Brennan Wedl has been working in Nashville for years as a recording singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Simultaneously they’ve been taking on several solo and full-band regional tours, expanding their fanbase and tugging at heartstrings with vulnerable lyricism in the coldest states in New England and the most humid areas of the South. Yet, the biggest expedition is yet to come: a lot of change is on the horizon for Wedl’s career.
Brennan Wedl: Yooooo. How you doing, buddy?
Phie Mihm: Heyyy!
Wedl answers the phone with the first dial tone, ready to roll out a conversation on their creative process, career evolution, and the spiritual/queer facets of their identity. Also — they’re making breakfast during our call.
PM: How are you?
BW: I’m good. I put too much hot sauce on my breakfast!
Damn – been there.
Surprisingly, Wedl is not a Tennessee local – they’re originally from the polar opposite state of Minnesota. However, Wedl’s tranquil, self-confident nature; rustic fashion; and alternative country sound wholeheartedly embrace the influences of Music City.
PM: What has been your music journey — and I know you were once in the Dazey and the Scouts band — and that was a big deal. But, that’s a big transition from where you are now. So if you want to give us a narrative of how you’ve gotten here, that’d be rad.
Brennan launches into an attempt to describe their unique niche in music, discussing influences and inspirations.”Yeah, man, it’s been the fool’s journey,” they say.
BW: It’s always been based in shared experience, and words. I’ve always been really into storytelling and really setting the scene. As I grow into different selves, I find new inspiration… Just kind of like pinpointing the spice of life and channeling that. Recently, it’s been really invigorating playing around with tone, electric guitar tone, and just seeing where that leads the words.
PM: When I did the songwriting program with you, you talked a lot about putting all of your thoughts onto a page and just writing and writing every day. Do you feel like that’s still how your process works?
A year ago, I had the opportunity to briefly study with Brennan as a songwriting mentor. I was so intrigued by their organic approach to songwriting, and a lot of their creative advice still resonates with me.
BW: No. I am a little less… I’m not as disciplined right now. But there is joy in the spontaneity of the craft for me right now. I keep a list on my phone of phrases, words, and ideas, and I usually start with guitar, I just record riffs on my iPhone Voice Memos. Then I kind of pick and choose words and phrases from that list and I kind of piece it together, and kind of glue it to something that I’m passionate about in the moment, or inspired by in the moment.
PM: I like that. It’s like creating a puzzle of all these different pieces of art that you’re collecting over time.
BW: Totally.
PM: In terms of your more natural process, do you feel like you’ve found your kind of groove or do you think you’ll continue to evolve? How do you view your creative process?
BW: Always evolving. I feel like you can find your groove, maybe temporarily, but life changes so quickly. Physical surroundings change, like the seasons, like jobs change, like schedules change.You really have to adapt to nurture your practice, I feel like. Sometimes I write in the mornings, but I just got a job that’s in the mornings. So it’s like, I need to sacrifice maybe going out at night, some days for the week. But it is about sacrifice sometimes, too.
PM: Do you feel like that’s a big part of your creative process, sacrifice?
BW: Maybe in a metaphorical sense. You know, sacrificing past versions of yourself, or maybe shedding light on darker times, like sacrificing that old mentality or kind of shedding your skin, snake skin a little bit.
PM: A rebirth process?
BW: Yeah! Yeah.
We then dove into Brennan’s thoughts on genre and musical community. The discussion centered around the resounding influence of the Nashville queer community Nashville on Wedl’s work.
PM: You are writing in kind of an alternative-country space right now, and you’re in Nashville. But at the same time, country’s very historically, white cis men. How do you feel like you’ve been able to kind of carve out a space for yourself as a musician in this area of music?
BW: Yeah. Well, I think country music is kind of inherently queer. People will disagree with that, but it’s kind of left of center… Country music is often tied up with songwriting, right? And when I first got here, it was a nice familiar sound and pace, but as I’ve been here longer, and as I’ve grown up a little bit, I’ve been able to take the roots of country music and put a queer and punk spin on it. It’s grown into more of a punk sound, but staying true to the songwriting roots. I’ve always been a little bit of a rocker. I went to “Girls Rock and Roll Retreat” as a kid. And being unapologetically loud, in a world where femme-presenting people are told to be sorry and be small, that just kind of rejected that.
PM: Yeah. I feel like that also comes through even in some of your music that’s out that, maybe we wouldn’t assume is inherently punk, but it’s vulnerable, which is kind of a protest within itself to be so open and vocal about everything that life throws at you.
BW: For sure.
PM: Let’s broaden the scope. What is special about the Nashville community?
BW: The queer community is one of the strongest I’ve known in the face of all the prejudice and legislation. People have really bonded and this community – which has always been there… It seems like Southern queerness is really deep and really, really strong… and I’m just really proud to be a part of this queer community and helping grow it.
PM: That’s beautiful. Do you feel like there are any specific moments when you realized how important this community was for you?
BW: Yeah. I recently signed with Kill Rock Stars.
PM: Congrats! Wow, that’s huge.
Some Kill Rock Stars legends include…
- Elliott Smith
- Bikini Kill
- Deerhoof
- Sleater-Kinney
BW: Thank you, I’m really excited. It is a very forward-thinking, queer-leaning label. It’s not officially a queer label, but most of their artists are. This actually happened last week at Americana Fest! It was the kill rock stars showcase, and I was looking around and I was so proud to be among these brilliant queer thinkers and artists. I was just feeling: I’m finally being seen.
PM: If there were a young, new coming musician reading this interview and wanted to push themselves into the DIY space, what advice would you give that person?
BW: Strive to make music that sounds different. Strive to listen to your heart song and make friends. Put yourself out there. Everybody has anxiety, they just won’t tell you — they’re just fronting.
PM: ls there anything important that you’re working on right now that you want to add?
BW: Yeah. Well, I’m going to begin releasing a lot of new music in January 2024. It’s gonna be a big year next year with the debut album on the horizon. I’m not holding back. I think I was trying to get my footing for so long, but I feel really in tune with who I am. And I’m really excited about it.
Stream their music:
https://brennanwedl.bandcamp.com/ | https://open.spotify.com/artist/60YFU6VpDwNGQnFYU63Efh
Featured Graphic courtesy of Brennan Wedl
