We recently connected with Brandon Bally and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brandon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I took a risk by going to the studio to make music, knowing that in my heart it was something I genuinely wanted to pursue. At the time of my first recording session as an artist, the City of Pittsburgh was in the midst of a lock-down due to the unexpected spread of COVID-19. Luckily the legendary production studio called “ID Labs” was still open, albeit with heavy restrictions to comply with the social distancing mandate. As a matter of fact, I had to wear a mask to even get into the studio that day. Fear racked me prior to the day that I had booked the session held in the same studio that artists such as Mac Miller & Wiz Khalifa had once made smash records in. Not only was this the first time I had ever been in a recording studio, this was also the first time that I would have the opportunity to confirm whether or not the songs and poems I had been writing for years, would really translate well into an audio format. With a referral from a close friend, I was able to get a designated time slot with an engineer to record my first track, “Wat Now?”
If you were wondering why the song is called “Wat Now?”, then it’s because that same question was always constant before that recording session. By the age of 24, it felt as if I was constantly overcoming challenges with the knowledge and worry that more were soon to come. Living to be an age that not everyone who looks like you and comes from where you come from gets to see. Trying to continue to grow after making it to college and graduating, even though you had to put yourself through it. Times were hard and times got better. But it was songs like “Wat Now?” that captured the thoughts and emotions I had through those trials and tribulations.
In conclusion, the risk of doing what I love has paid off. Being a recording artist for the past two years has been more fulfilling than I could have imagined. Music was always a love of mine, ever since I was a child. Having the opportunity to do something that brings me a sense of peace is invaluable. Nothing can truly compare to how at ease I feel when making a song and developing it to something tangible in the studio.

Brandon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I found the confidence to record my first song because a close friend of mine let me know that my poetry was on point. Poetry was my crash course on learning how to write a song that tells a story in a flavorful way. That crash course also included learning how to make a point through the use of 16 bars or sentences. Hip Hop & Rap is an artist conveying thoughts and feelings through the use of metaphoric rhymes matched to precision against an instrumental. Having received an outside opinion confirming what i had deemed to be true, it wasn’t long before I decided to put my talents to use in the studio. What separates my art from that of others is the level of detail that I place within my music and poetry. Every word and every bar has to have an impact. When the track starts, even as soon as the listener hears the instrumental, I want them to feel something. Due to my nature as a perfectionist, the ultimate goal is to create an experience that will make you think or feel. If this level of quality is implemented correctly, then music listeners and poetry lovers will be able to connect with the art. Having art that people can connect with is a fulfilling reality for me. It is because of this that I continue to create music and poetry.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Stay consistent and remain true to yourself. As opposed to attempting to recreate another brand, acknowledge your own best qualities and use that as your foundation. Posting short spoken word videos on Instagram was what initially built my social media presence. People who are into art & entertainment are also typically fond of fashion. In order to bridge that gap, I would collaborate with local photographers & filmmakers to show off my personality and sense of style. Overall realizing my own lane allowed me to narrow down who else had similar interests. This put me in a position to network and appeal with that audience via social media.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Having an idea and then being able to bring it to life is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist. Writing a song normally starts with one small step. Sometimes the initial step is a hook. Other times the first step is a verse or two. What I can say for sure is that it is rare to complete a song all in one sitting or moment. It’s something that is pieced together over a duration of time. Various renditions or adjustments are made in order to produce a final product, ready to be manufactured and produced at the recording studio. Our music and the experience promised with it is the product. We as the artist can be considered the entity providing for our audience of consumers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Brandon_bally
• Youtube: Brandon Bally