We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Wilkins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brandon, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I have always been a creative person. My passion has driven me to find the spaces in which music is born, whether it’s in the studio, or on stage. This realization didn’t set in until about 15 years into my musical journey. Some of my earliest musical memories were shaped by the records my father would play on our stereo system at home or in the car. For some reason music felt like magic to me. It was something other-worldly which didn’t abide by the seemingly mundane fundamentals of reality that I knew. For this reason, I became a fan on music first, which then informed my path as I grew older.
Following in my father’s footsteps, I began on drums, but quickly grew bored. I wanted to play melodies! At this point, I don’t even remember what it was specifically about the saxophone that drew me towards it, but I do know is that I personally find it to be one of the most beautiful and interesting sounds in the world. Naturally, as with many sax players, I explored what are called “doubles;” other instruments in the woodwind family that share similarities with my instrument. These included flute, clarinet, and during high school, oboe. As my skills expanded, I found myself facing the question, “What will I study in college?” Frankly, college hadn’t entered my mind until that point. Enter Berklee College of Music…
It wasn’t until I entered a summer program at Berklee that things finally clicked. Amidst the cacophony of musical notes, I found my home. At last, there were a group of people like me. We were all drawn to the same magic. I knew as soon as I arrived, that I HAD to go to school there. This changed the course of my entire life. It hadn’t occurred to my that I could make a living playing music. I was a liberated man! Thus, I set forth on a musical path that has led me on an incredible journey so far.
Brandon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Today, my career consists of a wonderful balance of many things. These include performing saxophone, recording woodwinds at my studio, and producing music with clients. This lifestyle is very engaging to me and limits any burnout from doing too much of any one thing. I am grateful that my skills are sought after in many arenas. In addition to my bread and butter, I am always challenged by unusual requests, which push me outside of my comfort zone. Regardless of the circumstances, quality is first and foremost. My goal is to be the last person my client needs to hire. A one-stop-shop, if you will.
As with any newcomer, my journey started very simple. Coming from a jazz background, I would hit up my local jam sessions to meet new people. Eventually, I built up a network of friends and that led to more playing opportunities. It was important to me to get to know people, not for the gigs they could get me, but the for the sake of a friendship/relationship that might last forever. People want to be around people they like. When hiring musicians, bandleaders want to call their friends.
After a few years of playing gigs, I began to get restless. There was a lot of time during the day that was spent idly before a nighttime performance. I sought out opportunities to arrange, orchestrate, and record music for others, so that I could flesh out my life as a musician. I started to get the bug… I felt like there were a lot of things I could do to help my fellow musicians make their music better.
It started off as simply as recording friends and quickly grew into recording/producing/mixing for clients. I discovered a new passion. It’s really no surprise to me though, as I am addicted to sound. This was just another side of the same coin. I want to create the opportunity for others to experience the magic of music. I have been blessed with a wealth of skills and it is so rewarding to help their music come to life. Everyday, I work to create an environment where it is safe to explore ideas and express heartfelt emotion. My whole philosophy of music is built around authenticity, because without it, what would we connect to?
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Not too long ago, I was struggling financially. I had a long standing belief that my work was worth a certain amount and I was to never dip below a certain rate. The reality was, however, that because of this, I was doing close to zero work… I felt that I was somehow lesser of a person if I accepted work that didn’t pay “enough.” I had a lightbulb moment when discussing this with my father. I realized that it is entirely within my power to improve my situation at any given moment. It doesn’t matter if that means earning 1 cent more than I had the day before. I have to be willing to do anything to move in the right direction, even if it means reducing my rates. Even though it isn’t always what I wanted, I had to accept that the market sets the rate. If no one is spending more than $1000, I can’t expect success asking for $2000. Strangely enough though, this didn’t last long. I spent about a month working for “less” and quickly grew my reputation as a high quality musician. My busy schedule allowed me to be more selective with my clients and charge higher rates. Funny how that works… I know that if things ever get tough, it’s okay to start from the bottom again. Nothing in this line of work is consistent. I am simply grateful I have been able to do it for as long as I have.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
My impression is that almost all people outside of the music are unaware that being a musician is a lifestyle. Practically every waking moment of my life is centered around music. If I am performing at a club, my work starts when I receive a phone call for the gig. This starts a chain-reaction of preparatory events, such as home practice time, rehearsal, travel, setup, coordination, etc. The performance is typically all the public sees. I am constantly working to improve my craft, either through music, or personally. The more comfortable I am in my own skin, the better I am able to perform; on stage or in the studio.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brandonwilkins.com
- Instagram: bdwilkinsmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brandonwilkinsmusic
Image Credits
Suzanne Frisse Lathrop