Thank you for talking with us and congrats on your debut single! For newer fans, how did your passion for music and career come about? I started making music at 13, in the basement of a church building. I found an 8 track recorder and just went to town. I realized I had a passion for making music, and making a career of music, in my junior year of high school. I was always writing songs and couldn’t put my guitar down. If friends came over, it was to have writing sessions and jam. I lived and breathed music. I got my start from recording a punk rock high school EP in a jazz studio as a part of an internship. If you look hard enough, you can find that EP in the depths of the internet. Best of luck.
What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about pursuing a career in music?
Build your dream, don’t chase your dream - Michael Farren, Integrity Music, 2017. That little phrase was dropped in a writing session down in Orlando Florida, and it has completely transformed my view of pursuing a career as an artist. If you could have penned a song in any genre what would it have been? This is a great question. I have fronted bands and written in so many different genres, and I’m so grateful for all of the experience. Really, country music is a new genre for me, and I’m having an absolute blast writing in this style. I’ve found it to be freeing and just plain fun!
Where did you grow up and how has that influenced your style of music? I grew up in church! Ha! I was surrounded by southern gospel, black gospel, CCM, and hymns. That has influenced my style quite a bit. But, I’m a Navy brat; I moved every three years of my life growing up. I’m so grateful that I’ve been exposed to so much culture, and I find myself pulling inspiration from the most random memories of being a kid. I’ll be in my Florida treehouse one minute, and then on the Wiowash Trail in Oshkosh, Wi the next! Wherever I need to go to finish a song, I’ve got some crazy story to back it up.
At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people take away from your songs? I just want people to feel like they’ve got a friend who understands them. I know that sounds naive, but music is a mysterious and universal language. I want to be an artist that sings the song you need to hear right when you need to hear it. I want to bring a slice of joy into people’s lives. I hope anyone who hears my music feels like I’m singing right to them.
What is your favorite dish to cook? Well, I really love breakfast foods - pancakes, waffles, omelets, all of it. I’d have to say my favorite dish to cook is a paleo, coconut-flour pancake. My wife found it on Pinterest about a year ago and it’s pretty much the only kind of pancake we make now. We serve it with a fresh blueberry compote as a sub for syrup. I always end up eating about 5 of those, and making enough to last at least 3 days.
Where is your favorite place to eat in your hometown? That depends on which hometown :) I grew up in Oshkosh, Wi, and probably my favorite place to eat in Oshkosh is this little cafe called Pilora’s cafe. Whenever I’m in town, I always make it a point to eat there. Pro tip - sub the side salad for a cup of their beer-cheese soup. If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? I lost my grandpa on Christmas Day in 2016, and I’d give anything to have one more post-golf game lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings with him. A childhood dream come true would be having a pizza with the ninja turtles. I know, that’s technically a total of five.
What's your favorite family recipe? My mom’s beef stroganoff. It’s served over rice, and I’m pretty sure she adds Ginger Ale to it. I’ve literally cancelled date night with my wife in favor of eating this meal. Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? Miller coors. There’s no question. My project may be based in Nashville, but I live in Milwaukee, Wi, and so it’s pretty much a match made in heaven.
Website: thomasbradylee.com
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