Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandon Hicks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Brandon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Learning the to play the bass guitar was not what I originally had in mind. I grew up in the Charleston music scene going to shows at a very early age. My dad was a guitarist for a few local acts and I would often go to rehearsals with him. One day I was told I could go to one of his gigs. It was at a place called “The Oasis” and used to sit on James Island where a bar called “the Break” sits now. I still remember the smell of stale cigarettes, cheap booze, and mildew. I was nervous being only 15 in a bar with a bunch of scary-looking tattoo covered people. I remember it suddenly getting eerily quiet and then i heard it. The familiar sound of my dad’s amplifier, but cranked up past the meager volumes that were used during practice. As the band kicked into their first song I could feel the music through my entire body. It was astounding, incredible. It felt as though I instantly had a connection with not only the entire band, but everyone around me. It was that night after getting home that I decided. I wanted to be on that stage.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Well, I’m a Bassist. I started out by practicing my butt off locked in my bedroom until I felt ready to try out for a band. My first band was called “Lizard on the Window” and we were an Indy/Punk band. I am now the Bassist of two different bands, Those being “Primo Noctis” from Charleston, SC and “Sacrificial Betrayal” from Richmond, VA. Both bands provide different flavors of Metal music. “Primo Noctis” is not your average metal band by today’s standards and offers songs that have been collaboratively written by all it’s members. It’s a balance of heavy grooves and somber melodies that create an experience unique to the Charleston area. “Sacrificial Betrayal” on the other hand provides non-compromising aggression and a raw live experience that pulls you in and grips you. I’m proud to say that both of my bands stand on their own as pillars of what they do. I look at the music I have created with these bands and I can say “yeah, that will be awesome to put on my shelf”. If y’all want to hear any of the music both bands are live on all streaming services.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best thing that anyone can do to support bands and what we do is to show up to a gig. Yeah, there is the obvious, we get a cut of ticket sales (sometimes), but what’s most important to a lot of us at our level is that we get to share our music with you. If you like a band that you see, give them a like on their social media platforms! If you can, buy some of their merchandise! Most of what you give goes right back into the band itself…or to Waffle House after the show. We get hungry…

As for generating a thriving ecosystem. All it takes is for everyone to start locally. Shop at local markets, Shop at small businesses, Buy a lamp from that guy who makes them out of old beer bottles. Buy some crystal earrings from that shop that sells all the hippy stuff. Get a hotdog from the guy in the Walmart parking lot. Go see 4 bands you have never heard of for 10 bucks (a steal I might add). Get involved, get passionate about it, BE A PART OF IT!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part is meeting someone who liked what we do. Getting to hear the crowd cheer after a song is nearly intoxicating, but the real reward comes when a kid comes to you after the show and tells you “I wanna play music like you!”. It’s exactly the same thing I told my dad back after that first show. The same feeling I had and passed along to someone new. Music has given me so many things over the years. Skills, a place to belong, friends, and even a fiancée. It kept me out of trouble and even helped me figure out my own emotions. To know that I can give the gift of music that was given to me to someone else is all I really need.

Contact Info:

• Website: artistecard.com/primonoctis
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primonoctisband/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sacrificialbetrayal/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sacrificialbetrayal2023

Image Credits
Loud Steet Media Paul Jones Photography Brain Fisher