Review Fix chats with eclectic writer/ singer/songwriter and actor Brandyn Cross got into music and why it means so much to him.
Review Fix: How do you go from author, filmmaker, TV writer and actor to singer?
Brandyn Cross: It actually all started with music; music was my first love.As early as the first grade, I would write a new song almost every day while walking to school. I had a lot of opportunity because, being autistic, I spent most of my time pretty isolated and alone. Of course, by the end of the school day, I had forgotten how the song went. Then, the next day, I’d write another new one on my way to school. I wrote a ton of songs back then, but I only remember one of them now. It’s called Love is a Charm. It’s not bad for a six-year-old but, fortunately, I’ve become a much better writer over time. From there, the rest came about pretty organically. I started performing live while in elementary school, and also began acting in theater at about the same time. My grandmother had been a vaudeville performer, recording artist, and TV producer long before women were producing TV. So she was just a fascinating person, and pretty encouraging of my talents. In junior high, I started taking creative writing classes and discovered I had a knack for that. In high school, I took photography and filmmaking classes. I made a Star Trek fan film with a few friends for school credit my senior year. I also made some political satire recordings for the Dr. Demento show during high school with Jim Sweeney, a friend from school.
All the while, I was still writing, performing and acting in theater. So with each new creative interest I developed, it didn’t replace another one. It simply became one more craft I was working on. After high school, I had a few poems published in various books and magazines, wrote a couple books, and did a few films. Then, I kind of backed away from the industry for a few years to be a normal dad to my kids while they were young. Then I had a pretty serious industrial accident, which left me an amputee, in a wheelchair, and with other systemic internal damage. After a few years of recovery and rehab, I decided to go full force back into the entertainment industry. I kind of wanted to prove to myself, and to others facing big challenges, that you can’t let those challenges stop you. I started writing and recording music again, and booking a lot of film and TV roles. That led to opportunities to write some screenplays and TV, which I’ve now done a lot of- like over 100 TV episodes, plus some TV specials and mini-series. But it was all a natural evolution. I’d write a film or some TV episodes, a producer would see that work and ask me to write something else. It all builds on itself. During those years, however, I was actually too busy with films and TV to release any music, which I really missed doing.
And I’d also had something very unique on the shelf for years. A young boy who was terminally ill, while also enduring physical, emotional and sexual abuse, had kept what amounts to a daily diary of his life while this was taking place and, when he died at 14 years old, his writings were offered to me, although I had no idea what to do with them. After writing some 20 or so screenplays, about five books and over 100 TV episodes, I felt comfortable enough to adapt this incredible little boy’s writing into an epic book series- The Legacy Series– which I’m releasing as we speak at a rate of about one volume every three months or so. This is really a must read! It’s the only source I know of to get an abused child’s perspective on abuse, and life in general, while this abuse is taking place. It’s not an adult looking back over a period of decades past, but an abused child’s insights while he is being abused. It’s unprecedented and beyond powerful. So to do that, I’m not taking any new TV or film writing assignments right now. Because of that, I finally have some time to devote back to music, so I’m definitely not going to miss that opportunity. I’m beyond excited to release new music, and can’t wait to get my first new single and music video, If Money Talks (It Ain’t on Speakin’ Terms With Me) out to the world.
Review Fix: How do you think all of the other work has prepared you for this?
Cross: I think all forms of creative artistic expression relate to each other in some respect so, the more you learn, the more I think it helps you in any discipline. Or in life as a whole. You can never learn too much, and you should never stop learning. In short, all knowledge is learning and, therefore, good. On the college/university level, I’ve basically run the course of four separate majors; law, biology, quantum physics, and then film production. On that last major, I went to film school- studied directing, lighting, film production, the works- because I wanted to produce and direct my own music videos. I wanted to have the same creative control over the message I want a music video to convey as I do in writing and recording the song I’m making the video for. So I had to gain the knowledge to do it well. I mean, if I’m hiring myself, for all practical purposes, to produce and direct my music video, I better be the best qualified applicant. Otherwise, I’m selling my art short. So I had to be serious about it. But, that’s all I wanted. Although I was acting in- and writing for- films and TV, I had no intention of producing or directing them. It really hadn’t interested me that much. I just wanted creative control over my music videos.
