CURRENT SINGLE: “Not Yet”
Brett Young’s new collection of music, Weekends Look a Little Different These Days, is definitely a reflection of where he’s at in his life as a husband and a dad, with another baby on the way. “The whole thing was impacted by family,” says Brett. “I mean, that was inevitable at this stage in my life if I wanted to continue the kind of quest for authenticity as a songwriter.”
At the same time, Brett knew he needed to have a more well-rounded collection of songs. He says one of his priorities, was “making sure that while I was chasing that down, I wasn’t alienating any fans that weren’t new parents or weren’t newly married. You know, you can’t just put out a nursery rhymes record because that’s the stage of life that you’re in. So, as affected as I was by this stage of my life while we were writing these songs, I was also really conscious of making sure there was something for everybody. So, there were a lot of those kind of obstacles that presented themselves in trying to make sure that we didn’t write eight songs about being a new parent and a new father. And so, it was interesting. It was, I think, the most challenging writing for a project has been to this point.“
Even though Brett had six consecutive #1 songs before releasing “Lady,” which is on Weekends Look a Little Different These Days, and became his seventh #1 song, Brett says, “I think I don’t feel pressure to get number ones. I already can’t even believe this is happening, so that’s not really it. It’s pressure to figure out what about the music is working and why the fans are gravitating towards it. And I think, for me, it’s always seemed to be that if I’m honest and vulnerable in the music, more people are able to connect with me and with the music.”
So now that he is in a very happy, family-oriented place in his life, Brett says, “This is a stage that’s gonna last for a minute. Until the kids are grown and out of the house, I’m pretty much in this stage for a minute. So, the pressure to write another number one is not really the one that I feel. It’s just to continue to kind of pull back the curtain for the fans. And kinda putting myself out there in songs that aren’t necessarily about what I’m going through right at this minute was challenging, but also I think will keep us kind of running that same path.”
Brett hopes that when fans listen to Weekends Look A Little Different These Days, that they get the same thing they’ve gotten from his other albums. “The goal was to capture a little bit more, let the fans know that they’re gonna continue to get a very honest, vulnerable me every time they come to a show or every time they buy a record. And so, just kind of identifying what the new chapter is in your life and letting that reflect in your music.”
Brett will have a chance to play some of his new music at fairs and festivals this summer, beginning next month, right around the time his second baby girl is due.
Brett Young – impact of life on WLALDTD :52
“The whole thing was impacted by family. I mean, that was inevitable at this stage in my life if I wanted to continue the kind of quest for authenticity as a songwriter, I would’ve had to let myself be affected by this stage in my life. But, I think the bigger obstacle for me wasn’t so much that, but it was making sure that while I was chasing that down, I wasn’t alienating any fans that weren’t new parents or weren’t newly married. You know, you can’t just put out a nursery rhymes record because that’s the stage of life that you’re in. So, as affected as I was by this stage of my life while we were writing these songs, I was also really conscious of making sure there was something for everybody. So, there were a lot of those kind of obstacles that presented themselves in trying to make sure that we didn’t write eight songs about being a new parent and a new father. And so, it was interesting. It was, I think, the most challenging writing for a project has been to this point.“
Brett Young – pressure because of success :54
“I think I don’t feel pressure to get number ones. I already can’t even believe this is happening, so that’s not really it. It’s pressure to figure out what about the music is working and why the fans are gravitating towards it. And I think, for me, it’s always seemed to be that if I’m honest and vulnerable in the music, more people are able to connect with me and with the music. Especially writing this record, because I had to stretch myself as a writer a little bit now that this chapter of my life is like a pretty solid foothold. Like this is my wife, and these are my children. And this is a stage that’s gonna last for a minute. Until the kids are grown and out of the house, I’m pretty much in this stage for a minute. So, the pressure to write another number one is not really the one that I feel. It’s just to continue to kind of pull back the curtain for the fans. And kinda putting myself out there in songs that aren’t necessarily about what I’m going through right at this minute was challenging, but also I think will keep us kind of running that same path.”
Brett Young – what album says about you :42
“I hope it says the same thing that the other ones have said, the first two. My goal is always to pull back the curtain a little bit. Vulnerability and authenticity is first for me. It’s paramount. And so, the tour that got interrupted because of Covid was called Chapters. The reason for the song, ‘Chapters,’ it’s kind of a blueprint to what I’m always trying to do with the music, and that’s just realize that if I’m expecting people to invest in my career and my music, that I’m kind of exposing myself as a person. And so, this is a very different chapter in my life. And so, The goal was to capture a little bit more, let the fans know that they’re gonna continue to get a very honest, vulnerable me every time they come to a show or every time they buy a record. And so, just kind of identifying what the new chapter is in your life and letting that reflect in your music.”