Review Fix Exclusive: Michael Brondstetter Talks ‘Dark Cloud Blues’ And More

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Michael Brondstetter, who discusses the inspiration behind his latest single, “Dark Cloud Blues,” as well as his creative process and goals for the future.

About Michael Brondstetter:

Michael Brondstetter is a versatile Americana Artist who draws inspiration and influence from his upbringing in musical cities Detroit, Louisville, & New Orleans. He eventually landed in LA where he was lucky enough to meet many legendary artist at McCabe’s guitar shop, his favorite local hangout. There he would come into contact with Jackson Brown, Linda Ronstadt, Hoyt Axton, & Doc Watson, to name a few, all performing unplugged on Friday and Saturday night shows.

Review Fix: What do you think makes you special as a musician?

Michael Brondstetter: I’m not sure that I am any more special than anyone else! I think the term being “special’ is for others to decide. I am just Me! As an artist, I’ve been forged by life’s experience and tempered by love of family and friends.  As for what makes my music sound different and to some, “special”, I’d have to say my own personal filter. I heard John Mayer, once use “filter” as a term describing the process of writing a song he which started out being like someone else’s song, but in the end sounded like a “John Mayer” song.  I believe that’s a great term for what many call style or talent. I hear certain things internally all the time. I don’t need a radio, TV, other outwardly entertainment because I’ve always something going on inside my own personal soundtrack. In many ways getting it out has been the challenge. Learning to reproduce one’s own personal sound or filter is commensurate to one’s self-aware.

Review Fix: How did your childhood influence your music?

Brondstetter: I’ve always been interested in music! From as far back as I can remember there was always music in my life. I was in Kindergarten when I was moved from the back of the class chore to the front to be closer to the microphone. My mom would put Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” narrated by Boris Karloff on and give me the Child Craft book with all the orchestral instruments and I would listen and pick out which character was which instrument.  I guess it gives her a 30 minute break from bothering her! I remember fondly my father playing his big band albums. Later my 3 older sisters were was always a steady stream of new and exciting music. When we settled in Los Angeles, I was always into music, even though it took me years till I could get my own instrument. Since I work after school and on weekends I rarely got involved in school music programs because I wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of an instrument or the time to participate.  Maybe that led me to appreciate when I did get a chance to play, write songs, or be in a group, I cherished more than most.

Before my parents divorced, my father wouldn’t let me participate in any orchestral school projects, saying that it was a waste of time. Couldn’t make a living doing such work.

Review Fix: Why does Americana matter?

Brondstetter: Americana, or Alt. Country, and in other parts of the world Root Music, is a very inclusive style of music. I think the definition is a confluence of the shared and varied traditions merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, and rock & roll! Along with jazz, it really epitomizes what I’ve grown up listening to my whole life.  There are heartfully real stories in the tradition of Hank Williams, B B King to Chris Stapleton. Wonderful hard driving rhythmic songs from Willie Dixon to Western Swing’s Bob Wills.  The artful playing of Doc Watson, Vince Gill to Allison Krauss.  More and more examples of rock & roll, R&B, honkytonk, blended with Bluegrass, Country, and Folk.  It allows me to bring all the wonders I’ve seen and heard my songs and not have the worry of categorizing it. I know there are many new listeners every day, adding Americana to their playlists.

Review Fix: What inspired “Dark Cloud Blues”?

Brondstetter: It’s a story about choices. I wanted to represent one’s self-going through a day/life having to decide which way they want to go.  A little purposefully cryptic to allow listeners to imagine their own journey through the song. Not a heavy talking blues but a lightly sarcastic voyage to either embrace the struggle or the joy of the day.

Review Fix: Why should someone listen to “Dark Cloud Blues”?

Brondstetter: It is very well played. Jim Soldi (played with Johnny Cash & J. Paycheck) plays guitar & bass and Bob Sale plays drums. Those two lock in on that song while Dennis Caplinger (Fiddle on Eric Clapton’s Road to Escondido) adds killer fiddle and Dobro.  Producer Kirk (Dove) Arnold blending it all together with great skill and excitement. It’s a wonderful groove that keeps you wondering about what’s next.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Brondstetter: Iron Mountain is going to be going into North American distribution, that’s to record stores and outlets on Jan 20th, 2017.  We’re hoping it does well, of course.  With that being said I have 8 new songs I’m working on with producers Kirk (Dove) Arnold and Jeff Berkley. I’m very hopeful that a new single will be able to be released by July-Aug and depending on how well that does, maybe the new CD release in Nov-Dec.

Meanwhile, I’m working on touring for the Iron Mountain distribution and doing as many quality shows as I can put together to support that release. On those shows, I’ll be playing some of the new songs being worked on in the studio now. So those who book me and people that come to the show will get a sneak preview of the new CD.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Brondstetter: I like to thank all those who buy or download a copy of Iron Mountain or a track from the CD. It’s so very important that people show their support financially. Whether it at shows, or online. I’m an independent artist and it’s my life blood. Taking the time to add my songs to your Spotify playlists. Asking a radio station to play my song. Spreading the word to all your friends, family, loved ones.  Every person can make a difference and a change.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13819 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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