EXCLUSIVE: BRAD STANK LETS IT RIP WITH OUR VERY OWN JOSH BELL
Penned as the sensei of slow-jams, blues meets lounge song master Brad Stank announces his new LP ‘In The Midst of You’ alongside tantalizing new single “Natty Wine”.
The Liverpool-based producer and artist has made a name for himself crafting his brand of bedroom-ready bohemian flair, with his knack for candid lyricism and organic production bringing audiences in by the droves.
We had the chance to catch up with Brad and get the insider scoop on his mammoth 2023, as well as get a preview of the soon-to-be-released magic he’s been cooking up behind the scenes.
Josh Bell: Hi Brad, how are you? It’s been a glorious past year for you playing SXSW and releasing new music. With the year quickly wrapping up, how would you summarize that experience and 2023 so far as a whole?
Brad Stank: Hello there, I’m very well thanx! Hope you are too. Yeah, this year has been fun. SXSW was my first time going across the pond in my life, so that was really special. The love I’ve gotten on the new stuff too has been super heartwarming.
JB: Building on that last question, what's the most memorable thing that has happened at a Brad Stank show?
BS: Actually, being in Austin for South By provided some of the most memorable moments in the short time we were there. From playing to kids sitting on the roof of their house while we played in their back garden very late and very drunk, to turning up to a last-minute show in a biblical thunderstorm only for it to nearly get shut down by the police… I could go on but it really did feel like a movie at times haha.
JB: I’m a big fan of your new single ‘Natty Wine’ and its accompanying music video - tell me a bit about the creative process of making that song and what inspired the imagery in the video.
BS: Thanks! It was the kinda song that happens pretty spontaneously and naturally - I didn’t spend too much time editing the structure or arrangements after I’d made the first demo. Joe’s piano playing really brought it to life in the studio, and it was Andy’s idea to add in the slidy guitar parts. Visually, I really let the director of the video, Corey Rid, take the reins; we’ve been working together since 2018 so I always trust him to come up with the goods. I kinda just told him I wanted some biblical references, hence the donkey!
JB: It’s been a minute since your last full-length release “Kinky Om” which is a beautiful slice of sultry blues flavors, what can fans expect to hear on your upcoming record in comparison and how different was the journey of making this new album?
BS: Yeah! It’ll be nearly 4 years in between them which is pretty wild. Covid stuff obviously got in the way a little bit… Sonically it's a lot different, working with a different producer, etc.. I think I was a bit more ambitious with the sound this time around, with more instrumentation and maybe more weird and wonderful arrangements. More collaborators. I like the idea of having a theme, a thread running through my albums so that it’s similar to the last. Just trying to continue the story in an authentic way.
JB: Have you got a favorite song from “In The Midst of You”? and if so I’d love to hear why.
BS: It’s hard to choose! But I really love Long Distance; that was another that came to me and was finished very quickly in terms of the writing. It’s a super simple song but I’m really happy with the mood we created with it.
JB: What other artists inspire you and what would your fans expect to find on your most listened-to lists?
BS: So many! My playlists are chaos, genre-wise. This year it’s been a lot of Willie J Healey, rappers like MIKE, Earl Sweatshirt, and Larry June (lots of Alchemist beats), and a lot of Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, old ballady country stuff. I’m sure I’m as excited as everybody else for the Spotify Wrapped to drop!
JB: Outside of making bangers - what could we expect from Brad Stank on a perfect day off?
BS: Start off with eggs, bacon, a croissant, and a big fat strong coffee. Probably just chillin’, reading a good book, watching a good film, maybe a pint or two in a dirty old pub with my pals to finish the day off…
JB: And lastly, if you had to sum up the essence of Brad Stank in three words, what would they be?
BS: Pious, sexy, and existential baby!
Brad’s album titled 'In The Midst Of You’ is out now! Buy a copy of it on wax by clicking HERE!