Essential 8: Brian McKenzie

Courtesy of the Artist

New England-based artist Brian McKenzie started his music career in the early 90's as the founding member, music writer, and guitarist of the heavy-rock band "Kilgore" (formerly Kilgore Smudge). Since then, the singer-songwriter has released three albums under his own name, including 2011's Resolution and Looking Over Yesterday.  In January of 2018, McKenzie released a new project, "Bruising From the Falll," an emotional, powerfully melodic collection featuring a stellar line-up of musicians including Bill Southerland and Marty O'Brien (Kilgore), Brad O'Brien, and Chris Piccirillo. Recently, Brian took the time to answer his Essential 8 and talk musical mentors, share the story behind his album's title as well as advice from Don Schlitz, and more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
I had a great guitar teacher in Rhode Island, Rudy D’Agostino, that got me started with the basics of playing, but I think high school really had the biggest influence. During my time there, one of the extracurricular activities available was a rock band, so I tried out freshman year and was fortunate enough to be accepted into the band by music teacher Jim LaFitte. He taught us how to listen to songs, break them down, and learn them just by using our ears, not with any written music. That’s a practice that translated into a better understanding of how good songs are written. I credit Jim for everything I accomplished after that. Not sure if I’d have become as intuitive a songwriter if it weren’t for him.

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
I think I knew that both “Higher Than This” and “The In-Between” were completed when I listened back and got the “feels”. Jon Gonsalves did a great job as an engineer in the studio with his dynamics, and when we were listening back in the control room, we looked at each other and both went “wow”…​

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
“Bruising from the Fall” is based on a sometimes beautiful, mostly flawed relationship. Lots of ups and downs, highs, and lows, break ups and makeups. With the line “I’m so tired of it all, and I’m still bruising from the fall”… sometimes, when you physically fall, the impact is there, but you get up and walk it off for a bit. It’s not until the next few days that the bruises and soreness set in. I felt that it was the same on an emotional level with what we both put each other through. Things would happen over and over, and then the constant internal pain of it all would linger and get worse as time went on.

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Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did?
I think each album should take you on a journey and the songs should flow. I picture ocean waves. I don’t like placid lake albums, haha. With Bruising From the Fall, I think it sets the right tone from the top and ends with a pretty big wave. “Justified” is the closer, and it’s my, I suppose, angriest and definitely most rock song on the album.​

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? 
Most of the songs come from my own experiences. I, unfortunately, write better during turmoil or love loss, or another time or memory that I yearn for. Trying to turn that around! haha

When/where do you do your best writing?
I never know. I do have to be completely alone though. It just kind of happens and I find the nearest scrap of anything at all to write on and go for it. I have a folder somewhere with all my tunes scribbled on backs of credit card bills, napkins, envelopes, whatever has space for me to write. 99% of the time I start with the melody and then fill in the lyrics. The music has to do what it’s supposed to do before the lyrics do for me. 

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
Mostly my own, but I have written a few about what people that are close to me are dealing with. I tend to be an empath and take on a lot of other people’s stuff.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
I met Don Schlitz in Nashville. He wrote “The Gambler”. He said to me the best advice he could give as a writer was “Read. Read books. Read the paper. Read as much as you can.” 

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Believe in yourself and don’t stop going for it. If you truly love what you do, do it, whether you actually “make it” or not. We are only here once, so spending it doing what other people want you to do or what society judges is the smarter thing to do is just a waste in the end. If music is in your soul, be music. 

Website:  http://brianmckenzie.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/brianmckenziemusic
Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/brianmckenziemusic
Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/brianmckenziemusic
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/brian_mckenzie
Bandcamp:  https://brianmckenzie.bandcamp.com
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1K8w29RXY5ChePSf8KMPsr?si=SKl8BMm2SzespirbvZHMfA
​Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bruising-from-the-fall/1326943281
CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/brianmckenzieandalwaysse
YouTube MUSIC: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDzLbRH5nyj_3wS0zwhtiYA

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