Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendin Lowiteng.
Hi Brendin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m an Actor, Musician and Martial Artist. I grew up in the Alternative scene with bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Deftones, Linkin Park, etc. My passion for music carried me to high school, where I found my first band and played around the local San Diego/Los Angeles music scene. Rooting from there, I was the frontman for my most previous band Awake, with inspirations from bands like Saosin, Thrice, Paramore, Balance, and Composure. We were growing as a small band from SD.
When Covid hit, that really destroyed the band’s ambition to continue (not my personal idea), but from there, I was at an all-time low, not to mention going through a big breakup from a previous relationship. I was really down on my luck and didn’t feel like I was enough. My passion, my love at the time, and everything I spent years creating went out the window. That’s when I had to shift my mindset and find something that lit the fire in me, something I could revamp my spirit with and really cater to that inner voice I tried to shut out with self-pity, shame, and a lack of accountability. I honestly woke up one day and wanted to try being an Actor.
I grew up with a love for the arts and was always an empathetic person, I was always that person who could reflect on the emotions being displayed on the screen, and I would actually feel something as the viewer, and I wanted to do that. Not only for myself, but the idea to inspire, to make someone feel is such a captivating idea. Over the last few years of studying under Carey Scott (The Rehearsal Room Acting School), I found myself discovering layers to not only the characters within me but shifting my mindset in my personal life for a better cause. After a few showcases and indie short film projects, I landed myself a team of managers and commercial agents in the LA and San Diego markets. Now with some small projects under my belt these past few years, I have started producing and Co directing projects of my own, as well as my solo music act Bella Nova. Standing still and waiting for something to happen is far from my philosophy. My ideology comes from grinding each day and viewing it as an opportunity to create. A lot of my focused mindset comes from Karate, another interest of mine that’s really kept me grounded with everything else I’m involved with as well as having my Fiances support really keeps me grounded as balancing so much can often get overwhelming, but the drive and discipline I have shuts those doubts out when I look at the big picture and focus on my goals.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
With most things in life, I’ve hit many obstacles, especially with Acting, such as a lot of casting decisions being out of my hands, sometimes I’m not the right person for the part or someone with more experience came along. There have been a lot of conflicts within myself that come with the constant rejection that leads to those inner voices that question am I enough? Should I just quit?
On the music side of things from going from a band setting to being a solo artist is very scary. Not only with all the technicalities that come with playing live but also the vulnerability and thought of everything being put out is completely just myself, and being a perfectionist that often faces imposter syndrome. I am so protective with my art.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Actor, Musician and Martial Artist. I would say I specialize in creating my own content. Often times a lot of people would sit back and wait for an opportunity to arise, i’m the one to kick those doors down and make my own path. A lot of my drive comes from those who doubted me in the past as well as the satisfaction of not getting, but earning recognitions of my art. My work ethic is different; it may be insane really, but I constantly wake up and practice karate six times a week, having a serious relationship with my beautiful fiance, and work a full-time job (yes, I still have to pay bills), am in a church choir and when I’m lucky on set or in the music studio. A lot of that comes with sacrifice, and often times I don’t have too much of a social life, but as with anything a healthy balance is necessary.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest thing to tell you is do not give up. As cliche as that sounds, there is much truth. Acting/music are a game of endurance and a drive that pulls your soul to keep going. I’ve seen so many people throw out their dreams for a sense of security, self-doubt in ability, etc.
I would tell those out there to have a strong and positive mindset and give time to yourself for reflection, exercise, breathwork, and mental clarity. The mind is such a powerful tool, and not everyone is geared to have that mental shift to be as strong as you need to be to succeed, but we all have to take accountability in our lives for what we can control and the things out of our control shouldn’t be stressed over. Trust me, it’s natural to be tense and anxious, but mental health is so important, and we have to be willing to forgive ourselves, others and really trust the process and our purposes in life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: brendinawake
- Other: linktr.ee/brendinlowiteng
Image Credits
Alexandra Beltra, Evan Turner, Brianna Farner
