26:NEXT! BRADY TUTTON TAPS IN + TUNES US INTO HIS DEBUT SOLO SINGLE 'STARING AT THE CEILING'!
Friday May 27th 2022, was a pretty big day for actor-singer-songwriter-producer Brady Tutton! His very first solo single “Staring At the Ceiling” arrived on all major platforms for all the world to hear! Previously citing R&B vocal & arrangement powerhouses Brandy & Neyo as sonic influences, with one listen to ‘SATC’ it’s quickly clear that Brady knows his way around cultivating alt-R&B inspired POP both lyrically & melodically. At just 20, He’s already fulfilled dreams of lifetimes, writing for global artists, winning an actual TV ‘Boy Band’ competition & subsequently touring, traveling & performing on major shows like GMA, Jimmy Kimmel & TRL! Now ready to pave his solo path, Brady readies his forthcoming full project “We’re all Gonna Die Anyway” for upcoming release! An eye opening title to say the least, but for anyone that may feel jarred by the honesty of it, it’s secretly the sort of brave, ultimate abandon that catapults thoughts into manifested things! Fearlessly starting, somewhere, anywhere & unapologetically diving head first into your dreams & the life you TRULY desire. Some quick Q+A with the budding star allowed us into the mind of the young artist, revealing that he’s ready to have it all from Kanye collabs to Coachella call times!!
Photography: Ben Cope
Wardrobe: Daniel Jones
Grooming: Colleen Dominique for Exclusive Artists using Hanz de Fuko
Corey Guevarra, Editor In Chief
BRADY, CONGRATS ON YOUR DEBUT SINGLE “STARING AT THE CEILING”, WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW THE SONG SHOWED UP AS THE 1ST SINGLE FOR YOU?
‘Staring at the Ceiling’ came to be about two years ago when my family and I decided to spend the first pandemic summer in a lake town in Michigan. There’s a furnace room in the basement that was covered in dirt and full of boxes and junk, so I spent two days power washing and cleaning it out, went to home depot, and converted it into a studio. Staring was the first song my brother Ryan and I wrote in that studio.
That summer was huge for me because it forced me to sit with my thoughts in a serene and peaceful place where I have a lot of memories attached. During that time I made several songs that I still listen to and have withstood the test of time years later.
I chose this song as the first single because it’s a perfect summary of the path to where I am now, and some of the difficulties that came with it. I also think it’s a good intro to my project, and the type of sound you’ll be hearing from me in the future.
YOU WRITE AND PRODUCE YOUR OWN SONGS, CAN YOU TELL US HOW WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Everybody has a different way of going about creating, but I find being able to produce helps inform what the writing will be and vice versa. If there are ever times when I’m stuck on a section and I don’t know what to say, I’ll start working on making the beat feel better, and the answer eventually reveals itself. In some ways, I find producing easier than writing. There are a lot of times I’ll make a beat that I like so much, I’ll listen to it for months or even years, and the challenge becomes finding words that are saying as much as the instrumental is.
I’ve learned so much since then, but for this song, I had the opportunity to work with two amazing producers, who took the song to a place I probably wouldn’t have been able to get it to at that time, which I’m so grateful for.
I’m there will be several songs on the project I have done entirely myself, because it’s important to me to have art out there that’s 100% me, with no outside influences.
WHAT KIND OF EXPECTATIONS DO YOU HOLD FOR YOURSELF AS A SOLO ARTIST, WHAT ARE SOME GOALS YOU’D LIKE TO REACH BY THE END OF THIS YEAR?
I think right now is a really strange time in music because there are so many different mediums; an artist may do insanely well on one, and have little to no impact on another. For this reason, I often find myself confused about what defines success or even who I would consider successful.
For example, there are a bunch of people who stream very well on all platforms, but can’t sell tickets; and people with millions of followers, can’t get anyone to listen to their music. At the end of the day, I think the most difficult thing as an artist is to make stuff you like, so if you can do that, I think you’re winning.
I will say though, that I recently went to Coachella, and since then I haven’t been able to stop thinking about performing there. If I could perform at Coachella next year, that would be a major goal of mine checked off the list.
ARE THERE ANY DREAM ARTISTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH?
Frank Ocean and Ye are pretty tied for me at number one. The chance to work with either of them would change everything for me; I haven’t gotten starstruck before, but they have had so much impact on my music and have been the soundtrack to so many parts of my life, that it’s hard to know how I would react to meeting them.
Max Martin and James Fauntleroy would also be a dream for me even though they’re more in the behind-the-scenes roles. I think it’s safe to say they are some of the most influential writers to ever live.
PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PLANS, WILL YOU HAVE NEW SINGLES AND AN ALBUM COMING OUT?
I have a couple of singles that are ready to go, and I’m currently working on finishing my album “We’re All Gonna Die Anyway”. I have enough songs for the album right now, but I am still creating, so there are a few potential contenders that didn’t exist even a month ago. The album talks a lot about how I think about life, and how the title sentence informs a lot of the decisions I make in my daily life. At the end of the day, we’re all here for a certain amount of time, with no real idea how we got here, and we will all die. Why not enjoy it, and leave behind something beautiful if you can? That’s my goal with this project.
THIS IS OUR FAVORITE QUESTION BECAUSE EACH ANSWER IS ALWAYS SO UNIQUE. FROM FEELINGS, TO PASTIMES, TO FAVORITE THINGS.... BRADY, WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF LUXURY?
All I've ever wanted to do is to be able to travel wherever I want to, at any time. That, to me, is the ultimate luxury! As your life progresses and you make more money, the clothes, shoes, and restaurants you consider luxurious will change, but the ability to pick up and leave at any time with no worries, sounds the most unreal to me.
