BrettDennen’s music career began humbly around the camps of the Sierra Nevada mountain range – a retreat to which he would eventually return for inspiration on 2013's Smoke and Mirrors. “Being in the mountains, aside from the inspiration, was so crucial to me, because as a kid I used to spend so much time in the mountains. And just being there helped me regain that self-confidence. I remembered who I was.”
Brett’s 2006 release, So Much More, officially launched him as a discovery artist and drew frequent comparisons to troubadours like Paul Simon and Tom Petty. In 2008 his Hope for the Hopeless didn’t stray too far from the songwriter’s comfort zone, though a partnership with producer John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer) led to a high level of production not yet heard on any of his albums. In 2011, Dennen’sLoverboy was his biggest departure to date: a danceable collection of songs influenced by the road and recorded by a studio filled with friends and imperfect takes. “After several years of consistent recording and touring, some real time off was necessary. I bought a house in the mountains and reconnected with my roots as a songwriter. I walked through the hills, enjoying the solitude, and only wrote when I was inspired.”
Returning from his retreat into the mountains, Dennen looked for a collaborator to elevate the songs he’d brought back and landed on renowned producer Charlie Peacock. “Charlie had recently made a beautiful record for The Civil Wars, so he seemed like an ideal producer. We spoke on the phone for just a few minutes and instantly connected. He wanted the recordings to focus on my vocals and acoustic elements. Our goal was to simply enhance the demo and bring them to life.” Dennen's brand new release is called Por Favor.
In the conversation, Brett talked about a series of YouTube videos he created under the name of "Wilderness Tips." Here is one of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O4YBrMcN84
