A Quick Chat With Brandon Poletti

Boorloo/Perth-based country artist Brandon Poletti releases his soothing single ‘Move Away’ (Out Friday, May 17). Known for his raw yet comforting soundscapes, Brandon's new track blends warm keys, smooth guitar licks, and his soulful country rasp. ‘Move Away’ reflects on outgrowing one's hometown and the longing for change, offering solace and hope for those seeking a fresh start. We caught up with Brandon to find out more.

Can you tell us what this track means to you and what you want people to take away from it?

Out of all the songs I've written, this would be my favourite. It was just as a result of a day I woke up in a pretty bad mood.. I felt as though a couple things hadn't panned out how I'd hoped and I was also dealing with some pretty sad news in my family. I was just thinking, man it'd be so much easier to just pack the bags and start a new life somewhere else where I wouldn't have to deal with the emotion of these things. But sometimes day's like that are great as a songwriter because you can just jot down exactly how you feel and before you know it you've got a tune that's sincere and honest. Mainly, I hope that people can relate to the lyrics of this song. It's definitely a notion that some people will have felt, so I just hope they can associate their own experiences with this part of the song. Also, I just hope they enjoy the laid back feel of this tune as well. 

Who are some of the band's influences, and why?

Chris Stapleton is my biggest influence, I love his songwriting style and he consistently makes great tunes. Other artists that I have really enjoyed recently are The Brothers Landreth and Amos Lee. The main thing I enjoy is a song with either a narrative or a good message.. Simple song by Stapleton is a great example, he just talks about being content with the simple things in his life, such as his wife and kids but it's just so well articulated. 

What's the creative process for the band, from writing through to recording?

I write all the tunes at home and it starts with me fiddling around on guitar or piano until I play something that feels like a good place to start a song. Sometimes a song takes 30 minutes, sometimes it takes 6 months to finish but I've noticed that usually the best songs I've written happen relatively quickly. I then go in to record with my good friend, Josh Dyson, who has produced all my music since I first started. Josh was my first producer and I was the first person he ever recorded and I just think that we make a great duo because we have very similar tastes in music and ideas about how to create the music we want to make. 

What do you think makes a great song?

The two things I listen to most are the production quality and the lyrics. Songs that are well mixed just sound killer, particularly if there's good use of space and dynamics between instruments. I also love hearing relatable lyrics that have some meaning and depth behind them. The ability to write lyrics that people can hear and instantly connect with is something very special, it's also a hard skill to get as a songwriter. I still think I'm developing that skill but I think it's important to listen to great examples of these types of songs and extract what I can as a songwriter. 

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

Probably Chris Stapleton or Bonnie Raitt. It would be incredible to do a collaboration with either of these people, they're both incredible musicians and songwriters. If I got the chance I think I'd just be a sponge soaking up as much of the experience as possible! 

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?

I love gardening and building things. My dad was a carpenter so I know my way around a circular saw. Weekends when I'm not gigging I enjoy making and fixing things around home. I'm pretty handy but it's not rare that I bugger things up and have to call in Dad or my brother to fix up my poor craftsmanship. I also love cooking, my repertoire of meals isn't that large but I do love making pasta and curries. 

Who are some local bands we should check out?

There's lots that I would recommend from Perth. But a couple of my favourites are these guys. Firstly, Whiskey Jack, he's a good mate of mine and just a killer songwriter. Siobhan Cotchin is a county artist from Perth and she's incredible, she recently got back from a tour with Matchbox 20 and the Goo Goo dolls, which looked awesome! Other great Perth artists to check out are Angie Colman, Claudia Tripp, Dave Kent and Joan and The Giants. 

Winter or summer and why?

Winter for sure. I love the rain and the cold weather, I feel like I'm so much happier and creative as soon as winter rolls around. 

What else do you have planned for 2024?

Following this tune I have another single coming out in about 2 months and then finally my 4th EP will be out towards the end of the year. We also have some really exciting gigs coming up that I'm looking forward to, all of those will be put up on the socials. In October I'll be heading into the studio to start tracking the next lot of tunes, not sure whether it'll be a couple singles, an EP or an album but I've got a bunch of tunes that I'd love to get recorded and released sooner rather than later. 

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