Brandon Grafius has spent most of his life in Michigan, and has been performing in the Lansing area for almost 20 years. When he’s not playing guitar, he teaches Old Testament and Hebrew at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit.

Brandon’ s new album Another Door is now available and the interview below provides some insight into the man and the music. Stream or buy Another Door here.

Let our readers know who you are, where you’re from, and what style of music you create.

I’m a Michigan-based singer-songwriter, with heavy doses of Americana and a double-shot of indie. I’m like a lot of the newer Americana music that’s come up since the start of the 2000s – while my style and instrumentation is clearly Americana, I grew up listening to the Cure and Nirvana a lot more than I listened to Doc Watson. (Although I know his music too!) One of the things that sets me apart is my attention to craft. I earned an MA in poetry, so lyrics are important to me, both in terms of individual lines and in terms of the overall structure of a song. On this album, I think “Lilacs” is the best example of that. To trace the deterioration of a relationship over the course of many years, I focused on the lilac bush outside the couple’s front window. The verses follow it through “one bright spring,” when the couple moves into their new house, “one tired spring” when they stop paying attention to each other, and “one broken spring” when they’ve fallen away from each other. I hope this makes for music that is emotionally engaging through its lyrics, but has strong enough melodies and intricate enough arrangements that listeners are invited into those lyrics.

What inspires and influences your sound? What motivates you to pursue this journey known as music?

At the heart of it, I hope my music can share something of myself that finds an echo in the listener. My music is deeply personal, but I don’t think that means I should only be talking to myself. I want to find something in my own experience that speaks to someone else. Often, my songs will start with an image, or a very particular emotion. “Through the Rain” began when I was lying in bed listening to the rain on my roof, wishing I had someone to be with. It was the sound of the rain on the roof that sparked the song. “Even the Angels” started with the idea of home, particularly the desire to return to a safe place when we hit a rough patch in our lives. Starting with those kinds of images helps me to put my ideas into something more concrete, something that can draw the listener in and offer a point of connection.

What was the last song you listened to?

I listen to a really broad range of music. Most recently, my favorite hip-hop label, Mello Music, had their annual $4.99 album sale, so I picked up a bunch of new stuff by people like Oddisee, Quelle Chris, and Pete Rock. In terms of singer-songwriter music, I’ve really fallen in love with Jeffrey Foucault’s new album. The opening song “Des Moines” sets the table really well for this album – definitely one of my favorite Americana albums of the year.

How does your new project, Another Project, differ from your previous one? What makes this one special?

While I’ve been recording for quite awhile, “Another Door” is the first time I’ve been in the studio under my own name, making a conscious effort to incorporate some really top-notch instrumentalists. I’ve grown enough as a song-writer that I think my songs can bear the weight of these wonderful instrumentals. If you don’t have a good enough song, it’s easy to have the song overwhelmed by the instrumentalists. But these songs are good enough that the arrangements support them without stealing the show. But the instrumentation really is outstanding – I switch between guitar and banjo, I’ve got a solid rhythm section, and Nashville regular Drew Howard playing pedal steel and dobro. On top of that, I called in a favor from Austin-based bluesman Matt Hubbard for some hammond organ and harmonica. He grew up in Michigan, so I’ve known him for years. I worked hard to craft this as a complete album, not just a group of songs. I’ve got a handful of songs that I left off this album because they just didn’t fit the mood, they didn’t belong. I think this combination – strong songs, great instrumentation, attention to the album as a whole – makes for a really affecting work.

Have you ever written a song in Hebrew? If no, have you thought about it?

Hah! Great question. I teach biblical Hebrew, primarily to adult learners who are interested in becoming ministers. So I teach older Hebrew, and most teach reading and translating – I actually don’t know how to speak modern Hebrew! If I were ever to do something in Hebrew, it would probably be an arrangement of a biblical text, like a psalm or something. Although I read pretty well, I don’t think I could write anything in Hebrew.

What’s it like being an indie musician in Michigan? How has the scene changed over the past 20 years you’ve been performing in the area?

The Michigan music scene has really taken off over the last twenty years, like it has in a lot of places. Twenty years ago, I would call up a coffeeshop and ask if I could play some night, and they’d usually say sure. Over the last few years, there’s been a steady growth of open mic nights, more and more venues that feature music on a regular basis, great church communities that support local music with frequent events, and songwriters groups as a way to help make connections and support each other. As with most regions, there are talented artists working in a wide range of genres and styles, but the folk/Americana scene in mid-Michigan is certainly thriving.

What’s next for Brandon Grafius?

Next is a lot of performing, a lot of work to try and get this album heard. I think I’ve produced something that’s genuinely good. I feel good enough about this album that I want to share it with people. There’s a lot of music out there already, but I think this was an album that needed to be made. Those are the kinds of albums we need.

Where can connect with you? Stream some tunes? Find the latest news?

To connect more, start by checking out my album on my bandcamp site. You can stream the whole album there a few times before you make a decision to buy it. You can read a little more about me on my website. I’ve also got a few live performances up on Youtube, including a couple of songs that didn’t make this album. And if you want to say hi directly or ask about booking, shoot me an e-mail: brandongrafiusmusic@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?

For me, this album was a convergence of a bunch of circumstances: my songwriting reaching a new level, the improvement of my playing, the development of a community of musicians who could support this project, and some personal tragedy that gave me the impetus to write lots of these songs. It’s a hugely important album for me personally, and it came at a time in my life when I have the skill and confidence in my craft to translate it all into something that’s meaningful for the listener. To me, music is all about connection – first of all the connection that arises between the people making the music together, but then about the connection the music can make with the listeners. Thanks for the chance to share some of my story with you. I know how much there is clamoring for your attention, but I’d be grateful if you’d spend some time with my music.