Country artist Brandon Lay experienced what he calls a “eureka moment” after the first show he played while in college. Originally from Jackson, Tennessee, Brandon packed up his rock-meets-country sound, and brought it to the Nashville area in 2010. He established himself in iconic Music City hotspots like Douglas Corner and The Bluebird Café, eventually giving us songs to love like “Speakers, Bleachers and Preachers” and “Wilder Horses.” These days, with live music still scarce, Brandon is busy writing and recording new music, building a beautiful home in Spring
Hill, and spending time with his wife, Nicole, his son, Ryder (2), and his daughter, Lara June (6 months). “I’ve spent a lot of this down time getting back to my roots. I started out in bar bands, so I’m trying to get back to some of those sounds.” Brandon shared with us some of the music
that influenced him as an artist and some of his most meaningful originals. BrandonLay.com
1. Take It Easy by Jackson Browne – “Being on the road for months at a time, you start to go crazy. That song kind of centers me a little bit. I’d be out in Arizona or wherever and hear that song and know that I’m not doing something that no one else has ever done before.”
2. Main Street by Bob Seger – “When I hear that song, I think of Destin, Florida in 2002. I was going through a breakup with my middle school girlfriend. She’d given me her dad’s Bob Seger greatest hits CD and broke up with me. That song always reminds me of that spring break trip.”
3. I Go Back by Kenny Chesney – “That was the first time I felt like a country artist was really singing about me. Lyrics have always meant a lot to me, but that was the first time I was old enough to start living the songs.”
4. Break Down on Me by Brandon Lay – “I wrote it at my kitchen table one night. I always look forward to playing that live. Everything is so loud, then bringing it back to that song is almost lullaby-like.”
5. Startin’ Young by Brandon Lay – I feel like songwriters in general, especially me, put the past on a pedestal. Everything was so rosy and cool. Startin’ Young is kind of nostalgic but it also feels a little uplifting. It’s a celebration of youth.”
6. More I’m For by Brandon Lay – “That song’s over twelve years old, but I feel like I recently recorded it. I feel like it’s more timely now than ever. It’s a positive message that there’s a lot in this world that I’m against, but there’s still more I’m for."