an interview with Braden Ross

Seattle based singer-songwriter Braden Ross is back with his newest single "sun". A track about insecurity, describing Braden's struggle with self-hatred, but at the same time speaking on the importance of self love in the society we live in. Being inspired from emo acoustics to hyper pop, Braden is finding different ways to show is emotions in genres. Braden and I talk about his beginnings in music, the creative/writing process, his recent hometown show in Seattle, and so much more!

Hi Braden! Thanks so much for answering my questions! How are you?

I’m doing well :)

How did you get into music?

I got into making music when I was 15 years old, and was gifted my first DAW for Christmas. I started messing around with it and I guess I just never stopped.

When did you start writing lyrics?

I didn’t start taking music seriously until I was 18, which is when I wrote my first song called “Borderline”. It was an incredibly liberating experience to finally finish something of my own.

How did you go about finding your sound?

I honestly still feel like I’m finding my own sound. But right now I take inspiration from everything that I listen to. Whether it be from emo/pop punk music, or from alt/hyperpop music.

You’ve recently released your newest single “sun”. The topic is very vulnerable and relatable, how did you go about sustaining that type of vulnerability in your lyrics?

I was in an incredibly low point emotionally when I wrote “sun”. It was very easy for me to be vulnerable in that moment because I needed to get how I was feeling off of my chest. It was very cathartic for me.

What was the writing and creative process like for “sun”?

The writing process for sun took place in two parts; the acoustic session came about very quickly. I was incredibly depressed and having thoughts about self-hatred. So I channeled that and just put it into words. The more lively section took a bit longer because I had to tap into feelings of self-love which are much harder to come across for me. But over time I was able to get into the correct mindset to make it work.

What was the recording process like for “sun”?

The actual recording and production of “sun” was a quick process as well. I produce my own music so it was just a matter of experimenting with sounds until I got something that I was happy with.

You’ve just done a hometown show in Seattle! How did it go and what was it like?!

The Seattle show went really well! I got to play music with my friends and perform for people who were singing along to music that I had created in my bedroom. It really put all of this into perspective for me and inspired me to keep going. It reminded me that there are real people out there, living breathing people who enjoy what I do. There is no better feeling than that. To know that what you are doing is worth it.

Was the writing and creative process for “sun” any different from “pluck”?

“sun” and “pluck” were very similar in how they came about. I produced them in their entirety, and then put myself into a headspace where I was able to write about things that were going on in my life. Although they are thematically different, the processes in which I wrote them were incredibly similar.

What comes first, lyrics or music?

For me, music always comes before lyrics. It is very rare for me to write lyrics before I have a production made. I just find it easier to match lyrics to an instrumental rather than the other way around.

You shift from different sounds such as emo inspired acoustics to hyper pop, is there a genre that you haven’t tried out yet that you want to in the near future?

I want to make a legitimate pop punk song. I’ve come close with songs like “rewrite (acoustic)”, but I would like to bring in a full band and make a crazy, warped-tour-esque rock song.

Who would you say are your musical influences?

Right now, artists like “brakence” and “100 gecs” are some of my biggest influences sonically. But I still listen to a lot of emo music which definitely shines through in my songs.

Being from Seattle, would you say that has inspired your music in any type of way?

Seattle is the birthplace of grunge music so I definitely have taken inspiration from that. Maybe not in a way that is easily recognizable, but I still like to think that it plays a role in who I portray myself as an artist.

Is there a formula you follow when creating music and writing lyrics?

My formula is as follows; I come up with some sort of chord progression, and develop it into a complete production. I mess around with melodic ideas, and turn those ideas into full lyrics. Then I record, mix, master, and release the song.

When writing lyrics do you have a certain audience you want to reach?

I just want my lyrics to reach an audience who can resonate with them. If they find anything at all relatable about the things that I say, then I see that as a win.

What inspires you the most when writing lyrics and creating music?

I’m most inspired by seeing the art that other people create; it fuels a desire deep within myself to reach the same levels that they do. It’s a mixture of envy and respect, and it keeps me going more than anything else.

What was the hardest song you’ve had to write so far?

The hardest song that I’ve ever written was “useless 2.0”. I was developing a totally new sound at the time and spent countless hours tweaking and perfecting it. There’s still a lot that I would change about the song, but it was something that I needed to release so that I could move forward and continue to grow as an artist.

We’re all about discovering new bands/artists, who should we be listening to right now?

If you’re not listening to “brakence” you are missing out on one of the most talented artists that I have ever witnessed. You should also be paying attention to the hyperpop community as a whole. I feel like that particular genre is the next one to blow up and change the course of the music industry for the foreseeable future.

Words by Melody

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Listen to "sun" here