Lindsey Brier
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” - Henry Walden "Thoreau"
Here’s a popular truism about extraordinarily talented musicians: They begin as child prodigies and then blossom into their full artistry as young adults. Think composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, cellist Yo-Yo Ma or fictional character August Rush. Real-life jazz singer/pianist Lindsey Brier took another path, resulting in the release of his extraordinary album, Easy Love.
Brier didn’t even think seriously about becoming a jazz musician until he was 25 years old. Life, as they say, kept getting in the way.
Growing up in a hyper-critical family in Denver, Lindsey never really felt at ease in his own skin. He didn’t participate in the regular activities most kids would enjoy. He didn’t play sports and didn’t go to the prom. Interestingly, no one in his family had an iota of musical talent.
Awkward became worse when at 21 years old he began showing signs of a mental breakdown. By 23, he was clinically agoraphobic, meaning he couldn’t stand to go into crowds or a public place without having an anxiety attack. Self-medicating in an attempt to become “normal," he became addicted to painkillers and soon was in and out of mental institutions and on the verge of suicide.
While living in Los Angeles, Lindsey enrolled in the Dick Grove School Of Music. He was eventually expelled because he couldn’t read music and had no formal training. The school suggested he take a starter class to get him up to speed for entry into the regular program. Originally hoping to study guitar, he quickly found a love for the piano and jazz and decided to take up piano and music theory at the age of 25.
But Lindsey was still in personal turmoil. Hiding his illness from his new wife finally cost him a divorce. He moved back to Denver, threw himself into self-taught piano studies and began playing local jazz gigs. Still, as he recalls, he was on the brink of total mental collapse.
Then, as fate would have it, he began to turn the corner with his mental illness with the help of a new doctor and a new person he had just met in his life, Tonya, a southern belle from Georgia. Now here was someone he could finally tell his secrets to. Within four months of meeting her, they impetuously eloped to Hawaii. Nine years later, Lindsey is a happily married man and father. Easy Love is about that redemption and joy that everyone wishes for, and Lindsey finally got.
"One of the most beautiful records recorded in the last few years, and the greatest love story I’ve ever heard. Produced by industry impresario Dik Darnell, Easy Love is a tribute to the style of the great American songbook. It features a 40-piece orchestra and represents a highly personal story of the trials and tribulations of life and love."
Vic McLean, Virtuoso Music & Distribution
“Lindsey’s music felt like the classic standards I grew up with,” says veteran award- winning producer/artist Dik Darnell (Baby Huey (Curtis Mayfield); Stallion (Casablanca); Jimmy Ibbotson of the Dirt Band; co-writer and producer with John Denver; and artist/producer/engineer at Caribou Ranch where Elton John, Chicago, The Beach Boys, Michael Murphy, Joe Walsch and many more recorded in the 70s) who also produced Easy Love, “and I wanted him to develop more of that feeling. We worked together for over a year with Lindsey writing and sending me new songs to listen to and consider for the CD. I then took it to noted orchestrator Gary Malkin who accepted my invitation to be a part of the project and take it to another level.” Easy Love features a 40-piece orchestra recorded at SkyWalker Ranch in Northern California.
From the first track, "Suddenly It's Love," Lindsey exudes on his debut album a classic American jazz style embodied by Sinatra and more recently Harry Connick, Jr., Peter Cincotti and Michael Buble. An ode to the style of the Great American Songbook, Easy Love is deeply personal in content while universal in theme; all of the album’s songs were penned and performed by Lindsey who cites Carole King, Neil Young and Michael Franks as early influences.
Photo by Roberto Merlini
"Easy Love," "Closer To The Sun," "Sentimentall Girl," and"Life Came Pouring In" are paeans to the wonders of love. Regarding the latter song, Lindsey recalls, “I actually stole this line from a guy who was being interviewed by Katie Couric. He said it wasn’t until he met his wife that ‘life came pouring in.’ I immediately went downstairs and wrote the song.”
On "Cold In June," the artist looks inside and confronts his demons. “Anyone who has experienced depression knows it is even worse in the summer. While everyone else is smiling and having fun, you are living in hell, and yes it’s cold in June,’” he says.
"Angel Among Us" talks about that special person most everyone has met in their life, such as Lindsey’s wife is to himself, or perhaps the relationship that exists between a father and daughter when a father enjoys that first dance with his daughter at her wedding.
The simple joys of domesticity are celebrated in Lindsey’s track, "No Time Better."
“Well, who hasn’t had kids and wanted to rip your hair out? After having a meltdown with my little guys, my wife and I had a heart-to-heart, and I realized these were the best days of our lives I just needed a change in perspective. The song was written that night.”
Dreamland describes growing up as the odd man out. “I guess most musicians are dreamers. I know I sucked at school because I was always daydreaming. My teachers used to make me feel very bad about myself for this. Now I know they were the ones missing out!”
Jazziz Magazine called Easy Love one of the top 10 albums of the year. And it was Pick-of-The-Week in USA Today. Don’t wait any longer to hear this album!
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