What are your names?
I’m Kyle Berryman. But little brain works 😉
What is the bands name?
little brain with no capital letters.
How did you come up with the bands name?
I briefly attended community college in southern California, and ended up in a psychology course. I started learning about the different parts of the brain, and the cerebellum really stood out to me. It’s the small hump you would see at the bottom corner of most brain images, and it controls all coordinated movement. I began imagining all of the things we impulsively take for granted because of this region of the brain, and how much of being a human being relies on coordinated movement. Dancing, singing, drumming, crafting, creating, writing… all of it. So I played around with the term cerebellum and ended up looking up the specific translating to English, from Latin. And little brain was born.
What is your genre of music?
It’s definitely experimental. But plays with elements of modern bass/electronic genres, and I incorporate traditional singer/songwriter arrangements. I make everything in machine, layer and record into Ableton. This upcoming release is an accumulation of me “figuring it out,” and I’m always learning and changing with what I learn. I guess i take from many many genres, and want it to be whatever genre you want it to be.
Give us a little bio about you.
I’m from a small town in the California side of the Mojave desert, called Apple Valley. It’s a decent collection of people way out in the middle of nowhere, but there are most definitely some hidden gems, but mostly agates.
I spend most of the year in the hills of northern California, and have been writing music and learning music software recreationally for 6 years or so. I’m really into permaculture and gardening, and microbiology. Life happening, really fascinates me.
What made you go in to music?
I grew up with some very inspirational musicians. I saw Slayer from the drum rack at Long Beach arena and got into playing drums from that particular show. Dave Lombardo is a great friend’s father. And jamming with Dave’s son, Davy, opened the doors to tracking and creating songs and I’m forever grateful to have that creative motivation and influence at such an impact time.
Around the same time, I met an insanely talented vocalist/guitarist named Gabriel Lopez. My mom told him that I could sing in the shower really well, and one day he sat down with me and we tracked cover of something, and he told me, “dude you can seriously sing,” and we ended up making a project called Amorists At Large, and I really expanded my vocal abilities and started to play with the idea of playing percussion and singing. I owe a lot to Gabe and his influence as well, because it felt what it was like to fully believe in yourself and your capabilities, and that expression is a very rewarding and individualizing feeling.
Are you a signed?
I am not!
You released your new single ‘Seed Bearing Mammal!’,tell us more about it.
Seed Bearing Mammal is a Sonic journey of a track. It’s almost as long as the Lord of the rings trilogy. But it’s about experiencing life, and the concept of existence, and pupose on this planet. This whole cluster of life on this ball floating through space, following the sun in a giant spiral. It’s literally radical. And this song represents my gratefulness to be alive and to share this experience with every thing that’s around me, both physically and digitally. All of it. We’re beyond blessed that all the microbes that make up our bodies all get along. With seed bearing mammal, I wanted to remind everyone about the simple, and peripheral things that make life so special, and honoring our ability to perceive life the way we do.
What was the writing process like?
It was a roller coaster. I rewrote this song countless times, and rerecorded it 3 more times. I could taste what I was going for the whole time, but found ND myself so close and deeply involved in this song specifically. But the original idea, and lyrics came in a wave of 20 minutes. I was in the hills of Oaxaca, Mexico, listening to the beginning piano part on a loop. By the time I looked up from my phone, the lyrics were written and I took my headphones off with my mouth open and my stomach churning. Like, “Woah. I did it.” after that, I wrote 3 more songs and the idea for Kaleidoscopic Vision began.
What was the recording process like?
So fun. Ahh, I oh a good deal to a friend who didn’t want to be named. But I literally couldn’t have done this without Weston. And a close friend Matt Hulsey, who helped a great deal with tracking vocals. I tracked the vocals for these songs in 4 days, and just stood there crying. I haven’t put out music in 8 years, so this process has been a great learning, and humbling experience to say the least.
What is the message you want listeners to take from the single?
I really just want to remind myself that no matter how complicated and confusing this life can seem, there is beauty in what we don’t understand. And that trusting this process is all we can do, when we find ourselves in situations that are less than ideal. Perhaps, we are zooming in too far, and it’s distorting the true essence of what being alive truly is.
