Enjoy ‘I Am Not’ below. Be certain to visit Brett Gleason at his official site.

MP3: Brett Gleason - I Am Not

The first time that I saw Brett Gleason’s live show, he was accompanied by his Grammy nominated drummer (Eliot Humberto Kavee). At last week’s gig, his sound was further perfected by the addition of Jana Fischer on keyboards & backing vocals. Jana not only took on the aforementioned roles, but she also toyed around with a multitude of eery effects which beautifully reverberated around the venue. With the partnership of Brett’s flawless vocals, the trio successfully recreated the brilliance of his forthcoming debut EP (The Dissonance). J’adore. All photos courtesy of Santiago Felipe. Go behind the scenes of Brett Gleason’s video for ‘I Am Not’ here. It will see daylight shortly. In April, I interviewed Brett Gleason. Visit Brett Gleason at his official site.

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With influences ranging from Kate Bush to Nine Inch Nails to Elliott Smith, Brett Gleason’s first-ever gig was met with rapturous approval on Wednesday evening. Highlighting the vast majority of his Dissonance EP & teasing us with a few songs likely to be featured on his forthcoming debut full-length, Brett’s short set left us with heavily baited breath. Positively stellar. Pics courtesy of Santiago Felipe. Read my Q&A with Brett here. Visit BG at his official site.

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Last week, we found out who the hell he was. Today, we chat extensively with the Brooklyn based artist. Enjoy the Q&A below. Visit BG at his official site.

1. How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?

I like to say it’s the love child of Tori Amos & Trent Reznor but that’s a little too easy. Essentially, it’s a kind of electro rock: melodic & vulnerable but with a harsher, more digital edge. I write everything on the piano but layer guitars, synths & samples. Though I use an entirely electronic drum section, it’s never loop based. I play everything live with evolving riffs & a pretty dramatic sense of tempo & dynamics. I’m trying to bring a sense of humanity to electronic music while also updating what ‘rock’ is supposed to sound like.

2. Your influences are wide - ranging from Portishead to Elliott Smith to The Smiths to Aphex Twin. What in particular draws you to these artists?

I like music that shows a certain vulnerability in the artist: serious music, almost exclusively of the tragic sort, hence Elliot Smith & The Smiths. I like a lot of artists whose sound may be different from mine but who’s outlook and temperament are comparable. Lately I’ve developed more of an electronic taste but it’s almost more of a scholarly interest, I love the atmospheres but not always the songs. Portishead does a great job at bringing a tragic sensitivity to their sound but musically they still resemble a bit of a beat box sometimes, a little too stagnant for me. Aphex Twin has been a huge help in showing me that electronica doesn’t have to be predictable but can instead can have an improvisational feel, can use technology to not just mimic real drums but to create complex rhythms most humans couldn’t physically do. I’m also really drawn to singer songwriter types (Kate Bush & Fiona Apple) & even bands that are more front man driven, like Smashing Pumpkins & Radiohead.

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Hails From: Brooklyn, NY

Influences: Fiona Apple, The Smiths, Kate Bush, Bright Eyes

File Under: Passionate electro infused singer/songwriter

Visit Brett at his official site.

The Dissonance EP is out now. A full-length will see daylight by year’s end.

MP3: Brett Gleason - I Am Not