Photo © Jamie Harding

Brecon

Will Brown’s solo project BRECON showcases a penchant for introspective melodies, angular percussion and reflective harmonies, which drive a range of tempos into vast acoustics, wandering through repurposed references to UK dance music. BRECON’s music has captured the interest of the industry, securing a number of high profile remixes (Morcheeba, Rob Clouth and Max Cooper) and airplay (BBC 6music, NTS and Giles Peterson’s Worldwide FM).

FACTS

1. The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with

2. Butterflies taste with their feet.

3. Sunglasses were originally designed for Chinese judges to hide their facial expressions in court.

QUESTIONS

1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?

I always feel most inspired to write music after I’ve been to a gig. I don’t get/make enough time to listen to music for long periods without any other distractions, and there’s something so powerful about being fully engaged in the music at live gigs that I find really inspiring. Quite often new ideas are started late at night after I’ve been to a gig or first thing the next morning.

2. How and when did you get into making music?

My Dad had a few random bits of an old broken drum kit from when he was in a band when he was younger and I used to love messing around on it in the garage. However it wasn’t until I was about 16 when I got my first piece of music software (Cakewalk’s SONAR) and then spent a lot of my free time experimenting musically.

3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?

Miles Davis – Bitches Brew
Portishead – Third
Bjork – Homogenic
Cinematic Orchestra – Every Day
Modeselektor – Happy Birthday

4. What do you associate with Berlin?

Most of my experience directly with Berlin has been in the typical hedonistic partying as a visitor, however the things outside of this more obvious side that I associate with Berlin is the warmth of the people.

5. What’s your favourite place in your town?

It’d probably have to be one (can’t pick) of the great venue’s that Bristol has to offer. Either that or the observatory, out of town which has incredible views and somehow helps put everything in perspective.

6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?

I love people and working with people, especially disadvantaged young people and this is something I have always done through music education, and would have to continue this in some other way if music didn’t exist.

7. What was the last record/music you bought?

Ross From Friend’s “Thread”

8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Yussuf Dayes

9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?

As a performer it would have to be supporting Thom Yorke @ Bloc in 2016 and as a spectator a recent gig of Yussuf Dayes in St George’s Bristol was absolutely mind blowing.

10. How important is technology to your creative process?

It’s very important as it makes things so much easier, although this reliance is something I’m always trying to keep in check, as whilst it bring so much to the table, especially in terms of sonic possibilities, it can quite easily distract from the most important element of music creation, which for me is the expression and evoking of emotion.

11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?

I have an older sister, and she’s always been very encouraging of my music. She introduced me to a lot of music when we were growing up and would regularly buy me albums for Christmas that she actually wanted and would end up ‘borrowing’ so she could listen. I think this is a fairly small price to pay for the musical guidance.


Photo © Jamie Harding