Tennessee’s Best Kept Secret
May Live In Perthshire Scotland
( check out the review of Brendan`s first album – The Road )
Among the wonderful sounds of life in Perthshire, Scotland you may not expect to hear the sounds of the Grand Ole Opry. But it appears that God and nature has blessed them with just that.
Young Brendan MacFarlane is as country as Tennessee itself. And although you may have to listen carefully when he speaks in that Scottish brogue honoring his heritage, when he sings he is American Country all the way.
Inspired by the sounds of Johnny Cash, Brendan was hooked at an early age, which is something this writer can understand. My father used to hang with Cash, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and Minnie Pearl when he was very young. So this music was a mainstay in my home. It talks to your soul. Brendan felt that calling and answered it the way God would have you use a great gift that he has given to you. And he wasn’t gonna wait until he was older to do it. And what a gift he has.
Establishing a presence on YouTube the early part of 2008, he stunned the network with his renditionof Ray Charles’s “I’ve Got A Woman” that now has over 350,000 unique views. The sounds and those blue eyes stole many hearts right off the bat.
Brendan was gracious enough to answer some questions for theskykid.com in an interview.
We’d like to share parts that discussion with you.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L7rp9aGwnM
You’re 12 years old now. You have a really great voice. You’ve been singing for a long time now right? How old were you when you started to sing?
I was two when I started to sing.
Hank Williams ‘I’m So Lonesome I could Cry’ was the song that started me off.
Do you remember the first time you sang with a microphone? What was it like?
I was four years old the first time I sang with a microphone. I really enjoyed it.
I love singing in front of a big audience.
What does it feel like when you are on stage singing?
It’s hard to describe, but as I said before, I love it.
What year are you in, in school right now?
I’m in first year of high school. It’s the same as your eighth grade.
Do you sing in school too?
Not at this school. I sang in primary school talent competitions a couple of times.
What do your friends think about the kind of music you’ve chosen to sing? I mean America country, is that popular in Perthshire?
They think it’s great and they have started to listen to it. Country music is big in Scotland.
Johnny Cash’s family are from Falkland, about 20 minutes drive from me.
Country music is steeped in Scottish influences.
What is it about Country music that you like?
It’s honest music. I like the stories behind the songs.
I see that you also like to sing Gospel. God is a pretty big part of your life, then, is that right?
I love singing gospel because it makes me feel good. I’m a Christian.
Well personally I thank God for gifting the world with your wonderful voice.Do you like any other types of music?
I like all genres of music, as long as you can sing along to it.
Do you sing in the Gaelic language of your homeland?
There are a lot of beautiful Gaelic songs, but I don’t sing in Gaelic.
It’s a dying language, which is really sad. I’ll maybe try it in the future.
So you are coming to America. Are you excited about that?
I can’t wait to get back to America.
I was in New York and Nashville in August for meetings with people.
I love New York, there’s always something happening. And I love Nashville because of the music
– the home of country music.
What do you want to see the most when you got to America?
The inside of a recording studio. lol. I look forward to seeing the friends I met in August.
Now let’s talk about your new song, “Money Won’t”. Who wrote it?
‘Money Won’t’ was written by myself with the help of Bizzy and my dad.
We have great fun working together on songs.
Well I have had the great privilege to listen to it and it is really something.Tell us what that song means to you.
The song, to me, is that there are a lot more things in life that are more important than money.
Other people read other things into it, which is great.
Your Dad is pretty musical and you are writing songs together I understand. Can you tell us about the album you are putting together? And when will it be out?
The album is going to be released early next year, if all goes well.
It is a roots/gospel/country crossover with a lot of our own influences added.
And what part does Bizzy play?The information says that you are writing the songs for the new album with your dad and Bizzy and Donny.We see that your Dad plays guitar and banjo.
Donny plays mandolin and guitar.Does Bizzy write lyrics, music or play an instrument or just jump up and down waving a rubber chicken to keep you smiling when you are singing or what?
Bizzy write lyrics, fantastic lyrics. He also does backing vocals. He does keep us smiling when the going gets tough.
Now this one is important, so pay attention.When you get over to America and start meeting all these great countryfans, they are going to hear that Scottish accent and see those beautiful blue eyes and I suspect the girls are going to be asking if there is a girlfriend at home.Do you want to tell ’em or just keep ’em guessing?
Just keep ’em guessing. Not got enough time for girls – just now.
Brendan’s beginnings had a rough start, but all the obstacles have since been removed and he is free to become all that he can be.
Bring it on Brendan! America and the world are waiting for you.
Brendan`s first single Money Won’t is available to download from iTunes, eMusic, amazon, nokia music store, napster, 7digital, Deezer and we7.