Brendemere’s debut album isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s the culmination of a long and winding journey of self-discovery, perseverance, and artistic vision. For Chris Pennison, the mastermind behind the project, this album represents far more than just music; it’s a testament to chasing dreams in the face of lost time and personal struggles. In this candid interview, Pennison opens up about the decade-long odyssey that brought Brendemere to life, the sonic philosophy behind the lead single “Just Don’t Ask Me to Dance,” and the deeply personal themes woven throughout the album. From late-night creative flow states to reverse-engineering songs from evocative titles, Pennison offers a raw and insightful look at what it means to finally share Brendemere’s story with the world.
Brendemere’s debut album has been described as a lifelong dream in the making. Can you share the journey that led to this moment? What inspired you to finally bring these songs to life after so many years?
The hands of time were a great motivator for me. Age twenty to age thirty seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. That kind of freaked me out. My whole plan was to build the Brendemere album when I got to Seattle at age 20. Then a few booze days turned into a few booze years. Then a few booze years turned into a booze decade. By the time I realized I had wasted a decade, I frantically scrambled to throw this album together.
But – finally hearing the songs come to life after so many years has been a wild experience. From MIDI sequences on a laptop, to fully fleshed out masters.
The lead single, “Just Don’t Ask Me to Dance,” introduces listeners to Brendemere’s signature sound. Why did you choose this track as the lead single, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?
A lot of it is based sonically. Meaning – when I want to open an album, I’d like for there to be a rush of sound waves that flood the listeners. As a heavy metal fan growing up – that was generally the approach. You come out swinging. Metallica may have an acoustic intro before “Battery”, but once that song kicks in. . .it’s time for ‘the ride’. I interpreted “Just Don’t Ask Me To Dance” as being my version of ‘the ride’.
Many of the songs on the album were written during your formative years between 2008 and 2010. How did your experiences during that time shape the themes and emotions present in the music?
I talk to other musicians all of the time about the “flow state”. Don’t think too much about it. And don’t NOT think too much about it. Don’t think about thinking too much about it. And don’t NOT think about thinking too much about it. And 2008-2010 was a great “flow state” for me.
The album’s track listing features some intriguing titles like “Jezebel of the Rhone” and “Tennessee’s Only Ghost.” Can you give us insight into the stories behind some of these songs?
This may sound like the strangest answer. . .BUT. . .if you’re a fan of The Tim And Eric Show, there’s a gag on there about Steven Spielberg directing a movie for Tim. And Tim says, something to the effect of, “Steven likes to start with the movie poster and work backwards.”
I think I may reside in that category. Randomly, I devised the song titles in question in my head and then reverse-engineered it to fit the song title. “Jezebel Of The Rhone” just popped into my head. Then I had to figure out what that meant.
Brendemere is more than just a solo project—it’s described as a call to unite music lovers. What do you hope this project represents to your listeners, and how do you want them to connect with the music?
I want to start getting a band together. As necessary as it was to put the album together in this fashion. . .all I’ve ever wanted to be was a guitarist in a rock band. I’m gonna start working on that very soon. But, for now – enjoy the album.
Your music explores deeply personal themes like self-discovery, loss, and purpose. How do you balance drawing from personal experiences while making the music feel universal and relatable?
Being a hardcore introvert, I think this box of songs were my one (and possibly only)
beacon, or lighthouse, for finding an audience that were similarly-minded. It was my
attempt at waving the flag and screaming, “HEY – ANY BRENDEMERE FANS OUT THERE?!”
Now that the debut album is out, what’s next for Brendemere? Are there plans for live performances, more music, or collaborations on the horizon?
I gotta start putting some wheels in motion in regards to a live band. It’s gonna be tough.
Because not only do I need some great players, I need to give them a reason to join with me and a captive audience to perform in front of. I’ll see what I can do. Stay tuned.