Brandon Klein, ’15

Brandon Klein is a junior hailing from West Bloomfield, Michigan majoring in psychology with minors in business and music.  He is the Executive Director of Consider, a point/counter-point magazine, as well as a guitarist and occasional singer.  HC UMich recently had the opportunity to sit down with Brandon and talk about his exciting musical experiences and successes. 

Her Campus: How and when did you discover your passion for music?

Brandon Klein:  In terms of playing music, I was in the 7th grade. A family membered offered to get me a guitar as a gift and I was like, ‘Why?  I don’t know how to play’. So I decided to do it and I ended up taking lessons for two years.  I fell in love; I always just found myself playing. I started singing on my own, but I am not really the best singer in the world.  I recently picked up the ukulele and I want to pick up the mandolin and banjo soon. I also play some hand-drums just for fun. In the past month, I have decided that I want to work in the music industry, not necessarily playing music. I want to be in music management and music marketing.  So 7 years ago, I discovered I loved playing, and really just this year I discovered that I want to work in the music field.

HC:  What types of things do you do on campus with your music?

BK:  I play tons of gigs on campus with Hannah Gross who goes by Hannah Elizabeth.  We usually play about 5-7 gigs on campus a year and I have been putting out YouTube videos with her.

HC:  So with Hannah, are you playing the guitar and she is singing?

BK:  Pretty much. Hannah and I were neighbors when I was 5 years old so we have been family friends for a long time. When I was a senior and she was a freshman in college, she found out that I played the guitar and she sang and she was looking to perform.  She invited me out to her first Potbelly gig and ever since then I have been there to play guitar for her, but also just to facilitate arrangements of covers like we started with this whole YouTube video thing. We went out to Nashville together for fun.  We jam and we play gigs, but I am also just a friend to help her out.

HC:  What kinds of gigs do you guys play at Michigan?

BK:  We have played a lot at Potbellys and we have met a lot of fellow musicians there.  We do a lot of Relay for Life shows and we have done a lot of fashion shows.  It has been a huge thing.  We have done like 3-4 fashion shows, which is nice.  We usually do a Relay for Life show, which is in April.  Sometimes Hannah will also have gigs off-campus too.  

HC:  What has been your biggest music success so far?

BK:  I would say, in terms of playing, my biggest success would be our “Say Something” music video.  It has topped 21,000 views on YouTube.  Just our channel as a whole has really taken off.  That video really showed us that there is potential in what we are doing.  Also, just being able to go out to Nashville this summer and start to intern out there is a big success for me career-wise.  

HC:  What is your favorite song you have performed and why?

BK:  Personally, my favorite song to play on the guitar is “Home” by Phillip Phillips just because it is a really catchy song.  The lyrics resonate with me.  I think almost every song these days is a love song.  This song could be interpreted that way, but it is pretty universal.  I like that I can sing it and it can actually make sense for anyone. 

HC:  What do you hope will come out of your music career?

BK:  I just want to be around music. I want to be playing for the rest of my life, but I also want to be helping others realize their dreams, people that are more talented than me, people that have better voices that want to be musicians.  I know what it feels like and I want to give people that opportunity for the rest of my life.

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