Brendan Cross
"Brendan Cross is a young man with a lot on his mind these days.
A veteran of the local live music scene, he felt compelled to release a new group of songs that explore the most personal aspects of his life.
With YOU ARE THE LIGHT, a newly released seven-song EP, any fears he may have had about expressing his feelings about religion, his relationship(s), the death of his father, and his own spirituality have dissipated."
From "CROSS REMAINS TRUE TO HIS MUSICAL ROOTS" by Gerry Krochak of the Regina Leader Post.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
"Cross has been having fun and feeling good with his own blues-based acts since he was a kid.
Now a grizzled 20, he's a veteran trying to add a little something to standards like "Mustang Sally" and "Midnight Hour" latest outing, THE DISCO BLUES BAND.
"The direction that we've chosen is (to) take old blues and R&B standards and... interpret them in a 90's disco rhythm," he explains.
"We have a lot of fun with the cover songs we do, and we know that if we were to approach them really R&B, we'd lose a lot of the audience we have. That's why we came up with the term 'disco blues'."'
From "LOCAL BAND BLENDS BLUES, DISCO" by Gerry Krochak of the Regina Leader Post.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Yes. I like to play grand pianos in cathedrals, bars- anywhere there is a piano. A special moment was playing the grand piano at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina for my uncle's funeral in 2005. I recently played the grand piano in St. Paul's cathedral in Regina for "Cathedral One."
Your musical influences
Elton John, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Madonna, John Mayer.
What equipment do you use?
I recorded the Disco Blues Band live CD on a Korg PC-88, and I recorded "You are the Light" on an Alesis QS8. I've owned a Roland KR33, and currently play a Roland HP1300e.
Anything else?
"Everything is an opportunity for something." -Brendan William Cross, 2004.
