What is your name?
Brandon Calano. I release music under the alias Becoming Young.
What is your genre of music?
Primarily pop, but I make crossover alternative tracks as well as acoustic/folk songs.
Give us a little bio about you.
I write and release songs under the alias, Becoming Young. It’s a name that symbolizes the process of letting go of everything we’re not, so we can become who we were meant to be all along. I live in Nashville and make records in bedroom studios. I feel fortunate to call it “work.”
What made you go into music?
I started writing songs because I had things I wanted to say to someone, but when I was younger, I was too shy to just say it. Most of my songs are letters to another person—stuff I needed to get off my chest.
Who are your influences?
Dermot Kennedy and Matt Maeson are two of my most significant inspirations, lyrically. They write from an honest headspace. And their vocal chops are next-level.
Your new single “Wild & Free” is set to release, tell us more about the single. What is the meaning behind the single?
‘Wild & Free’ is about rediscovering your power and finding freedom in knowing that you can overcome anything. It’s easy to get caught up in our tribulations, and we often let missteps and struggles weigh us down. This song is an acknowledgment that we are collectively coming back stronger… no matter what’s happened in the past, we are resilient. We can and will break free from the darkness.
Who did you work with on “Wild & Free”?
The song was a solo write, and I co-produced it with my buddy, Marcus Meston. Marcus is a producer and composer based out of Nashville, TN. He’s known for placements in the HBO promos of “Euphoria” and “Fake Famous” as well as in Nike, Peloton, Louis Vuitton, Under Armour, and Xbox commercials. We mixed the song together and Ted Jensen mastered it at Sterling Sound.
Describe the track in two words.
Goes hard!
What was the writing and recording process like?
This song evolved over a year and a half after I had done a lot of self-reflection and journaling. I began writing “Wild & Free” in August of 2020. The first draft was not a message I really wanted to put out, so I honestly never thought anything would come of the song. But my father loved the title and the melody, and he challenged me to see where else it could go lyrically. Ten months later, I took a second stab at the lyrics. At that point, I had a much clearer perspective on what the song should convey. The rewritten version is about letting go of the past and finding freedom in knowing that you’re stronger because of the storms you’ve weathered and the demons you’ve put to rest. I started demo’ing the song when I was visiting family in Colorado this past spring. I still didn’t love the song after the rewrite, but I wanted to get a demo down. My mother walked into the room I was using as a remote studio and casually tossed out, “Brandon, that song’s gotta gallop!” My mom is not a musician, but she played me a few Dermot Kennedy songs she was jamming to in the car, and I got an idea for a beat that was a 180-degree shift from the vibe I had going. I like having a close circle of family and friends who chime in on my creative process. And it was super fun to hang with my mom while I was building the demo. By 3:00 am I had a pretty solid track, and everyone who heard it the next day was stoked. It’s always a reassuring sign when you still want to listen to the song you’ve heard hundreds of times during the recording process. When I was back in Nashville, I met up with my buddy, Marcus, and we took the track to the finish line. Marcus added all these cool electronic textures, and I’m so grateful to have had his ears on the song. We ended up keeping the demo vocals because they were raw and just right.
Will we see a music video for the single and if so, what can we expect?
Yes! I worked with Jacqueline Day—one of my favorite up-and-coming directors in Nashville. We flew to Colorado and shot a vibey performance video at a historic house in Denver, as well as in the Front Range mountains of Golden (where Coors Beer is brewed). It’s been two years since I’ve been able to put together a big-time music video with a full crew. We had remarkably talented folks on set from both Denver and Nashville. From what I saw on the monitor, it looks like it’s right out of a movie.
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect from it?
“Wild & Free” marks the launch of what I really want my music to sound like. There will definitely be a follow-up EP or an album in the future, but I’m not sure when—I’m not yet sure what tracks will make the cut.From April of 2020 to June of 2021, I released two albums and an EP—it was a hectic content push. Toward the end of that release cycle, I knew I needed to slow my roll. So right now, I’m taking a break from committing to EPs or albums. Instead, I’m giving myself the space to write about wherever my life goes. I’m focused on releasing singles, recording new songs, playing shows—and living a life worth writing about.
What else can we expect in 2021?
I have two more singles in progress that I’ll release in 2021—I feel like I’ve finally found the sound & vibe that I want my music to convey. I’m energized and eager to put out these two new songs
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Headlining Red Rocks in my home state of Colorado!
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“You can do anything if you set your mind to it.” —My Brain
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Be myself
Breathe
Smile
Raise the vibe
Have fun
Listen to Wild&Free here
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes, @becomingyoung everywhere
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
