themes of his debut release to capture the energy of his current urban homestead. New songs were written slowly and old songs, written before his first release, sprang back to life. Recording started, and then was scrapped, and started again. It was a long process, but the result is an album of songs that, in Wheats eyes, stand strong either together or alone. I worked with engineer Marty Peters on this album hes done a lot of recording in Colorado worked the Telluride Festivals, and done a lot of live work. He taught me a great deal about the things that I think matter: quality sounding music done the old fashioned way. We mixed and listened for days and mixed again, all before we tore down the board and set it up for another song. It was a long process, but an art - a creation each time. We also recorded the songs live - some of the versions on the album are first takes. To me thats great. Regardless whether you try something multiple times after, the first try is still the bestthe most fresh and has the best energy.Fortified with a dynamic, evocative voice and lyricism that floats with both a secular religion of home and the architecture of ghostly pasts, there is a refreshing reality to his music. Often being compared to the distinctive songwriting and ethereal moods of M. Ward, Bon Iver and Sondre Lerche, Brian Wheat creates space and depth with his minimalistic sound while sliding in bits of country, folk and summer porch-swing rock. His live performances are equally as dynamic and have garnered him a diverse and expansive fan base, as well as support positions for some of todays most exciting national and international acoustic artists, including Band of Horses (Sub Pop), Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon), Frontier Ruckus (Ramseur Records), Oakley Hall (Merge), David Dondero (Team Love), William Elliot Whitmore (Anti), Hamell on Trial (Righteous Babe Records), (Old Time Relijun (K Records), Rachel Ries (Waterbug), and Robert Blake (Same Room Records).
Fans of M. Ward, Bright Eyes or Colin Meloy of the Decemberists should rush to Wheats website. Wheat...has a unique voice to be thought of as their equal. His winsome looks and tailor-made name dont hurt either. Wheats[...]standouts Late Night Stroll, When We Awoke and Lovers Shouldnt Waste Their Time, [...]would be right at home on Willie Nelsons Stardust
"Brian Wheat plays rootsy numbers with a soft croon that's better than most. Bring your lady tonight and you'll probably luck out. "
Presenting a well balanced acoustic performance with thought evoking lyrics blended with ardent musical foundations, Wheats work and fervent notion for exploration of connections shines with every note.
His latest offering has that breezy early morning acoustic sound of pacific coast bands Vetiver or Band of Horses, but with the occasional touch of strings & organs that while subtle, give the album a very garmented & polished sound. Its upper class folk rock thats dressed to kill.
Four years after onset, Where You Have Been, the songwriter of Buffalo, NY is more lively than ever.
