Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Copeland.
Brett, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a former English literature major and self-taught musician, I began singing in the church choir at the age of eight and was immediately hooked on singing and music. I picked-up my first guitar at 15 and played until my fingers bled. Always a “problem child with a surplus of energy”, the death of my mother at 15 catapulted me into a dramatic, reckless life of abandonment, drugs and chaotic behavior. By 17 years of age, I had already moved 25 times and lived in five different states. I constantly found my way into trouble. The private Jesuit school I attended was forced to kick me out regardless of my academic and athletic accomplishments. I soon found myself making a living smuggling drug across the Mexico-Arizona border and was the only kid in my new public school that had his own apartment… Until it was raided by the police. They thought I was working with the leader of some drug ring, which I wasn’t, but that was the first of many run-ins with the law – all great inspirations for songwriting…
After high school I attended college at Arizona State University. I got great grades, but my rock and roll lifestyle took its toll. I was way more interested in making music and having fun, and ultimately I just gathered what few belongings I had, mostly books on spirituality, classic lit and religion, my journal and my acoustic guitar (always had my guitar with me) and bought a one way bus ticket back to Southern California.
Thus began a ten year journey riddled with police encounters, drugs and long and dangerous hitch-hiking trips up and down the coast, sleeping in parks, on beaches, strangers floors and women’s beds, all the while constantly singing and writing music on my acoustic guitar. There was not a drug or hallucinogen nor a floor, bed, couch or dangerous adventure I would turn down. Literally. A lot of great musical inspirations comes from those days.
Then, finally, while wasting my life away skateboarding and jamming all day at the beach, a friend whom I was couch-surfing at in Venice Beach, suggested I should audition for his commercial agent in Hollywood and “do something with my life and talents”. I took him up on his offer. It didn’t take long for me to book multiple national television commercials, TV spots and small bits in independent movies.
It was not, however, until I finally booked a high-paying, starring role in a musical in Calgary, Canada that I realized the rewards of being a “working musician”. It was amazing. Thousands of dollars a week, my hotel room and a rental car in Canada, and all I had to do was practice and rehearse during the day and perform at night – six days a week. I fell in love with “working” in my environment.
I immediately began to look at life differently. I took my talents and craft more seriously and replaced the old habits of drugs, skirmishes and chaotic encounters – with mastering my craft and “putting in the work”.
Soon, I found myself working with some of the biggest music producers in the world, like Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, The Cars), Dave Jerden (Jane’s Addiction, Alice In Chains, The Rolling Stones) and Val Garay (Eric Burdon, Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, Elton John).
I was never a mean person, or violent – just wild. I was always heavy into spiritual literature, classic lit and studying different religions, but a “Career Path” was something I had never truly experienced until that all happened.
I became obsessed with being the best musical version of myself I could possibly be.
After writing and recording with multiple bands, all of which disintegrated in time for various reasons, I recently decided it was time to finally embarked on my own solo career. When enough industry professionals and friends and family keep urging you to do “The Brett Copeland project” … and when enough bands fall apart for the multitude of reasons that bands fall apart, I decided – ok, it’s time.
I have been called a “high energy, powerful and authentic rock singer with staggering stage presence, outstanding vocal range, and anthemic songwriting skills,” and I am just going to embrace and appreciate those accolades. I love music. I love singing. I love writing. And most of all, I love performing. I am blessed to have a beautiful wife of four years who supports my decisions and embraces my art. She has been a driving force in this new stage in my life as a solo artist.
Right now I am currently recording and co-producing songs with producer Chad Shlosser at Matt Sorum’s Drac Studios in Los Angeles, California. Bound by the motto “Only the best” -I have carefully gathered some good friends (Ramon Blanco – Grandson, Disciples of Babylon), Daniel Curcio –(Palaye Royale, Beware of Darkness) and Richard Bradley (Dead Posey) and began recording some vibrant and contagious new songs which are scheduled for release in spring 2020. I am pretty excited to see what happens next.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been fun, however, It has not been a smooth road. Yes, It could have been worse, but there have definitely been major issues and life tragedies along the way. Both of my parents and all of my grandparents have passed. A lot of my friends have died being reckless or committing suicide. People have stolen my songs, band names and ideas. I have seen my share of trouble. Money has been very, very tight at times and I have had less than one dollar to my name on more occasions than I would like to admit. I was invited to sing for two of the biggest bands in the world (I can’t say who for legal reasons) but it didn’t pan out. Record companies have signed and shelved me. I was homeless for years. Too many drugs and too much alcohol. I left college even though I was getting really great grades. That’s just some of the wrinkles. I am blessed to have my health, a supportive and lovely wife, some close friends and my spirituality.
Please tell us about your work.
I am an authentic rock frontman, singer, songwriter and lyricist. I thrive on writing songs and lyrics and singing and performing them live. I love people and raising their vibrations when I have the opportunity to perform in front of them or when they are listening to my music. When they smile – it makes me happy. When they approach me after a show and tell me how great they feel – that’s very rewarding to me. When they tell me a song helped them get through a bad day, or enhanced their great day, that’s music to my ears. It’s not about me. It’s about us.
I am most proud of the fact that I have never given up regardless of the arduous journey, and that I am not jaded or bitter. I am still here – doing my thing, regardless of the crazy journey here, regardless of the outcome, and that I am still constantly striving daily to improve.
Getting better as a singer and a performer and an artist is paramount to me. I am never satisfied. I always want to be better than the day before. I have had other great opportunities outside of music. I can be anything in the world I want to be. But I am me – and this is what I do. I sing, and perform, and write songs. It’s not going to change. And I get better every day.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As I mentioned earlier, I am embarking on my solo-career. That’s my plan. To finally be “Brett Copeland” and to have the opportunity to consistently share my story and experiences through my songs. I am looking forward to a world tour and writing and recording more great songs.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brettcopeland.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/brettcopeland
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/brettcopelandmusic
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/brettcopeland7
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/485s4Yp6zHjfnUY17sporb?si=362K7j16SNiP0Al2110v2A
Image Credit:
Roy a. Braatz jr. , Ricardo Herrera, Mondrian Hernandez, Sean McCracken, Alex Huggan, Shawn Jr, Tyler Miles
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