NIPP: Brandon Wiard

Brandon Wiard

Artist Website	Bio
Some people collect newspapers. Some people wash their hands 30 times a day. Some people think Star Trek is real. Brandon Wiard writes songs. It all started when he sang Hall & Oates’ “Maneater” in a stroller at JC Penney’s, but eventually transformed into Wiard’s own form of lush midwest-pop. After that first performance his career was put on hiatus. Growing up Brandon was always losing sleep over painting, photography, film and poetry but music threw her gnarled fingers around his scrawny throat at the age of fifteen. Needless to say, his first band went nowhere but the damage was done and his path was set. Brandon quickly formed a new group and dubbed the project “Starmotel”. A mix of indie rock and classic pop sensibility, the band gestated over the next three years. Eventually his other-half left for college and Wiard started his solo career in the fall of 2001. Independently releasing “To Someone I Know” in November 2001, a collection of his own songs and some co-written with his old bandmate, he began to impose himself upon the locals. In lieu of having a band he performed his arsenal of songs with just an acoustic guitar and a golden throat. To date he has opened for such national acts as Mason Jennings, Mike Viola, Hey Mercedes, Clem Snide, Joseph Arthur, The Church, The Divine Comedy, Ours and many others. He has already toured both coasts, playing at such venues as The Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA and Grammyfest (a Grammy sponsored gig) at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ and now his sights are set on seeing some other places like Iowa, Indiana and North Dakota. Recently he has performed live on the nationally syndicated “Mitch Albom Show” (ABC Radio) and he has also been featured on “Rodney on the ROQ” (KROQ; Los Angeles, CA). College stations are also picking him up so the disease is spreading. Recently some friends offered to join the effort so now audiences are experiencing the fully realized versions of his songs. His new album, “Painting A Burning Building” (featuring members of Ozma, the Verve Pipe, Saturday Looks Good To Me and Blues Traveler among others), has been sent to press with a release date pending. As witty as he is sincere Wiard’s songs will break your heart and then offer to drive you home. ”...a pop-music singer-songwriter of a caliber that defies both his youth and his quiet nature…” Ann Arbor News full-page article entitled: “Wiard For Sound” “The sound is gorgeous, as the songs shuffle along over acoustic guitars and sparsely played piano on one track just to move to a punky slice of indie pop on another. This endearing flexibility is instrumental in keeping the album fresh, showing that Wiard has a firm grasp on melody and orchestration.” -All Music Guide review of “To Someone I Know” ”...these songs transcend the puppy-love cliches and bitter sweet angst that might be expected from a young musician…he has established himself as a master songwriter…” -Ann Arbor News review of “To Someone I Know”

Bio

Some people collect newspapers.
Some people wash their hands 30 times a day.
Some people think Star Trek is real.

Brandon Wiard writes songs.

It all started when he sang Hall & Oates’ “Maneater” in a stroller at JC Penney’s, but eventually transformed into Wiard’s own form of lush midwest-pop. After that first performance his career was put on hiatus. Growing up Brandon was always losing sleep over painting, photography, film and poetry but music threw her gnarled fingers around his scrawny throat at the age of fifteen. Needless to say, his first band went nowhere but the damage was done and his path was set. Brandon quickly formed a new group and dubbed the project “Starmotel”. A mix of indie rock and classic pop sensibility, the band gestated over the next three years.

Eventually his other-half left for college and Wiard started his solo career in the fall of 2001. Independently releasing “To Someone I Know” in November 2001, a collection of his own songs and some co-written with his old bandmate, he began to impose himself upon the locals. In lieu of having a band he performed his arsenal of songs with just an acoustic guitar and a golden throat. To date he has opened for such national acts as Mason Jennings, Mike Viola, Hey Mercedes, Clem Snide, Joseph Arthur, The Church, The Divine Comedy, Ours and many others. He has already toured both coasts, playing at such venues as The Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA and Grammyfest (a Grammy sponsored gig) at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ and now his sights are set on seeing some other places like Iowa, Indiana and North Dakota. Recently he has performed live on the nationally syndicated “Mitch Albom Show” (ABC Radio) and he has also been featured on “Rodney on the ROQ” (KROQ; Los Angeles, CA). College stations are also picking him up so the disease is spreading.

Recently some friends offered to join the effort so now audiences are experiencing the fully realized versions of his songs. His new album, “Painting A Burning Building” (featuring members of Ozma, the Verve Pipe, Saturday Looks Good To Me and Blues Traveler among others), has been sent to press with a release date pending.

As witty as he is sincere Wiard’s songs will break your heart and then offer to drive you home.

”...a pop-music singer-songwriter of a caliber that defies both his youth and his quiet nature…” Ann Arbor News full-page article entitled: “Wiard For Sound”

“The sound is gorgeous, as the songs shuffle along over acoustic guitars and sparsely played piano on one track just to move to a punky slice of indie pop on another. This endearing flexibility is instrumental in keeping the album fresh, showing that Wiard has a firm grasp on melody and orchestration.” -All Music Guide review of “To Someone I Know”

”...these songs transcend the puppy-love cliches and bitter sweet angst that might be expected from a young musician…he has established himself as a master songwriter…” -Ann Arbor News review of “To Someone I Know”