Brett Copeland can be described as merely being the epitome of an authentic Rock and Roll artist. Over the years of Brett’s career, he has worked with some of the biggest producers in the world that include Roy Thomas Baker, Dave Jerden, and Val Garay. After writing and recording multiple bands in LA, Brett decided to take his skills to another level and begin working on solo work. Now leading to his latest single “Lasso The Stars,” and it is precisely what you would be hoping in a Rock and Roll tune. “Lasso The Stars” has everything you need for a killer tune, it’s got the iconic riffing guitars, the thundering drums, a deep grimey bass, and a perfectly edgy vocal that holds your attention from the start. The carefree attitude of Lasso The Stars” has us wanting to break the rules and do the impossible. “Lasso The Stars” begins with a soft little ethereal synth texture before completely exploding with energy when the verse hits, and when it hits, it will feel like a train going full speed. The adrenaline rush we get from this tune is just off the charts. We are genuinely excited about Brett’s debut EP to come out this spring.
You can rock out to “Lasso The Stars” here.
Hello Brett Copeland! Welcome to BuzzMusic! We cannot get enough of your high-intensity release “Lasso The Stars”! What was the initial inspiration for coming up with the carefree themes and lyrics? How did you write this song? Was it a singer/songwriter acoustic guitar voice song? Hi, Thank you for having me. I love BuzzMusic and I am really glad you like the song. The initial inspiration for "Lasso The Stars" was and still is - my wife. I wrote this song for her. She makes me feel like truly anything is possible - even when things are really bad or difficult. The song is about sticking together no matter how hard things get, and not being afraid to start over, together, with a fresh, hopeful and limitless attitude. I actually wrote the song on a bass. The lyrics and melodies flowed out like they had already been written. The production of this release shows off your musicality and attention to detail. What was the recording process like for this? How did you choose which players would be the right ones to play on the record? Did you face any challenges during the recording? The recording process was incredibly smooth. I showed the song to my friends Ramon Blanco, the lead guitar player in Grandson, Daniel Curcio - the bass player for Palaye Royale, and Richard Bradley - the drummer for Dead Posey. They loved it and accepted my invitation to play on it. They are true professionals and consummate gentleman so the actual recording process was seamless. My friend Chad Shlosser works out of Matt Sorum's ( Velvet Revolver, Guns N' Roses and The Cult) studio "Drac Studios" in Los Angeles. The studio is very vibey, and there is a lot of history in there. Chad and I produced it together, and Chad engineered and mixed it. He and I have worked together for years, so it was fun and easy. We laid down all the instruments except for my acoustic guitar and vocals in one day. It was a special day for me because it was also my birthday.
It’s definitely exciting to have worked with some top of the line producers, what was that experience like? Did you ever feel overwhelmed in the work that you were doing? What about now with your solo music? I have been fortunate to work with a handful of some of the greatest and most renowned producers of all time. Some REALLY big names. The experiences are all similar - surprisingly casual, creative, and quirky. They all have their secrets and tricks and always ask me not to share them with anyone. They are also very, very passionate - like myself, about what they do and how they do it. There is also usually a subtle element of compromise involved on both sides. Do I ever feel overwhelmed working with A-list producers in the studio? I thrive in live settings, and I used to feel overwhelmed and stagnant in the studio, but I realized it was only because I was not yet "ready". So I put in extra work, and - instead of dreading the studio, I now look forward to it. I also learned logic and started most of the pre-production and instrumentation myself. That way it gives me a little more creative control over the concept and sounds and arrangements. Especially now that I am working as a solo artist/producer. It's better for me to show them what I am going for in a recording rather than try to explain it in words and waste time in the studio and risk sacrificing my vision. It must really feel special to come out with a debut record, how does it feel to grow from working on other peoples works to your own? Did you have to overcome anything to mentally make it happen?
It's more like a debut set of singles destined to be a part of a debut album. Doing my own thing feels really special, and yet odd. But less odd as time transpires. This debut material is all mine and I get to take full responsibility for it. When I was in bands, even if the song was all my own idea, there is so much compromise and so many different opinions and artistic needs, that things can get really muddled and off-course. You have to respect your bandmate's needs as artists, and in doing that, I felt like it was a massive struggle and I was constantly losing personal authenticity. Everyone has their own style and ideas and needs as an artist - and musicians...we are all very sensitive. You can lose a bandmate and a friend forever over an argument over a chord progression or a minor vs major chord.
There were things, however, mentally - that I did have to overcome. The issue for me is - I am a band guy to a fault. I love bands. I love a "team" environment and collaboration. But there were just too many difficulties and differences of opinions, and the constant compromises began to really weigh on me. Now, for instance, when I recorded these songs, Daniel and Ramon and Richard - they did what they could to support my vision, and yet they are so brilliant, they still contributed their own magic and style without compromising my vision.
Another thing to overcome was going by "Brett Copeland". I fought that for a long time. I had been in so many bands for so long, it just did not make sense. It felt wrong. I have come to terms with it, though. Behind me are some great times and experiences. And yet, also behind me, there is a lot of wasted time and energy, and a lot of deleted band Instagram accounts. When a band breaks up, even if you are still friends, the music and songs - in my opinion, are pretty much lost. But now, there is no more "breaking up" - It's me, and it's always going to be me, so the song catalog will always be something I can take with me. I have so many songs, and I don't have to ask permission or haggle with a bandmate over whether or not I am going to record them. I still collaborate with my friends - but there is a lot less stress and commitment. It's fun and cathartic now as a solo artist. Things have become much easier.
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