Here at pointblank, we pride ourselves on the success of our students. We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to success stories and that’s why we love to highlight our student’s accomplishments. For this installment, we are shining a spotlight on singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pointblank L.A. student, Brett Benowitz.
Raised in a small town in Georgia, Brett Benowitz began his journey as a Rock, Funk, and Blues artist from the moment he picked up a guitar at age 13. Best described as The Red Hot Chili Peppers meets The White Stripes, Brett’s music is high energy, soulful, funky, hard-hitting rock that will make you want to move. Brett is a true showman and vocal powerhouse leaving audiences in awe with his commanding stage presence as he belts high notes and rips on guitar. His songs are catchy and thought-provoking with poignant messages that hit you right in the heart. Having honed his skills in the vibrant music scene of New York City for eight years, Brett made the move to Los Angeles where he swiftly rose to prominence by winning a prestigious contest with Fender, earning him recognition as one of their featured recording artists. Since his highly anticipated Los Angeles debut, headlining The Viper Room to a packed house, Brett continues to captivate audiences with his electrifying performances. He has gone on to headline renowned venues such as Hotel Cafe, Molly Malone’s, and soon State Social House Feb 23rd. In just a few months, Brett has made an undeniable mark on the LA music scene, emerging as one of the most exciting and promising rock acts in town. With a relentless drive and passion for his craft, Brett plans to conquer Los Angeles with a series of new releases and monthly shows. Get ready to be swept away by the electrifying talent of this rising star!
Hey Brett! For those who aren’t familiar with you, could you give us an intro?
Totally! I’m a musician and songwriter from Georgia who started writing songs when I was 14. The first gigs I ever played were in Israel. I was studying abroad there at age 20 and would play my original music on acoustic guitar with a good friend at bars and clubs all over the country. After college, I cut my teeth in the NYC music scene and did a ton of theater as well which led me to LA 4 years ago and I’ve been hustling here ever since. Now I’ve never been more proud of my music and the incredible band I’ve put together. We’re gigging and releasing music every month and it feels so good to be doing it in LA.
What led you to study at pointblank L.A.?
I was looking into a good vocal program and pointblank came up, I toured the school and really dug it so I went for it.
What classes did you take and how have they helped your career since?
I took advanced singing with Carol de Leon and it’s definitely helped my singing and songwriting ability. I really enjoyed class with her.
Who are your influences or what artists you look up to?
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Buckley, Bob Marley, Matisyahu, Jack White, The Foo Fighters and many more!
What has been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced while writing or creating music?
Content! Man it’s tricky, but I’m working on it. I came up in an era where self promotion was looked at as lame but now it’s just what ya gotta do. It’s a challenge I’m excited to overcome.
Tell us about your band!
These guys are sick! Nic Kubes is my drummer, he’s a monster and just a good dude all around. When I first met him I saw his passion and talent shine through and knew I had to work with him. Philip Chuah is my bassist and also an absolute monster. Such a chill guy and easy to work with. He’s played with some big names but he’s so humble and down to earth and kills it on the bass. Keven Eknes is my lead guitarist, he’s the newest member but I’ve actually known him for almost 8 years now. We met on tour with this show called Rockin Road to Dublin, I was the lead male vocalist, he was the lead guitarist and we were roommates who immediately became best buds. We’ve kept in touch ever since and now he’s jamming with me. I always knew I’d have him in my band and now he finally is. He’s also played with some big names and he’s the best guitarist I know. More importantly, he’s just a really good dude. That’s the most important factor for me!
You will soon be releasing, “Hold Me Down,” what was the inspiration behind it and can you give us some insight on your songwriting process?
Of course. So Judaism has always been a central part of my life and a great resource of inspiration and songwriting. There’s a famous song in Hebrew that says “Life is a narrow bridge” which to me means walking the good path is hard because you can easily fall off whether it be from temptation, losing your integrity, getting distracted or a myriad of things. And even though the song is about life being a narrow bridge, the main point is to not be afraid. The first verse in Hold Me Down says “Oh lord help me walk straight to thee, they try so hard to break my guard”. It’s a song to keep you on the right path, to not compromise who you are, to keep your eyes on the prize, to not allow anything to bring you down, and to not be afraid so you can enjoy the journey!
What’s in the pipeline? Are there any other interesting projects (personal or professional) you’re working on that you can tell us about?
I’m playing gigs every month, releasing new music every month, cranking out the content, and just leaning into music as much as I can to allow the good things to come to me. My newest single, “Hold Me Down,” is available for streaming everywhere!
Links: Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube
Successes such as these are common among our students and alumni. If you are looking to follow in the footsteps of Brett, we can help you begin with our singing and songwriting programs. If you’d like to learn how to play guitar, bass, or even piano, then we can build your skills from the ground up with our range of courses in Los Angeles and London. For more information, you can contact us here.
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