Sometimes I find myself perusing Soundcloud trying to find new music. And it’s a hit or miss process, but one hit I found a couple years ago was Brayton Bowman. I found his music through Betty Who, his good friend, when she was also a Soundcloud artist. Bowman’s sound is somewhere between electronic and funk, creating a unique blend that’s pure magic.
The first song I heard by him was “Privacy,” an upbeat, soulful plea for separation. Bowman has a really soulful voice and some sassy lyrics. “You’re throwing too much shade my way/But babe I’m tryna look on the bright side/Now that I know,” Brayton belts into the powerful chorus. This was his first song, so he was still figuring out his sound, and it’s wasn’t perfect.
However, it became pretty obvious he figured out what sound he wanted to portray with his first EP, Here | Now. It perfectly encompasses what I think he was going for. The EP starts out with “Jaywalk,” which is not about the act of crossing the road without a crosswalk (which seems to happen a lot around DU) but rather an anthem for moving on from a relationship. This song takes elements of 70s funk and makes them modern to create a solid jam to start out the EP.
Then comes the bass-slapping jam, “Runaway.” In an interview with Idolator, he described the song as his “attempt at a call out and a love song at the same time.” The best part of this song to me is the funky bass just going for it for the whole time. It makes it danceable and extra groovy.
There is also the reminiscing ballad, “Stephan.” A lot of Brayton’s music is not this subtle. Usually there is a lot of production and it’s sort of chaotic, so it’s nice to hear a more stripped down version of his music. Instead of having a usual bridge in the song, Bowman actually recites what seems like slam poetry. It’s a nice change from the typical rap breakdowns that happen in almost every Top 40 song.
If you need an anthem for your group of best friends to jam to, Brayton’s got you covered with “Ride or Die.” This is his heavy electronic song on the album, with plenty of wobbling synths and heavy bass. It’s almost like dubstep but without the buildup to the drop, just high-energy electronics. “I can’t help that me and my best friends are low-key obsessed with each other,” he sings, honoring those friends that will do anything for you.
After the EP, he took a small break before releasing what I’ll say is his best song ever, “Skin Deep.” This collaboration with his current boyfriend MNEK, a singer and music producer and recent Grammy-nominee, is his masterpiece–at least in my mind. The production quality is out of this world, everything is put together perfectly and Brayton truly showcases that soulful voice of his. If anything, be sure to check out this song, it’s definitely worth it.
Music has arguably become easier to create these days, and you really don’t need a record deal to have your music reach the masses. Brayton is a perfect example of that; he’s been independently making music for a couple years now, and though he isn’t being played on any radio stations he obviously loves what he is making. It may take some digging, but take the time to peruse Soundcloud; you may find some truly amazing artists.
https://open.spotify.com/user/dutastyjams/playlist/01I2ud4byg6oMBanPAI7lg
