Brendan Peleo-Lazar of east hollywood on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Brendan Peleo-Lazar and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Brendan, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think a lot of people are secretly struggling with self-esteem and self-expression, especially because of social media. It’s ironic these apps are supposed to connect us, but they’ve actually made it harder for people to feel comfortable just being themselves. I think many of us, especially young people, don’t realize how much time spent scrolling through other people’s highlight reels affects our confidence. We start comparing our everyday lives to someone else’s filtered version of reality. It’s also made us a little less genuine in real life-we worry more about how we look or how we come across instead of just being present. Not many people will admit it, but the same app they open constantly, like Instagram, might also be what’s making them feel worse about themselves. Constantly worrying about what everyone else is doing isn’t healthy, and deep down, I think we all feel that.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Brendan Peleo-Lazar, and while most people know me as a drummer, that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. I wear a few different hats – sometimes all at once! I’m originally from Chicago, now based in Los Angeles, and I’ve been performing for over 20 years, which means I’ve spent more time behind instruments than I have doing pretty much anything else.

Right now, I’m working on a bunch of projects that keep things interesting. There’s SHEEPSPEAK, my co-writing project with my girlfriend Lejla Subašić, where we get to build songs from scratch and live in our own cyberpunk world. In fact, we recently recorded drums to our second single at Clay Blair’s Boulevard Recording in Hollywood. Then there’s Britain’s Finest (a Beatles tribute), Jumping Jack Flash (Rolling Stones tribute), and The Band That Fell to Earth (Bowie tribute) – so yes, I spend a lot of time time-traveling through rock history. I also work with Ruby and Lucille Furs, and I’ve been recording with The Redwalls’ Justin Baren (who recently passed – a huge loss) and Blone Noble.

Drums are home base, but I also write, produce, engineer, and occasionally play the role of “band whisperer” – helping other artists sound tighter or more alive, whether that’s through my synths, piano, or just being in the room. I’m obsessed with sound – always have been – and I think that comes through in everything I do onstage or in the studio.

What makes it fun for me is that I never see a band as just instruments and songs – it’s all about the feeling and how it connects. My stage IQ is something I’ve built over years of performing, and it lets me read the room, the band, the audience – all at once. Every show, every session, it’s about creating that spark where everything suddenly clicks

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
“Powerful” might be a strong word, but I’ll never forget the night of July 2, 2003, when my brother Chris took me to see The White Stripes at the Aragon Theatre in Chicago. That show changed everything for me. I walked out of that venue feeling like I suddenly had the power and confidence to make music full time. It was like someone had lit a fuse.

Watching Jack White on stage with that kinetic, raw, almost spiritual energy made me realize I could channel that same kind of furor in my own way. All of a sudden, high school didn’t seem so heavy anymore-the pressure to fit in, to play it cool, just kind of melted away. I felt like I could finally be my weird self, and that was the most freeing thing in the world.

That night cemented my belief that music wasn’t just something I wanted to do-it was who I was meant to be. And I still believe I can hold my own in that same space… so someone tell Jack already!

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I’m not sure there was a single moment-it’s more like I grew into it. I realized at some point that I could either let pain eat at me quietly or find a way to turn it into something alive. Although I wouldn’t recommend my exact approach for everyone, a big part of my healing has always come from sitting behind the drum kit and playing with like-minded musicians.

When I perform, I let everything come out. I laugh, cry, sweat, and sometimes completely lose myself-but in a good way. It’s therapeutic. The drum kit has always been my confessional, my punching bag, and my church all in one. Music became my healer, and every time I play, it reminds me that pain can be fuel if you give it rhythm.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
That’s a great question-and honestly, it can be a hurdle to leap across egos in the Los Angeles music scene. Collaboration isn’t always easy when everyone’s trying to stand out. But for me, the person whose ideas I rely on most is my girlfriend, Lejla Subašić.

We have a true creative partnership with our project SHEEPSPEAK, and I fully trust her instincts-musically, visually, and conceptually. She’s got this incredible sense of direction when it comes to photo shoots and even 3D Unreal Engine promotional reels, which has completely expanded how I think about art and presentation. It’s rare to find someone who you can bounce ideas off of endlessly and know they’ll elevate the vision rather than dilute it. With Lejla, I never have to question that.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What false labels are you still carrying?
The label of being “just the drummer” – the guy in the back who keeps time and stays out of the spotlight – has always felt false to me. I’m much more than that. I write, conceptualize, and collaborate on every layer of the project. Rhythm is just one way I communicate, but it’s not the boundary of what I create. I am an expressive player and visually chaotic performer. you never know what you’re going to get!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/@LazerBrendan
• Instagram: @lazerbrendan
• Facebook: @lazerbrendan
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LazerBrendan

Image Credits
lejla subasic
doug moore
alec basse
pixie vision