The 23-year-old Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Ky J. Brandes, has a knack for original lyrics paired with whimsical tantalization. This March, he released a new, beautifully crafted and one-of-a-kind track, “Radio Silence.” Creating a unique soundscape, the verses and chorus of this song were recorded almost a year apart from each other.
Replicating his feelings and thoughts through abstract images instead of saying it, it forces the listener to listen; to feel it. In his TikTok live, Brandes said this song relates to his own personal experiences, asking about a bunch of “Whys?” and trying to draw a conclusion from them.
"I think I got tired of saying that in writing, instead of just making it and feeling it,” said Brandes. “I wrote it [the melody] on a guest check at a restaurant, and then I came home and wrote it all that night."
Popularly known for his songs “Hunger” and “Elbows,” Brandes calls himself a “twangy indie rock” artist who focuses his independent promotional efforts on social media, where he can easily reach a wide audience. Doing a digital-era version of busking on TikTok live stream, he performs original songs and covers some of his favorite artists on acoustic guitar. In essence, he can jump from performing Bob Dylan covers to original songs in seconds; he’s extremely talented on guitar. His voice is mature and interesting, certainly leaning into his individuality; the hoarseness is contrasted by a hint of spoken word in his delivery. His style is comparable to that of Cavetown, so if you are a fan of that style, you will surely love “Radio Silence.”
A year and a half ago, Ky J. Brandes was starting a new side project to record while working with his producer. This was the start of a new demoing and songwriting process, simply creating whatever they could together. He started recording “Radio Silence” with the goal to paint weird and uncomfortable images, which especially come through in the outro of the song. A mind-boggling noise scape fades off into a conglomerate of guitars, grainy and hellish. It resembles the sound of radio static when flipping in between the frequencies.
The luscious and beautiful chorus is soft, highly contrasting the textured outro. Using different techniques for the microphones to create vocal layers with more grit. The difference is Brandes’ voice, with the use of two takes, over a year apart from one another, keeps this song diverse while showing his growth and control.
"It's probably the weirdest thing I have ever done," Brandes said. "But I am proud of myself."
His discography currently consists of a handful of singles and his EP Since I Left Amarillo. But, coming soon, there will be many new and exciting projects to hear from the Nashville-based artist.
Be sure to follow Ky J. Brandes on social media to keep up with him on all his upcoming ventures.
