7 Q’s with Paul Brazell

Over the last couple of years Paul Brazell has been active in the Columbia music scene playing full band shows, solo shows and shows with his former band, Answer me This.Â Still young, Brazell is working hard to make a name for himself in Columbia and throughout the Southeast.

Check him out in the Next Big Thing.

Paul Brazell-The Still and the Sound

1) Describe your music for those who aren’t familiar.

Thats always a hard question for a musician to answer about themselves. My goal as a musician is to combine familiarity with discovery, give you something you enjoy, while still making it unique to me. I guess its a combination of pop/alternative with a little bit of indie style thrown in.

2) Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

I’d have to my biggest influences are Mat Kearney, Dashboard Confessional, John Mayer, and Landon Pigg

3) What are some of your favorite parts about the music scene that you come out of? What are some things that you wish you could change about the music scene?

I guess my favorite part about the music scene is the bands in general. We’ve got such a diverse array of talent here in columbia, from “hometown heroes” Erich Skelton/Marry A Thief and Nick Bays/The Patient, to guys like CherryCase who in the last year have shot up tremendously in the scene. And they’re all great guys too. I’ve never played a show here where the bands just werent all around good guys, and they’ve all got something different to offer to the scene.

4) How did your band get started?

I’ve been doing songwriting for about 3 years. Before I started my “Paul Brazell” stuff, I was in a band called Answer Me This, with my drummer Chris Duane who I met through school, and since then we’ve always played music together. I met the bassist, Dom, through our friends High Roses Grow (formerly Leaving Leesburg), and the guitarist Jonathan Gilpatrick through Dom.

5) What are you most excited about for the future of your band?

We’ve got a few out of town shows coming up, some band and some just acoustic, which is pretty exciting…but I dont think we’re excited for any sort of “future”, I think we’re just excited for the present. I know this is one of those stupid little phrases, but we dont see music as a destination, but as a journey. I can at least say for myself that i’m still just getting acclimated to where I am at this point. I think if you look forward to any sort of end result, you’ll miss some of the fun of getting there.

6) If you could change one thing about the music industry what would it be?

When i first read the question, i want to say some of the “digitalization” of music. with filesharing and the decline of cds and stuff, but there are pros and cons to every situation. I think the music industry will end up where its supposed to end up, and its up to us to adapt to the evolution and play the game to our advantage as musicians

7) Who are some of your favorite South Carolina or Regional bands to play with? What band do you think your fans should check out?

Definitely….CherryCase, The Patient, Sing Sing 76, High Roses Grow, and Jerry Jacobs. I’m kinda new on the scene, so i cant really say i’ve played with many people. but you should definitely check those guys out along with Young Alumni, Erich Skelton/Marry A Thief/Kingslyn, All Get Out, and Austin Crane.

myspace.com/paulbrazellmusic

facebook.com/paulbrazellmusic

twitter.com/paulbrazell

paulbrazell.bandcamp.com