We were lucky to catch up with David Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.
David, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Our debut EP, titled Paradise, was released in 2020. We started the pre-production process in late 2018, and began recording in early 2019. We worked with a producer Matt Goldman and a team of 23+ musicians throughout a variety of studios including Oceanway, Columbia, and RCA to create the ambitious sound in Paradise. The first single, “Goodbye,” dropped in March of 2020 – it was met with some interesting challenges. Our first single release show was disrupted by the Nashville Tornado in March 2020. As soon as we got back on our feet a few weeks later the Pandemic hit. We had to get creative with how we were going to continue releasing the album. We learned a lot including how to perform virtually.
David, 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?
When I was 10, my Dad got me my first guitar – from that moment there was no doubt about what I wanted to do. I started touring when I was 16 playing in different bands. Now, I sing in an indie-rock band called SWEETTALKER. I love writing songs, and I love getting people together to celebrate music in tiny dive-bars. I love the process of building a song and trying to show it in the best possible light. I am most proud of the work we put into our recordings and how far we’ve come creatively as a band.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
There are a lot of challenges you have to face as a creative. You’ll be met with several problems that you’ve likely never faced before. You won’t know the answer, and maybe there won’t be anybody there to point you in the right direction. This usually means you have to learn something new in order to move forward. Learning a skill or trick to solve a new problem isn’t unique to the world of creatives. However, what I have found to be unique is that what I learn today will impact what I’m going to create tomorrow. When I learn something new about myself or the world around me, the music I make changes. I feel much differently about adversity than I did when I was younger. New challenges feel more like an invitation to grow, and I can feel excited about the unknown instead of being frustrated or anxious. If I can figure out what I need to know, I can unlock new opportunities for my career as well as new possibilities for my creativity. What once stood in my way now elevates me. This is my favorite part of being a creative. You get to see not only yourself changing over time, but the art you make will change too.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Art is a form of expression, and expression is essential to people. We all feel the desire to be understood, to be a part of a collective, and to communicate our thoughts with one another. In my opinion, I think art is more effective at communication because it allows whoever is receiving to seat themselves in the mind’s eye of messenger. They aren’t thinking “what is this other person trying to say to me?” but rather “what does this message mean to me?” When we gather in those little clubs for a show, we’re all there to share our love for music. We want to show that music is an extension of who we are. I think that’s when we can relate to each other much easier. I think the most important thing society can do to support the artist is to take more time to enjoy it – go to more shows, buy more art, talk to people about the art you love. To enjoy art is to connect with others around you and to satisfy that primal need to communicate.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.sweettalker.co/
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sweettalkermusic
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/swttlkr
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/swttlkr
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/sweettalker