Brakence

Last updated
Brakence
A photo of Brakence at his concert in Dallas on December 10, 2022. Brakence-10-dec-22.jpg
A photo of Brakence at his concert in Dallas on December 10, 2022.
Brakence in December 2022
Born
Randall Findell

(2001-12-17) December 17, 2001 (age 23)
Education Ohio State University (dropped out)
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Musical career
Origin Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
Years active2016–present
Labels
Website brakence.com

Randall "Randy" Findell (born December 17, 2001), known professionally as Brakence (stylized in all lowercase), is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and musician from Columbus, Ohio who is currently signed to Columbia Records and Sony Music. He is known for his hyperpop-influenced style which has been described as a mixture of "Midwest emo and emo rap," and his use of both baritone and falsetto vocals. [1] [2]

Contents

Early and personal life

Randall Findell was born on December 17, 2001. [3] He was raised in Columbus, Ohio. [4] He developed his musical skills throughout his childhood and adolescence, having been in choir as well as taking jazz piano lessons. In 2019, he dropped out of Ohio State University, inspiring his 2020 single "Dropout". [5]

Career

Brakence began uploading his work to music sharing platform SoundCloud in 2016 and released the EP FifthEnigma on the site in December of that year. [3] In 2018, he released his debut commercial EP Hypnagogia, which incorporated lo-fi hip-hop beats and emo-style vocals. [1] In 2019, he released the EP Bhavana. [6] In 2020, he released his debut album Punk2, which would be considered his breakthrough release, [5] signing to Columbia Records in April 2020. [7] In December 2022, he released his sophomore album Hypochondriac under Columbia Records and Sony Music.

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details
TitleAlbum details
Punk2
Hypochondriac

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
TitleEP details
FifthEnigma
  • Released: December 13, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Hypnagogia
  • Released: April 27, 2018
  • Label: Svnset Waves
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Bhavana
  • Released: August 7, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearAlbum
"Nervosa2"2017Non-album singles
"Nerd"2018
"FourthStrike"
"Effort"
"LoveSong//Slacker"
"Favors//Mess"
"Sunder"
"Clouded" / "Veldt"2019
"BoyWontCry"Bhavana
"Softie"
"Rosier"
(alternatively titled "Rosier/Punk2" on album)
2020Punk2
"Fuckboy"
"FWB"
"Dropout"
(solo or featuring Blackbear)
"SauceInTheRough"
"Argyle"2021Hypochondriac
"CBD"2022
"Venus Fly Trap"
"Caffeine"
"Bugging!"
TitleYearRelease
"Always Make It Work"
(Devon Rea featuring Brakence & Slowsun)
2018Devon Rea
"I Don't Mind"
(Devon Rea featuring Brakence)
2019Winter Winds Vol. 6
"Alone"
(Marco featuring Brakence)
Insert Tape Three
"Re:Birth"
(50Landing featuring Brakence)
Non-album single
"Pains"
(50Landing featuring Brakence)
Growing Pains
"Well Known"
(Atlas in Motion featuring 50Landing & Brakence)
2020Light Leaks
"I Know"
(Marco featuring Brakence)
Non-album single
"ThingsUDo2Me"
(Ericdoa featuring Brakence)
COA
"Okay"
(Midwxst featuring Brakence)
2022Better Luck Next Time.
"Athena"
(Jedwill featuring Login & Brakence)
2023Non-album single
"A La Carte"
(Quadeca featuring Brakence)
Scrapyard
"Brightness of Vega"
(Colliding with Mars featuring Brakence)
2024Non-album single
"Media"
(Colliding with Mars featuring Brakence)
"Is"
(Colliding with Mars featuring Brakence)

Related Research Articles

Emo is a music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of hardcore punk and post-hardcore from the mid-1980s Washington, D.C. hardcore scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore. The bands Rites of Spring and Embrace, among others, pioneered the genre. In the early-to-mid 1990s, emo was adopted and reinvented by alternative rock, indie rock, punk rock, and pop-punk bands, including Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbreaker, Cap'n Jazz, and Jimmy Eat World. By the mid-1990s, Braid, the Promise Ring, and the Get Up Kids emerged from Midwest emo, and several independent record labels began to specialize in the genre. Meanwhile, screamo, a more aggressive style of emo using screamed vocals, also emerged, pioneered by the San Diego bands Heroin and Antioch Arrow. Screamo achieved mainstream success in the 2000s with bands like Hawthorne Heights, Silverstein, Story of the Year, Thursday, the Used, and Underoath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing,Nowhere</span> American rapper and singer

Joseph Edward Mulherin, better known by his stage name nothing,nowhere., is an American musician, singer, and songwriter.