But learning how to be a qualified, legit filmmaker sparked an interest in doing it. The more I learned, the more I realized how I could help craft the visual artistry and message in a film or TV show in the same way I did writing it, or writing and then recording a song. It’s basically another level of the onion being unpeeled, and now I understood that level. But then, gaining a better understanding of the visual element of the overall art gave me a deeper perspective in writing and recording- and even more so performing- my music. I now see each of these elements in a physical, visually rich way that I never had before. So I think a broader understanding of how even audio-based art relates to the other senses has improved how I write, and record, the song. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, there is actually a visual component to the writing and recording of the song which, if you pay attention to it, adds another layer to it.
Review Fix: Why is music special to you?
Cross: As I noted above, music is my first love. Yet in some ways, that question is almost impossible to answer beyond simply saying, I have no idea. Each of the other artistic disciplines- acting, writing (be that books, poetry, TV or film), producing, directing, photography, cinematograhpy- is something I discovered and became interested in pursuing. But music was notably different. I never discovered it, as such, or made a conscious decision to pursue it. It’s just always been an innate part of me for as long as I can remember. Back to two or three years of age at least. It’s a compulsion, a calling, a state of grace. Like a natural, God-given, essential part of my being. One that I have no control over, and can never ignore or deny. I don’t know if that will make sense to everyone, but I guarantee there are people who can relate to that. For them, it might be a calling to mathematics, science, painting, sculpture, writing, teaching, evangelism, or whatever. Or music. Whatever the specific discipline, that sense of it being a calling– an inescapable part of their very soul- is the same and they will recognize it, despite my feeble attempt at defining it.
Review Fix: How was “If Money Talks (It Ain’t on Speakin’ Terms With Me)†written?
Cross: I came up with the title first thing. I like creative, memorable titles like that and have written quite a few songs with titles I think are somewhat clever like that. But then, I was a little stuck. I wasn’t sure where to go with it. A country band called Pirates of the Mississippi had scored a minor chart hit in the 90s about a homeless guy, called A Street Man Named Desire, and I thought about taking it in that direction. But I was torn between that and going polar opposite with it, and making it more of a novelty song. Then one day I was visiting with a friend, Daryl Stevenett, who is a very talented singer/songwriterand guitarist. As I was about to leave, I mentioned this song concept I was stuck on, and told him the title. He picked up his guitar and said, That’s brilliant. Let’s write it right now. So, we did. About an hour later, we had the finished song, which he wisely positioned in the middle of the two extremes I’d been considering. We ended up with this catchy, hooky traditional country song which explored the plight of the everyday working man in a somewhat lighthearted, but realistic fashion. The finished mix honestly has strayed very little from that original working demo. We pretty much nailed it on the first attempt.
Review Fix: Any lyrics that particularly stand out?
Cross: Definitely the title line, If money talks, it ain’t on speakin’ terms with me. Outside of the title, I think my favorite lines are a couple that speak directly to not only the fragile financial status of the working class, but also to so many who spend every day giving everything to a job that bears no resemblance to the dream they had for their life. As I’m sure almost everyone knows, it’s hard to overstate how frustrating that is; it’s like you just die a little every day. But those lines are, Working nine to five in another man’s shoes, I guess what I am is what I am and all I’ll ever be, and This working man’s still in prison and the banker holds the key. Who can’t relate to those, right?
Review Fix: What has it been like to work with StarPointe Records?
