Interview with Brian McShane

We have been enjoying the catchy song, Automatic With You by Brian McShane. His new emotionally driven single is a colorful vibrant song and reminds me of a mix of Jason Mraz, Matt Nathanson and the fun side of early Barenaked Ladies. We had the chance for a Q & A Brian and you can check that out here:

Music Junkie Press: Thank you Brian for taking the time out to talk with us here at Music Junkie Press. You recently released your first single, Automatic With You, can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the song?

Brian: my girlfriend dumped me and I wanted to get back at her by writing her an awesome bittersweet love song with a catchy beat. revenge is sweet. mmmmmhuuuhhhaha!! JK! (sort of) The following is an actual, completely made up excerpt from my heartbroken ramblings: “Dear (You know who you are), How could you do that to me!!??!!! so rude to just dump me like that!! It was super automatic with you and stuff! AAAAhhhhggggg! ps. buy my song on CDbaby! thanks! :)”

Music Junkie Press: With the new single release, do you have plans for an EP or album release?

Brian: It seems like the new thing is to just continually put out a string of singles and videos these days. Kind of like inviting people into your musical life on a day to day basis. Thats totally cool with me because its kind of like having a stream of consciousness music career as opposed to popping your head up after disappearing for years and saying “hey remember me?! I’ve been in Tibet! I made this record! Like my beard?!”

Music Junkie Press: Do you have a particular songwriting process and where do your inspiration from?

Brian: Well most of the time I play a fairly dangerous game with my songwriting process. I wait until a real, meaningful thought or feeling pops into my head already set to a melody with phrasing and all! That doesn’t happen very often, mind you, which is why I am not super prolific! But, I can honestly say that my songs come from the heart and are inspired by real events in my life (not the reality show that I may or may not have binge-watched the night before)

Music Junkie Press: With the music industry having undergone major changes in the past 15 years, what is something you would like to see changed?

Brian: Well the record companies used to have an iron grip on most of the musical content and they were kind of the gatekeepers deciding what all of us little people listened to. And while signed artists were more likely to get paid for their art, I’m sure the power-that-were overlooked some really great musicians who didn’t have access to all of this great new stuff we have now. I really like the explosion of crazy free market creative expression that is happening because of the internet and how it has allowed the most unlikely artists to gain attention for their efforts. One thing I would like to see (and I do think it is slowly happening) is artists getting paid fair market value for their stuff. Like I said, there is more and more recognition by industry and consumers alike that we really do need to pay artists or they starve and die, and the art starts sucking, because 10 people are making all of it. They need help!!! And I need a new guitar! This thing’s beat!

Music Junkie Press: What is the oddest thing you have ever written about in a song?

Brian: I once wrote a song about the numbers 1, 17 and 29. Totally kidding, but good question! I’m going to have to think about that one…

Music Junkie Press: Here at Music Junkie Press, we are very strong believers that music can heal, help, inspire, change and so much more. Can you share a particular story about a time when music helped you or changed you?

Brian: In my old band Aunt Pat, I had a chance to work with Levon Helm, the drummer from “The Band”. He has since passed on, but he sang and played mandolin on one of our songs. He was already a hero of mine, but meeting him and playing music with him pretty much sealed my fate. I was like “…this dude is effin’ cool. I’m ALL in. I wish I had a southern accent!!” And, I totally agree about music’s transformative power. If we had to quantify its affect on humanity, I’m pretty sure it would be up there with Krispy Kreme. But all kidding aside, music sucked me into an awesome cycle-circle as I recognized that for me, I couldn’t be a better musician unless I became a better person first. Thanks music! You rule!

Music Junkie Press: If you could go back and talk to your 14 year old self, what advice would you give to yourself?

Brian: I would say “get your greasy hands off the DeLorean before I eighty-six you permanently from this earth!!!” I’m sorry, I know. I will attempt to formulate a thoughtful response now. I would say “where we’re going…we don’t NEED roads…”

Music Junkie Press: If we could peak into your Ipod, what artist or song might we be most surprised at finding in there?

Brian: Wait…lemme get my iPod. Ok, I guess you might be mildly surprized to find “dat baby don’t look like me”. I could be wrong though. True story.

Music Junkie Press: What is next in store you this year?

Brian: Kimmel, Fallon, SNL, Oprah, Ellen, MTV music awards, the Oscars and Tonies (for my broadway adaptation of “dat baby don’t look like me” starring Neal Patrick Harris), and Beyonce’s birthday party. But, FIRST!!!!! I’m going to be releasing 4 more studio singles (in the style of Automatic With You) interspersed with videos of said songs, acoustic performances, and many silly pictures with even sillier captions.

Music Junkie Press: Lastly, what is something that you would like to share with our audience?

Brian: Hmmmmm…well, I’ve got a half a snickers and some sun chips? Ok, lets see…I would like to say thanks to all of you who do now, and will go on to enjoy and support my music. It is my life and the magical, musical equation is not complete until it is heard by YOU!!!! Now let’s make some magic!!!!! J

Brian has an inviting voice that carries such honesty and emotion with his song. You can pick up the song on iTunes here and add it to your daily playlist. Make sure to visit his social media sites so you can stay up to date on all his latest news.

~ Marisol

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