Emo rap is a subgenre of hip hop with influence from emo. Originating from the SoundCloud rap scene in the mid-2010s, the genre fuses characteristics of hip hop music, such as trap-style beats with vocals that are usually sung. The most prominent artists in the genre were Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice Wrld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slayyyter</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1996)

Catherine Grace Garner, known professionally as Slayyyter, is an American singer and songwriter. She started her career independently releasing songs through SoundCloud. Her single "Mine" reached number 38 on the iTunes pop chart. The song was included on her self-titled debut mixtape which was independently released in 2019. Her debut studio album, Troubled Paradise, was released in June 2021 under Fader. Her second album, Starfucker, was released on September 22, 2023.

<i>1000 gecs</i> 2019 studio album by 100 gecs

1000 gecs is the debut studio album by American hyperpop duo 100 gecs, released on May 31, 2019, through Dog Show Records. It was preceded by the release of lead single "Money Machine" two days earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money Machine (song)</span> 2019 single by 100 gecs

"Money Machine" is the debut single by American hyperpop duo 100 gecs, released on May 29, 2019 as the only single from their debut studio album, 1000 Gecs (2019).

Hyperpop is a loosely defined electronic music movement and microgenre that predominantly originated in the United Kingdom during the early 2010s. It is characterised by an exaggerated or maximalist take on popular music, and typically integrates pop and avant-garde sensibilities while drawing on elements commonly found in electronic, hip hop, and dance music.

Aaron Jennings Puckett, known professionally as Lil Aaron, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Goshen, Indiana. Merging elements of pop punk and emo with hip hop and pop, he has released five solo EPs, as well as two EPs as a member of the alternative hip hop collective Boyfriendz. He has also written songs for artists such as Blackbear, Liam Payne, Hailee Steinfeld, Dev and Kiiara. He took part in the writing of Lizzo's 2019 album Cuz I Love You, which won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glaive (musician)</span> American musician (born 2005)

Ash Blue Gutierrez, known professionally as Glaive, is an American singer-songwriter. After posting a string of hyperpop songs to SoundCloud during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that earned him a following, he signed a record deal with Interscope Records and released his debut extended play, Cypress Grove, in 2020. His debut album, I Care So Much That I Don't Care at All, was released in 2023. His second album, May It Never Falter, was released in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Remover</span> American musician and producer (born 2003)

Jane Remover is an American musician. She released her debut studio album, Frailty, in 2021, which was followed by Census Designated in 2023. She pioneered the "dariacore" microgenre on SoundCloud with her album of the same name, released under the pseudonym Leroy. She has also released music under the name Venturing, and her first album under this name, Ghostholding, is set to release in 2025.

<i>Frailty</i> (Jane Remover album) 2021 studio album by Jane Remover

Frailty is the debut studio album by the American musician Jane Remover, released through DeadAir Records on November 12, 2021, under her former stage name, Dltzk. The album was supported by the release of three singles: "How to Lie", "Pretender", and "Search Party". A hyperpop, EDM, and emo record, Frailty was recorded within six to seven months in Remover's childhood bedroom using FL Studio and an acoustic guitar. Many of the experiences brought up in the album reference Remover's issues with her mental and physical health. The album was positively received by critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ericdoa</span> American musician

Eric George Lopez, known professionally as ericdoa, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known as one of the main artists in the hyperpop/digicore genres of music.

Quinn Dupree is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and DJ. Her second studio album, Quinn, was released on July 22, 2022. Quinn released on the independent record label deadAir Records which she is a co-founder of.

<i>Hypochondriac</i> (Brakence album) 2022 studio album by Brakence

Hypochondriac is the second studio album by American musician Brakence, released on December 2, 2022, via Columbia Records and Sony Music. It was preceded by the singles "Argyle", "CBD", "Venus Fly Trap", "Caffeine", and "Bugging!".