Describe the track in two words.
No breaths. Haha
You also released the video, what was the making process like?
Hahaha this is a funny story. A good friend, @jayandstuff and I were talking and he referred me to this videographer, Julian. I asked it he would be down to do a video in time for NPR’s tiny desk contest submission date. It was a time crunch, being one week away, but I guess the last minute stuff, *sometimes* comes out the best. We start shooting down the street from the house I grew up at, in Apple Valley… and we get the cops called on us. Thats actually the reason we went to that field in the middle of sitting bull and apple valley Rd, so thanks neighbor. There are some shots from that location, and I love the irony, because in a nutshell, that’s exactly what being a creative person in Apple Valley is like, quite honestly, and there are little rebels out there keeping it alive, and I love it. Makes for better art!
Will we get an EP or Album and if so what can we expect?
Kaleidoscopic Vision is an EP and comes out October 26th, so coming up very very soon.
Describe each track in two words.
Seed Bearing Mammal – what’s happening
Kernel Panic – Mr. Robot
A Moth In Awe – See Title
Wheels, They Turn – Lecture Time
Do you have any gigs planned or a tour in planning?
There will be a release show on Nov. 3rd, in Arcata, Ca, Humboldt time.
But tour is coming next year, if all goes well.
If so where are you thinking of heading?
All over. First, the west coast, and PNW more specifically. Lots of shows in LA and southern California as well.
What else can we expect from you this year?
I have some very special things in the works. Some awesome upcycled psychedelic merch, a school bus, another release in spring. Live videos, cover songs(shhh.) And whatever I can randomly cook up last minute af.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
I have some ideas brewing with some awesome folks. I have something coming out with Old Blush in the very near future.
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Always. Email me littlebrainmusic@gmail.com
I’m always down to collaborate but be flexible. if things sound off, I’ll be real, and I encourage the same.
Do you play any instruments?
I play drums, and sing. I do play with synths and keyboard. And love experimenting with kalimba.
Who are your influences?
This list is extremely long so I’ll stick with the basics. Radiohead, first. Tipper for obvious reasons. Ott., Kaya Project, Shpongle, Circa Survive, Portugal. The man, Polyenso, From Indian Lakes, Emancipator Ensemble, the list goes on.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Life. So much had to happen in order for me to be here. For me to think the way I do. For me to have the habits I have, and relationships I’ve made. But just living and processing life. Writing music when you’re going through some sh_t is a very healing way to get through
things. I pretty much sit around and I’ll catch myself saying a line, and I’ll write it down. Or I’ll be really deep in thought and ill come back with 2 or 3 words of a concept and I’ll work on that for 2 hours to 3 weeks. It’s all relative I guess, like all things.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
I see myself making music, living in a converted school bus, touring and selling gourmet mushrooms to restaurants for supplemental income off tour. Making kaleidoscopic images and up cycling clothing, and getting people behind the idea of recycling, and planting them trees! But I like to dream and then release all expectation so if one of these things happen, I would be so stoked!
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Mostly farming, but I love to travel, and see new places, meet new amazing folks. Read about stuff I can’t understand. But mostly, not taking myself or this life too seriously. Ultimately just try to live symbiotically with who I am and the necessity for money. It’s a fun balance.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Dreamsters – Tipper
Idioteque – Radiohead
They speak for themselves but mainly just wanted to speak through my music, and when I do speak, have something to say.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Get back up.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Being an artist is subjective. Mean what you say, and say it clearly. The goal is to make mainstream, you, and still be able to eat dinner on the town.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Be the change you want to see in the world. Gandhi is pretty awesome, besides all the homophobic stuff.
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
Deep Creek hotsprings. Pack in pack out assholes.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
To bed. Haha
2/ Who do you see first?
Probably mom and dad though.
3/What do you eat first?
I’ll keep it real and get pho’d up.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
USB chord, Interface, MacBook, spliffs, water, maybe some lavender tea?
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
BandCamp
Soundcloud
Website is gonna be iamlittlebrain.com but it’s coming soon!
