Bren Joy performs for Red Bull Sound Clash at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on 9 December, 2021 // SI202112100475 // Usage for editorial use only //
Bren Joy took the stage at Red Bull SoundClash Nashville on December 9, 2021.
Red Bull SoundClash is a long-running lineup of nationwide concerts that features two artists on two stages as they compete head-to-head in a music battle. Red Bull SoundClash Nashville brought Bren Joy versus Jake Wesley Rogers to the stage in an epic four-round clash of sounds. Originally inspired by the culture of competing sound systems originating in Kingston, Jamaica, during the 1950s, Red Bull SoundClash was born to break the mold of traditional dance hall and reggae-focused music battles.
Before the rhythmic combat, Bren Joy sat down with The Knockturnal backstage and talked Red Bull SoundClash and finding love.
Bren Joy performs for Red Bull Sound Clash at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on 9 December, 2021 // SI202112100413 // Usage for editorial use only //
Bren Joy performs for Red Bull Sound Clash at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on 9 December, 2021 // SI202112100451 // Usage for editorial use only //
The Knockturnal: What is it like to be a part of the Red Bull SoundClash? Is it the first time you’ve done something like this?
Bren: It is the first time. Very first time. It’s crazy, it’s wild, the stage is insane. I think it is also very rewarding, and I’m very honored to be chosen out of all the possible Nashville artists. It brings me joy being from here, being able to represent Red Bull. I’m a Red Bull fan anyway.
The Knockturnal: How does a rap battle differ from what you guys are going to do here tonight?
Bren: I think the difference between a rap battle and stuff like that is that we’re singing each other’s songs, you know, at some point. We’re throwing this baton back and forth, and I think it’s less of a crazy battle and more of a celebration of both of our music and how different it is, and how weird we both are and in these completely separate lanes of Nashville. I think it’s really cool seeing both our trajectories. We’re [on] opposite ends of the spectrum, so I think that’s the difference. It’s less diss, more acceptance.
The Knockturnal: What do you think is going to be the most challenging thing about tonight?
Bren: Aw, man… Singing Jake’s songs is pretty challenging. I think just this back-and-forth-ness. Me and my band, I feel like, are very in tour mode. This set, we have perfected, you know, and so it’s very interesting coming right off of a tour into this completely different set-up. And balancing that and having this kind of free form experience… It’s gonna be fun.
The Knockturnal: What is one of the biggest obstacles that you’ve overcome to get where you are today, in the music industry specifically?
Bren: I think comparison is always the biggest thing. I’m always around singers. I’m always around incredible musicians. Everyone here has an insane voice, so I think it’s like getting to that place where I can believe in myself.
The Knockturnal: What is one of the biggest goals that you’ve had for yourself, personal or career, that you’ve been able to achieve?
Bren: To earn respect. I’m still getting to that point.
The Knockturnal: Respect from whom?
Bren: I don’t know. It’s very toxic, but I long for respect from people. … The more I make music, the more I just really want to be respected by the people I work with, the people I sing for, whatever. That’s a goal that I’m always trying to get to, and I really pride myself on how I handle my business and how I handle navigating right now.
The Knockturnal: What would be the next big goal or accomplishment that you want to achieve?
Bren: Happiness. Being able to express that happiness through music. I want it, and I feel like people around me can hopefully feel that… How bad I want this, and how bad I want this to work. I really believe in what I make, and it’s taken a lot to get to this place. I wanna be happy. I am happy. I’m very happy right now; don’t get me wrong. I’m blissful right now. But there are levels [to happiness], and then there is happiness with success, and my version of success is very specific, but I’m excited to journey there.
The Knockturnal: Is there something you wouldn’t do to get there?
Bren: Sell out my art. Doing something that I don’t believe in. Talking about things that I don’t believe in. I had such a long battle with being this artist from Nashville, being Black, being R&B, as well as being queer and kind of hiding that queerness, hiding that Blackness. I feel like you have incredible artists now that are coming up that embody all of that, and I think [I’m] trying to get to that place. That’s something I’m not willing to give up now that I found it, and I found that power in being Black and being queer and being an R&B artist and being from Nashville. Now that I have that strength, fuck that. Fuck losing that.
The Knockturnal: You’re predominantly in music now. Is there any other medium that you would branch off into? Television, film, commercials?
Bren: I want to be an A&R for music. I want to get to a place where I can figure this out for myself so I can help other artists figure it out. I can’t teach until I learn. As bad as I want this for myself, there are so many artists I see every day that I’m like, “They should be signed, they should be signed, they should be signed,” and I’m always giving my label people like that, I’m sending them new artists, like, “Yo, they’re fire, they’re fire.” So, I want to be an A&R in my thirties. Discover new artists, new talent, new money.
The Knockturnal: Is there anything you can tell me about what’s coming next in your career?
Bren: I think new music, a new album, and new opportunities. I’m about to move across the country, which is fun.
The Knockturnal: You’re coming to join the 420 club (California)?
Bren: I am, I am. Ah, it’s gonna be crazy. Every time I’m there (California), I stay for a long time and it’s just incredible. But new experiences… And I’m excited to show more of myself for the first time in my music than I have in the past. I’m experiencing love, so that’s the thing I’m talking about finally.
The Knockturnal: You’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Does that inspire your music in any specific way?
Bren: Always. Queer people are trendsetters. Queer people discover or set now what’s cool and what’s not. So do Black people. People of Color and queer people literally run the fuckin’ streets. We make things trend, and I think that’s the power in what we do. So, yes, everything from my art and how I dress, to how I express myself is all defined by incredible queer artists. And I use ‘queer,’ you know. It used to be this derogatory term; I use it in a very positive place. I use it as a very inclusive term.
The Knockturnal: Who would be your favorite queer artist of all-time?
Bren: That’s a really good question. I don’t even know. I think it’s less of me having a favorite person and [more of] me having a favorite era. My favorite era right now… The 80s were amazing, right? Queer artists in the 80s were fire, and I think I really am proud of our generation right now. We have a lot of icons kind of coming up that are in that space, that are just unapologetic, whether you have the obvious like Lil Nas X, to the not-so-obvious smaller artists. We’re just cool. I don’t even think we’re trending right now. We’re just finding that space. We’re finding that stride and now that we’re getting that stride, we’re like, “Yo, what’s up!” I think it’s ‘cause we finally have idols. I finally am seeing someone that’s like me winning.
The Knockturnal: Representation matters.
Bren: Yes! Finally someone like me that’s able to book Coachella three years in advance, you now? And he hasn’t even seen the light of day, he hasn’t talked to anyone. That is power. … There are just so many Black queer men that are just on top and it’s very enlightening to see.
The Knockturnal: So, you’re experiencing love…
Bren: Yes, experiencing love. A lot of the songs I’m writing right now are about specific people.
The Knockturnal: And what about those specific people is making you experience love?
Bren: I’ve gone through so much life, longing to be desired. And I feel like now that I’m traveling, I’m finding those people that really are inspired and drawn to me. Instead of me chasing people or begging people… I feel like so many people long to be loved instead of owning that space and being like, “I’m fuckin’ great. I’m a dime. I’m a ten,” you know? So, I think right now the individuals that I have been really responding to really make me feel sane. I think that’s what my music is about. My music is about summer love, it’s all about summer, and that’s all I can give away.
Bren Joy performs for Red Bull Sound Clash at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on 9 December, 2021 // SI202112100431 // Usage for editorial use only //