<i>I Care So Much That I Dont Care at All</i> 2023 studio album by Glaive

I Care So Much That I Don't Care at All is the debut studio album by the American musician Glaive, released on July 14, 2023, by Interscope Records. After gaining attention with a string of hyperpop songs released during the COVID-19 pandemic, Glaive signed a deal with Interscope, released three extended plays, and began collaborating with high-profile musicians. Glaive was inspired by bands and musicians such as Brand New, Modern Baseball, the 1975, Bon Iver, ABBA, and Mura Masa while recording the album in Los Angeles. The album was produced by returning collaborators Jeff Hazin and Ralph Castelli with contributions from Alexander 23, Underscores, Rodaidh McDonald, Nick Ferraro, Michael Pollack, and the Monsters & Strangerz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underscores (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter and producer

April Harper Grey, known professionally as Underscores, is an American singer-songwriter and producer. She grew up listening to artists like Jack White, Beck, and Madonna, becoming interested in filmmaking and composing music at a young age. Grey began releasing dubstep music on SoundCloud at the age of 13, eventually incorporating other genres. After releasing three extended plays (EPs) from 2018 to 2020, she rose to prominence with her debut album Fishmonger in March 2021. She released its companion EP and opened for 100 gecs on tour later that year. Grey performed her first headlining tour in early 2022 and concluded the "Fishmonger era" with a pop song in early 2023. She released her second album Wallsocket in September 2023 on the Mom + Pop record label. It was promoted with four singles, an alternate reality game, and a tour of North America and Europe.

<i>All Dogs Go to Heaven</i> (EP) 2021 EP by Glaive

All Dogs Go to Heaven is the second extended play (EP) by the American musician Glaive. It was released on August 6, 2021, via Interscope Records. After recording his debut EP Cypress Grove (2020) in his North Carolina bedroom, Glaive garnered critical acclaim and travelled to Los Angeles to record All Dogs Go to Heaven in a studio during a two week period. The EP pulls from many genres, as Glaive was simply focused on making music that he liked and wanted to move away from his previous hyperpop sound.

<i>Cypress Grove</i> (EP) 2020 EP by Glaive

Cypress Grove is the debut extended play (EP) by the American musician Glaive. It was released by Interscope Records on November 19, 2020. After recording music in his bedroom at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Glaive became a leading force of the hyperpop genre and signed a deal with Interscope in October 2020. Cypress Grove pulls from multiple genres. It was recorded in Glaive's childhood bedroom in Hendersonville, North Carolina and was named after a street in North Carolina. Cypress Grove gained Glaive a global fanbase and received widespread critical acclaim; several publications featured its lead single "Astrid" on their year-end lists.

<i>Then Ill Be Happy</i> (EP) 2021 EP by Glaive and Ericdoa

Then I'll Be Happy is a collaborative extended play (EP) by the American musicians Glaive and Ericdoa. It was released by Interscope Records and Listen to the Kids on October 6, 2021. After becoming leaders of both the hyperpop and digicore genres, the frequent collaborators recorded the EP in a North Carolina Airbnb and a studio. The EP experiments with sounds beyond the hyperpop genre, and contains lyrics that are written as angsty aphorisms. The EP was produced by Whethan with contributions from a variety of record producers including Ericdoa and Nick Mira. Then I'll Be Happy was promoted with two singles and the Then I'll Be Happy Tour across North America. It received mixed reviews from critics, citing the lack of chemistry between the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloak n Dagger</span> 2021 single by Glaive and Ericdoa

"Cloak n Dagger" is a song by the American musicians Glaive and Ericdoa, from their collaborative extended play (EP) Then I'll Be Happy (2021). It was released by Interscope Records and Listen to the Kids on January 21, 2021, as the EP's lead single. It was recorded in one day at an Airbnb in North Carolina during January 2021. It was released alongside a music video created on the same day as the song, which contained cameo appearances from the song's producers, Glasear, Kimj, and Whethan. Glaive and Ericdoa wrote the song alongside the producers. It is a fast-paced rap, pop, and emo song driven by retro synth layers, a "woozy" instrumental, and drums. The song is written about a breakup; the chorus is written about saying "fuck you" to somebody the duo wants to "rot in hell". "Cloak n Dagger" received positive reviews from critics; some thought it was a standout on Then I'll Be Happy and others highlighted the song's chorus.

References

  1. 1 2 Darville, Jordan (2022-12-14). "Song You Need: brakence's white-knuckled pop supernova "5g"". The Fader . Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  2. Kim, Joshua Minsoo (2022-11-22). "Brakence makes glitchy emo-pop that's as confessional as it is inventive". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  3. 1 2 Simpson, Paul. "Brakence Biography - Allmusic". Allmusic . Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  4. Sundaresan, Mano (2023-02-03). "Brakence talks about his album 'Hypochondriac', chronic pain, and hyperpop". NPR . Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  5. 1 2 Kim, Joshua Minsoo (2022-11-22). "Brakence makes glitchy emo-pop that's as confessional as it is inventive". Chicago Reader . Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  6. D'Souza, Shaad (2020-02-05). "Brakence drops pensive new single "rosier"". The Fader . Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  7. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  8. punk2, 2020-03-26, retrieved 2022-12-28