Cross: The mindset at StarPointe is very different from the traditional label. Traditionally, the label takes something of anauthoritative role over the artist. StarPointe’s mission statement says they are a record label founded with the artist in mind. This means that the relationship is very collaborative between the artist and the label. Pretty much a partnership of two equals. From the perspective of the artist, this means you have a huge amount of creative control over your work. And what artist doesn’t want that? And they’re genuinely good people. It’s not just a cold business relationship. Rather, we’ve become very good friends. And, seriously, the top execs are some of the most experienced and legendary music industry icons you could hope to learn from. People like Pat Melfi and Ken Kragen. Just consider those names for a moment. Then, on the artist side, the roster boasts artists I’ve been a big fan of for a long time, which is a really fun plus to the whole thing. Names like Collin Raye, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Champaign and Cary Park. So, all in all, it’s been an atmosphere that encourages creativity, is positive and friendly, and is home to some very talented, accomplished artists. How could you do better than that?
Review Fix: How would you like Blue Moon Over Heaven to be remembered?
Cross: I guess I’m gonna call a spade a spade here and, if anyone disagrees, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. More and more in recent years, a lot of music has taken a very negative turn. At the same time, there has also been an explosion in Christian and inspirational music, which may represent something of a backlash to the uptick in negative music. Who knows? But, there is a lot of music glorifying criminality, hopelessness, victimhood and simply inhuman treatment of other people. And this music tends to be marketed heavily to very young people who- if they follow the advice preached to them by these artists- are destined to profoundly miserable and failed lives. I think some of these artists (and their labels) have a lot to answer for in leading a generation of kids down very destructive paths. So, the point is, I never want that to be legitimately said of me. I want to release songs that inspire people to achieve, and to change their lives for the better. Songs that can help lead people to happier, more productive lives. If Blue Moon Over Heaven is remembered as a vehicle that helped people’s lives, I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Review Fix: What are your goals in music?
Cross: My mission statement as an artist is to help people accomplish more than they thought they could. To show people, by example, that challenges and obstacles they may have thought insurmountable can be overcome, and to not allow anything to stop them from reaching their goals. Specifically, I would like to be an example of what’s possible to others who, like me, are autistic or physically disabled. However, this applies equally to anyone facing any challenge that can seem overwhelming to them. To do that, obviously they have to be familiar with me and my music, books, films or whatever. So, as a means to that end, I need my music to reach as wide an audience as possible. I mean, I suppose if I reach an audience of ten people, but I’m able to provide some kind of positive motivation to those ten people, then that is cause enough for celebration. But I’d like to do more.
Review Fix: How will this album get you closer to them?
Cross: Artistically and thematically, I think I’ve done everything I can. I think I’ve produced an album that is entertaining, and which presents the positive, inspirational and motivational messages I wanted to convey. I’m very happy with the result. So, as the artist, I guess it’s good that I feel I’ve accomplished what I wanted. But that’s also a bit like preaching to the choir. Now I guess we get to see if others agree. If they do- which they hopefully will- I guess I’m on the right track. If I’m able to touch others’ souls, I know I’m moving in the direction I want to go, and the above goals will then be inevitable.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Cross: After If Money Talks (It Ain’t on Speakin’ Terms With Me), we’re preparing a couple follow-up singles and music videos to precede the release of the Blue Moon Over Heaven album. The Legacy Series: Book Three of my epic book series has just been released, and we expect Book Four to hit the shelves in about three months. I also wrote the adaptation, and produced and directed, a feature film based on The Legacy book series- also called The Legacy. The film is presently in post production, and should be hitting the screen in the next few months. Season Twoepisodes of my TV series, Proper Manors: The Series, are presently being released on Amazon Prime. And between Amazon Prime and Netflix, I can be seen in the movies Being Charlie, Alienate and Unicorn City. So, we have a lot of good stuff going on right now.
Review Fix: Anything else you like to add?
Cross: Keep in touch. Keep up to date on where I’m at, and what I’m doing, on my website:
My Facebook fan page:
StarPointe Records’ website:
I can also be found on Twitter, Instagram and my personal Facebook page. Most importantly, join me in my Facebook Group, Thriving with Autism and Disability, where we celebrate the great, and even the smallest achievements of autistic and disabled people. Come join us, whether or not you or family members are autistic or disabled. Come and be inspired. It can be found at:
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