Brenda Xu began her music career in January of 2007, playing 4-5 open mics per week for 4 months. After releasing a 6-song EP that year, she soon became a staple in the San Diego music scene and began playing shows at venues such as Lestat’s, and festivals such as Ray @ Night and Artwalk. Nominated for “Best Acoustic Artist” in the 2010 San Diego Music Awards and for “Best New Artist” in San Diego’s Honoring Acoustic Talent Awards in 2007, she has since opened shows for international touring artists such as Gregory Page, and Renata Youngblood.
Her music has been described as haunting and melodic with a rock influence, and has been compared most often to that of Aimee Mann. Her songs have received airplay on various radio stations, and her debut EP and full-length CD has been written about in The SD Reader, Performer Magazine, Citybeat, and other publications.
Brenda currently has a full-length CD, A Little Illusion, now available.
Hi Brenda, thank you for agreeing to having this interview. I had the privilege of sharing a stage with you and your group in a songwriters event a few years back , hosted by our city’s musical maven Cathryn Beeks, at Dublin’s downtown. I was moved then and I am equally thrilled to see you as a solo singer/songwriter. I might as well say, for the sake of honesty that I am a fan.
Would you give us a little of your life’s journey to being a songwriter/performer? I am surprised that you didn’t start writing until later in your life – what event had that come into being?
I’ve always loved music, but it wasn’t until I was in the “real world” that I had a strong desire to express myself through music. I collaborated with a friend on writing songs, but realized that I preferred writing songs on my own, so that I could get a story, or feeling across in a way that I felt was most truthful and authentic.
What I really appreciated was the fact that you had the courage to just get up on stage as often as you were able and try out your work on an audience. Tell the new songwriter/performers why that commitment was important to you as a songwriter, and as a performer?
It was definitely hard to play my own songs in front of an audience at first. But once I gained some confidence and improved my performance skills, there is nothing else like having people understand what I’m trying to convey in a song – whether it’s a point I’m making, or just an emotion. It gives me a sense of validation, and allows me to interact with people, whom I would not have met otherwise. It surprises me sometimes to see who actually likes my music.
You had said that you write songs and perform them – if they don’t work for the audience you put them away. That strikes me as seeing yourself in two different personas – songwriter and a separated performer. Does the songwriter in you go back and look anew at the songs you have put away and make the corrections ? Or do you as the performer just discard them?
Did I say that? I do try out songs to see if they work. I think about them more in terms of – is this song getting across what I want to say, does it have enough changes, dynamics to keep people’s interest, and maybe more importantly, my interest?’ If the answer is no, then I scrap it.
There is an integrity and authenticity in that – you seem to take what you do as an active ‘Art’ . Can you speak to being authentic as an artist?
I think being authentic means being truthful and writing about and expressing what is inside you without worrying about what people want to hear.
What is it that you look for in an audience’s response to your songs?
As long as they are listening and not falling asleep, I am grateful. Anything further than that is a bonus.
Your music is transfixing – I find the construction of each song interesting – the stickiness for the listener is in the lyric quality and unexpected riffs. What do you want from a song when you sit down to write?
I don’t really plan much when I sit down to write a song. And most of the time, I have no idea if I will be able to come up with anything. I sometimes have an emotion that I want to express, and the lyrics just stem from that emotion.
‘I’d count to ten before I raise the stakes.’
‘Count to Ten’ for me has a haunting feeling and interesting vocal choices in the vocal performance. The ‘oo’ riff was unexpected and an affecting hook. This one is a little edgy – what’s behind the song?
It is about someone doing what they really want in life, and not sticking to the expected because it is easy.
'Certainty"
‘Certainty’, off your new CD, A Little Illusion, is philosophic and introspective - would you be kind enough to give us a little workshop on writing this song?
I came up with the verse and chorus separately. The verses are about doubt and worry, while the chorus is about having hope and dreaming. When writing songs I usually start with a guitar progression, and then improvise words and melody over that. I listen back to it, and choose the parts that sound the best. Sometimes a whole song has come out of one improvised take, other times it is slow going and takes a lot of tries. I find that the most truthful lines and melodies come out when I am not thinking about what to write – it is instinctual and kind of subconscious instead of cerebral. We put a lot of filters up in our every-day life when interacting with others. I think music, and really any other kind of art, is about letting down those barriers, and conveying how we truly feel without having to subscribe to established social norms and boundaries.
Now I get to gush about one of the best songs I have heard in quite awhile ‘The Space Between’. This is a song every songwriter, if the truth be told, wish they had written.
‘My maker doesn’t live in the sky it’s the space between you and I right now’
If I’m honest I will admit that my best tunes are love songs – but most love songs end up Hallmarky and trite journal writings. You have one astounding line after another in this song – lyric as poetry. How did this song come into being?
Thank you very much. It’s interesting that you brought up love songs, because I feel that this song is very much a love song. I can only tell you about the feeling that I had when writing it, because that’s the only thing I had in mind. I wanted to convey the warmth and understanding that two people can feel for each other. I believe that that connection is the driving force of who we are – whether it is love from a divine being, or the effect of positive vibes – it is a powerful thing that connects us all and makes us who we are.
What is more important to you the lyric or the music?
The melody and the lyrics are equally important to me, the melody maybe being a tad more. The music (instrumentation) can change, but the core of the song is in the vocal melodic structure and lyrics.
What moves you to write?
A strong emotion.
You had said in 2007 that you weren’t ready for a label to back you, I don’t believe that’s true – how do you feel about that statement now?
I am open to labels who are interested in signing me. It is tough doing everything yourself – marketing, manufacturing of CDs, distribution, etc., and I would love to have some help!
What new and exciting things are up these days?
I’ve just started playing shows in the Seattle area. It’s been interesting getting into a new music scene. I’m excited about meeting more people here, and finding out how my music will be received.
What does the Artist Brenda Xu see for herself in the future?
That is a good question. In the near future, I see myself playing more shows in Seattle, and perhaps planning a West Coast tour. I am also looking to get into publishing – getting my songs placed in movies and tv. As far as songwriting goes, I see myself going in a new direction. I’ve been listening to a lot of different kinds of music since putting out my last album – The National, Florence and The Machine, Regina Spektor. I feel that they will have an impact on my songwriting – in what way? I guess you’ll have to listen. :)
What do you want your fans and new fans, about to discover your gift, to know about you?
That being a soft-spoken person doesn’t mean that you don’t have much to say.
Thank you Brenda for the chat – Dave and I will be keeping an eye on your career with expectation.
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Brenda Xu Links My Space CD Baby Reverb Nation |
A Little Illusion |
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