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 youβve done something like this?
Bren: It is the first time. Very first time. Itβs crazy, itβs wild, the stage is insane. I think it is also very rewarding, and Iβm 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. Iβm 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 weβre singing each otherβs songs, you know, at some point. Weβre throwing this baton back and forth, and I think itβs 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 itβs really cool seeing both our trajectories. Weβre [on] opposite ends of the spectrum, so I think thatβs the difference. Itβs less diss, more acceptance.
The Knockturnal: What do you think is going to be the most challenging thing about tonight?
Bren: Aw, manβ¦ Singing Jakeβs 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 itβs very interesting coming right off of a tour into this completely different set-up. And balancing that and having this kind of free form experienceβ¦ Itβs gonna be fun.
The Knockturnal: What is one of the biggest obstacles that youβve overcome to get where you are today, in the music industry specifically?
Bren: I think comparison is always the biggest thing. Iβm always around singers. Iβm always around incredible musicians. Everyone here has an insane voice, so I think itβs like getting to that place where I can believe in myself.
The Knockturnal: What is one of the biggest goals that youβve had for yourself, personal or career, that youβve been able to achieve?
Bren: To earn respect. Iβm still getting to that point.
The Knockturnal: Respect from whom?
Bren: I donβt know. Itβs very toxic, but I long for respect from people. β¦ 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. Thatβs a goal that Iβm 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 thatβ¦ How bad I want this, and how bad I want this to work. I really believe in what I make, and itβs taken a lot to get to this place. I wanna be happy. I am happy. Iβm very happy right now; donβt get me wrong. Iβm 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 Iβm excited to journey there.
The Knockturnal: Is there something you wouldnβt do to get there?
Bren: Sell out my art. Doing something that I donβt believe in. Talking about things that I donβt 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 [Iβm] trying to get to that place. Thatβs something Iβm 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: Youβre 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 canβt teach until I learn. As bad as I want this for myself, there are so many artists I see every day that Iβm like, βThey should be signed, they should be signed, they should be signed,β and Iβm always giving my label people like that, Iβm sending them new artists, like, βYo, theyβre fire, theyβre fire.β 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 whatβs coming next in your career?
Bren: I think new music, a new album, and new opportunities. Iβm about to move across the country, which is fun.
The Knockturnal: Youβre coming to join the 420 club (California)?
Bren: I am, I am. Ah, itβs gonna be crazy. Every time Iβm there (California), I stay for a long time and itβs just incredible. But new experiencesβ¦ And Iβm excited to show more of myself for the first time in my music than I have in the past. Iβm experiencing love, so thatβs the thing Iβm talking about finally.
The Knockturnal: Youβre 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 whatβs cool and whatβs not. So do Black people. People of Color and queer people literally run the fuckinβ streets. We make things trend, and I think thatβs 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 βqueer,β 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: Thatβs a really good question. I donβt even know. I think itβs less of me having a favorite person and [more of] me having a favorite era. My favorite era right nowβ¦ 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. Weβre just cool. I donβt even think weβre trending right now. Weβre just finding that space. Weβre finding that stride and now that weβre getting that stride, weβre like, βYo, whatβs up!β I think itβs βcause we finally have idols. I finally am seeing someone thatβs like me winning.
The Knockturnal: Representation matters.
Bren: Yes! Finally someone like me thatβs able to book Coachella three years in advance, you now? And he hasnβt even seen the light of day, he hasnβt talked to anyone. That is power. β¦ There are just so many Black queer men that are just on top and itβs very enlightening to see.
The Knockturnal: So, youβre experiencing loveβ¦
Bren: Yes, experiencing love. A lot of the songs Iβm writing right now are about specific people.
The Knockturnal: And what about those specific people is making you experience love?
Bren: Iβve gone through so much life, longing to be desired. And I feel like now that Iβm traveling, Iβm finding those people that really are inspired and drawn to me. Instead of me chasing people or begging peopleβ¦ I feel like so many people long to be loved instead of owning that space and being like, βIβm fuckinβ great. Iβm a dime. Iβm a ten,β you know? So, I think right now the individuals that I have been really responding to really make me feel sane. I think thatβs what my music is about. My music is about summer love, itβs all about summer, and thatβs 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 //
