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

Britton, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned how to be a musician and songwriter by really diving deep into the work of other musicians and songwriters I admire. You can’t get better at what you do without immersing yourself in work that is better than yours. You learn through experience and through studying those who came before you. That doesn’t mean you have to make music that is derivative of your idols, but you can study the way they use melody, structure, lyrics, chord changes, and dynamics to inspire you to move deeper into your craft. Doing this for over 15 years now, I could’ve sped up my learning process by really studying the writing of artists who might reside outside of my preferred musical genre. Every genre should be important to a songwriter. Some folk artists could learn how to really tell a good story through listening to hip-hop. Some rock guitarists could really learn how to craft an inventive solo or riff by listening to jazz guitarists, or even jazz horn players.
In terms of essential skills, developing a good ear and good knowledge of your instrument is vital to being a successful musician. Dedicate yourself to really intently listening and put a lot of work into practicing your instrument – whether that’s guitar, piano, or even your voice.
I grew up pre-Spotify and Apple Music’s accessibility, so I’d say my main obstacle was limited availability to musical catalogues. Now, with streaming, you pay per month what you used to pay per album (for better or for worse when it comes to paying artists), and so I now know the benefit of removing the obstacle of limited resources when it comes to the ability to listen.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Well, I picked up a guitar for the first time when I was eight years old and immediately fell in love with the instrument. I loved music from the time I was born, and so taking part in the making of music through guitar lessons really threw me headfirst into a beautiful love affair that I have with music. I started playing in bars when I was 12 years old or so with a classic rock cover band that I co-founded with a drummer in town, and really discovered my voice there. I don’t think I’d be where I am today if it wasn’t for the intensely dedicated bar band experience that I got almost every weekend from 12 to 18.
When I was 18, I placed runner-up on NBC’s Emmy award-winning series, The Voice, on Team Alicia Keys, while also having a #1 original single on iTunes called “Where You Come From”, and that catapulted me enough that I was able to take up the mantle of creativity as a full time job. I’ve since toured the country, sang the national anthem for many NBA teams (go Lakers, you are my heart and soul), and released a debut album called Something You Can Break, which is the achievement of mine I am most proud of.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I do think non-creatives struggle to see artistry as a genuine career path for some people. For instance, I know there’s a lot of folks in my hometown in North Carolina (and God bless them all) who think that, on work trips to play, my wife and I are just out somewhere vacationing. They see the travel to cool places and the opportunities that come out of that as somewhat frivolous and not genuine work and a genuine money making resource. I really can’t say that I blame them either, because I do think the world has fallen into this idea that what you see on social media is real life, and that nothing happens outside of that. So, I try to do my best, whenever I can, to explain to people what my days look like when I’m on tour and the time consumed by travel to and from venue, soundcheck, rest from a good show, and the physical show itself. I do think it’s up to us creatives to help explain our work though to non-creatives. We are the ones who followed a non-traditional path to financial stability (and some of us may never got close to that), so I think we have to do our part in helping those around us understand our journey.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’ll use this question as an opportunity to tell you the books, albums, and films that have significantly impacted my songwriting and motivations. Books: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (maybe the most important book ever?)
Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor
IT by Stephen King
Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean
The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton
Barking to the Choir by Father Gregory Boyle
Albums: Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (the greatest album of all time)
Graceland by Paul Simon
Late for the Sky by Jackson Browne
Live at the Harlem Square Club by Sam Cooke
Blue by Joni Mitchell
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Films: Casablanca
Badlands
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
Psycho
The Last Picture Show

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brittonbuchanan.com
• Instagram: @brittonbuchanan
• Facebook: Britton Buchanan
• Twitter: @brittonbuchanan

Image Credits
Kiersten Friesen Patrick Priest Maggie Buchanan