We recently connected with Will Breman and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Will thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I think it can be hard especially nowadays to be a freelancing creative. With the emergence of AI and the uncertainty around how companies might use that to segment creatives out and work to completely commoditize art and creativity, I wonder how often I am just creating art into the void. Like how much does my art and my voice even matter? So I frequently wonder if it would be better for me to do a recession-proof trade like contracting, or electrician work, etc.
And I think through that, I come back to the conclusion that I want to make art, if nothing else, for my own fulfillment. I think if I am true to myself, then the right people will ultimately be attracted to that.
Will, 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 work as a singer-songwriter, as well as an event musician and music teacher.
Most people who recognize me know me from being a semifinalist on NBC’s The Voice back in 2019. I have multiple recordings available on the internet, and have also worked alongside and/or opened for the likes of John LEgend, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and many others.
I’ve been doing music all my life. My mom taught me how to sing when I was very little. She had a karaoke machine about the size of a minifridge (it was the 90s after all) and I learned to sing through singing with her. Much of my musical upbringing was through working at my local church. Creating the career I have in music happened through necessity. I needed money, and I noticed a lot of local wineries/breweries in my area were hiring. I worked on crafting my pitch email, and over a few years created a gigging circuit that spans the entirety of California’s Central Coast. My bigger opportunities came similarly, through networking and saying “yes” to crazy opportunities like The Voice, without any expectations of what would happen next.
I’m proud that I’ve created something where I’m as in demand as I currently am. I’m proud that I can pay my bills reasonably through being my creative self.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I spent at least 15 years of my life leading worship in evangelical churches. I went to school effectively for it, and thought that was gonna be my life going forward.
And then I started deconstructing my faith, which ultimately led to a major faith crossroads/transition. I had to face that my priorities and morals no longer lined up with those of the churches I was leading at. I ended up even getting allegedly excommunicated from a Southern Baptist church in this process, and lost like 90% of my circle of friends,
Long story short, I had to come to the sad reality that my destiny was no longer in leading worship. And that was sad because I genuinely enjoyed doing it for so long and got a lot of fulfillment from it. But I also now feel more confident in myself as a person now that I’m out of that system. I have a better, deeper group of people around me. And I ultimately feel more fulfilled on this side of that situation.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
It’s one thing to just say “come to our shows!” Although that is important, and cultivating community in this time in history is so, so important.
Join our email lists! In a time where all of these social media platforms could be built and then destroyed in record time, the email list is still the most resilient way to stay up to date with someone like me and not have to look for artists you like over and over again as platforms evolve and change.
Also buy physical merch if you can. At last check, the payment I get per stream on Spotify is in the ballpark of $0.0000037. A shirt might cost more, but it also helps me put food on the table, and keeps the machine running.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.willbremanmusic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/willbremanmusic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/willbremanmusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/willbremanmusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/willbremanmusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/willbremanmusic
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@willbremanmusic
Image Credits
@openfolkla – for the one of me behind the radio mic
@lpaulphotography – for the one of me on the rock
@goewstycampers – for the one of me in the hat in the sun