My Life In 35 Songs, Track 34: “Brother” by Brett Eldredge

My Life in 35 Songs
Craig Manning

Brother, I think it’s time we talk; why do guys like us spend most our lives playing it tough?

I just kept replaying it.

On the morning of Saturday, November 23, 2024, as I ran circles around my neighborhood in the rain, I found myself double-tapping my AirPods every three and a half minutes to restart the song. I wanted – no, I needed – to hear it again. It was the one thing keeping me from spiraling out of control. For that run, and that day, and that weekend, this particular song was my force of gravity. If I just kept playing it, then I could keep the things I held dear from floating off into the ether.

I am not the type of person to replay songs ad nauseum. Even the songs I love most have rarely had me reaching for the replay button more than two or three times in a row. So why was it that, on that November morning, the only thing that felt appropriate was listening to a mostly-forgotten album track from country-soul singer Brett Eldredge 10 times in a row?

That morning, I’d woken up to the kind of text messages you never want to see on your phone screen. “I know you won’t see this until the morning but please give me a call whenever you can.” My sister-in-law had sent that text at 2:08 in the morning. Another message, from a mutual friend of my brother’s, said “PLEASE know I’m thinking about you and the family. I’m here for whatever you guys need.”

I have never popped out of bed faster.

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Interview: Teppei Teranishi of Thrice

Thrice
Adam Grundy

A couple of days ago, I was able to schedule an in-person interview with Teppei Teranishi of Thrice in Baltimore, Maryland to discuss the band’s excellent new record called Horizons/West. In this interview, I asked Teppei about the writing process of a few key songs on the new LP, the vinyl reissue plans of key albums like The Alchemy Index, and much more. Thrice are currently wrapping up their fall tour, and tickets are on sale here.

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Ruby Sparks – “Here With You” (Video Premiere)

Ruby Sparks
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to share the final music video from the Iris sessions from indie pop band, Ruby Sparks, called “Here With You.” Ruby Sparks is the solo project of Jake Sternberg, and he enlisted producer Collin Desh (of LA band Low Hum), Phil Joly for mixing (The Strokes, Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk), and Dave Cooley for mastering (Tame Impala, Spoon, M83) on his new record that released on November 5th. Sternberg shared:

’Here With You’ was the last song written for Iris. I knew the album wouldn’t be complete without a penultimate, bombastic love song that could live alongside the tender, minimal title track. It’s a song about learning to fall in love with both the simple blissful moments as well as the complexity and uncertainty of a relationship. I knew as soon as I wrote the ‘Grey skies of May finally burning to blue’ line that I wanted this image to represent the song and my relationship to my now fiancé, Joanna. Life and love contain similar dualities, the cool somber spring LA mornings that gradually transform into the most gorgeous blue skies you’ve ever seen, or the days where the grey seems to never let go. This song, album, and music video represent the intersection of my relationship and my art, and I wanted to give fans a glimpse into a slice of my life. Massive thanks to Brian Callaghan, who helped bring the vision to life, and to Joanna for hanging out with me while we melted in the sun together for 6 hours.

If you’re enjoying the music video, please consider purchasing Iris here.

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