Brian Givance Perspective on Right Here

My name is Brian Givance (Pronounced give-ANCE)  I am a singer songwriter from Saint Louis, Mo.  I have been writing songs and music for over 10 years now and have written dozens and dozens of songs.  

I actually started out compsing instrumentals and soundtrack type songs before moving into mainstream songs with lyrics.  I come from a sort of creative background as my mother is a self taught pianist and my uncles used to practice with a band in my basement.  I had always, since the early ages, been interested in song structure and writing rhymes.  At a young age, I did not have any instruments so I had to use what I could find around the house to make music.  My first song that I ever wrote was a song called Skating Fever where I used an actual rollerskate to create rhythm and noise to sing too!  It was a lot of fun and a hit with my two younger sisters.

As I grew into myself, I took time to teach myself how to play the piano and keyboard then eventually how to produce music.  Now my happy place is creating and sharing.

This release palys into the genre of R&B.  I tried to infuse an old school feel with a contemporary style of writing to create a familiar yet new sounding song.

Over the last 3 years, I have really started truly understand who I am as a songwriter AND a singer.  My sound and style has morphed from safe traditional, bad copies of what I am hearing on the radio to actually taking more chances and putting more of me in the song.

I have experience personal growth through both joy and pian and am no longer afraid to pour those experiences into my music.  This has helped me deliver a sound that fits my particular style of singing and create music that holds true to my background.  I would aslo say that, Lyrically, I have begun understanding how to translate my own experiences in a manner that others can aslo relate to in their own lives.

Themes I tend to explore are: Acceptance, respect and Confidence.

Accept and love who you are first, respect and listen to who you are with, and have the confidence to be who you are with whom you are with.

I would describe my favorite artist's music as introspective, timeless and generous.  That would describe non other than Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds.  

Not only is his music thoughtful and well crafted, but him as a person allows you to really connect with him musically.  A lot can be said about the person behind the artist that would either make you want to hear more from them or not.  When you see him work with other artist in such an un-selfish way such as he did with his latest project "Girls Night Out".  Or when you see him share a stage with greats such as Eric Clapton, he creates a magic and an energy that draws you in and keeps you there.  

He is the artist that I would most like to sit and have a conversation with.

So far my favorite song would be one that only a few people have heard.  It was a song I wrote for my Weddings first dance called "You, I Love You"  

It was the very first original song I have ever performed live.  It is currently in CD form sitting in a keepsake box that my wife guards very closely.

I have never performed with a band.  My dream performance would be to have a band learn my original music and play alonside me...anywhere!  

The strangest place I have discovered a song was standing in line at an all you can eat buffet.  I was behind an older couple in line and, as these things go, struck up a conversation with them.  I asked them the questions they may have been asked many times..."How long have you two been together?"  followed by "What is your advice to others?"  They told me that, to this day, they find new ways to enjoy old things.  This is where I got the inspiration for my song "Brand New Falling"!  

"Brand New Falling" is all about discovering new feelings from familiar happenings.  It is my first pop song that I introduced.  Check it out if you get a chance.

I would like people to feel positive and nostalgic at times.  I would hope people would feel like they are listening to a friend having a conversation with them.

Genuine. Positive. Different.

My definition of success as an artist is when you have reached the point of where you are happiest doing what you do.  I measure success one reached fan at a time.  If I could get someone telling me how something I wrote made them feel or they become a fan...then I have success regardless of how many there are.

I'm not sure if I will be a game changer, but I do strive to offer a different place to find music that touches in a different way sometimes.  

There is a place and time for everything.  Sometimes you want what you want in music when you want it.  I would like to carve out a spot where people who want something a little less edgy for the moment can visit my corner if for just a few moments.

An artist role in society?  Wow.  

I think to remember that we are a support system.  We may not be the ones perfoming brain surgery, but our performance may inspire confidence in those who do.  We may not be the ones teaching young minds to be great, but we can provide the soundtrack for the teachers to teach by.  And we are not the ones delivering the babies, but we can provide musical memories for beautiful moments like those.

I think if we embrace who we are as artists in that way, I believe that is our role.  At least that's how I see it.

If I can alter the music industry I would change the way indie music is delivered and reverse the roles of the gate keepers!  There are TONS of undisdovered great talent who are only hel back by the whims and money of a few insecure people at the top of the game.  We need to level the playing field both monetarily and exposure wise.  I'm not saying everyone who comes through the door should sit at the table.  But I do think that too many really good artists are not getting their due!  

I would change this because, when you put your heart and soul into something only to be shut out, it can be devestating to your craft.  I believe this has already hurt the music industry which tends to create non lasting trends and churn out music that can't be deciphered from one or another.  Same songwriters, same producers working on different artist makes everyone sound interchangable.  

The most significant lesson I've learned through being an artist is to be true to who you are!  Believe in yourself and stay true to who you are and people will pick up on that.  I believe that once anyone finds the courage to do that, then eventually good things will come. 

My main driver fro continuing is my passion for creating, my love for sharing and the people I may meet in the process.

My overarching goal as an artist is to connect and grow with a fanbase that will enjoy my music.  

My earliest memory of listening to music was as a very young child lying in bed, being terrorized by a loud thunderstorm.  It was still sort of daylight outside and I was upset that my mother sent my sisters and me to bed while there was still sun shining.  (I had no concept of daylight savings time back then so it may have been later than I thought it was).  Anyway, my mother was going about her usual while the rain poured downed and the thunder clapped louder and louder.  On the record palyer I could hear the song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamands" by the Beetles playing loudly over the storm.

The thing is, I didn't understand all of the words and my scared ears thought I was hearing "Lucy In The Sky Was Dying!"  This along with the storm freaked me out and I hid under the covers until I fell asleep!  The next day I asked my mother about the song and she laughed.  She put the record back on and explained to me what was actually being said.  To this day, whenever I hear this song, that memory still haunts me in a good way.