brb. and EJEAN light up San Francisco with the It’s Complicated North American Tour

by Gianpaolo Pabros || photographed on Sep. 25 at The Midway

Pre-show interview with EJEAN

You opened for SHAUN earlier in the year, which, correct me if I’m wrong, was your first bigger venue performance and first time opening for an artist on tour. What was that experience like, and also having the opportunity to open for brb. tonight?

First of all, I feel very lucky to be able to do this stuff. It is only possible due to people like my friends, like niko rain, like Josh [Gong]. I nearly shit my pants when I was opening for SHAUN. Because it was a very hectic day, and we didn’t get much soundcheck time. But I think still by the end of the performance, I was still just very grateful. I'm very like, you know, I did that. Finally. I feel good.

What are you most excited about for tonight's sets? What's your favorite song to perform? What's your favorite part about performing?

I am the most excited to share the stage with one of my best friends. And I'm just excited to share my music. A lot of my friends have told me [that] they're coming and even people who I don't know have told me that they're coming, and I'm like, “Whoa, wait, for me?” So it's very special. And we got a lot more soundcheck time this time. So I just want to put on a good show.

Favorite song to perform is probably "Home." Because while [...] it's very emotional, and it's very personal, but it's still [...] a fucking banger, man. That song's a banger. And I always get really into it whenever I sing it. Because I'm like, I don't know. It just means something to me. And plus it's with again, niko rain. And what I love about [...] performing[...] I think it's seeing people enjoy it. I don't know if that makes me a narcissist. But [...] when I see people moving, or smiling or singing along, I'm like, Yes, everyone's having an experience, a good time. That's a live show, baby.

Other than that, I'm just making music in my bedroom. I don't know who's listening to this. So it was cool just to finally [be] like "Oh! Ok, people like it. Cool with me!" 

You released a number of singles this year and in 2022, which were all collabs. What was the motivation or reason behind why in recent years, you have released collaboration songs versus singles just featuring you? What do you enjoy more about collaboration songs versus songs that just feature you?

Oh my gosh, that's such a question– just cut me. That question stabbed me.

This isn't a reason that I have collabs but one of the reasons I don't have my own solo music out yet is because I write a lot of songs, I've been writing songs since I was in elementary school, just in my journal, in my Notes app, in my voice memos, in my GarageBand and Logic and Ableton, but I don't think I've ever felt comfortable/confident enough to have something that all came from me and put it out in the world. I am even kind of scared to even flesh out my ideas and I'm like, Oh, man, what if it's not good? So, at least for right now, it's all still in the vault? Inside of me.

A couple years ago, you were just releasing covers. Then you released a song with niko rain called "find you." How did that change your trajectory?

Before "find you," one, I wasn't even uploading my own covers on Spotify. I had a friend that did it for me that suggested it. And it ended up kind of popping off. I was very surprised. But I didn't think like, Oh, what can I do with covers on Spotify? Like, who cares? I'm glad people enjoy it. But there's nothing else to it. Then I got really busy with school. But then niko rain reached out to me for "find you." It kind of just pushed me. It propelled me to take agency in my own artistry, and be like, Huh, I am a person who can do this thing. And I am capable or, there's an opportunity out there. And that's why it is a very special release for me, because it was my first step.

You've demonstrated tremendous growth since 2022. What's been the experience like with your platform growing so rapidly? You also joined EXPOSITION at the time. And how has EXPOSITION been a positive force and influence on your music and your growth as an artist?

First, how do I deal with the growth? It’s kind of mind numbing. Because it's all online. And just staring at your phone for that many hours a day is bad for you. Right? Not for me. But at the same time, it's really cool, because I think it's another external validation thing. It's like, Oh, people enjoy this stuff. People care about my art. If someone leaves a really nice comment, or a nice message, it gives me an opportunity to be thankful towards them, [and] directly tell them my thanks. Like, I really appreciate you supporting me or saying this. And then I haven't experienced too many cons about it yet. Other than the phone thing, the social media thing. 

As to EXPOSITION, honestly, they've opened up all these opportunities for me, like SHAUN, brb. I couldn't have done any of it without them. I also asked them a lot for– because I'm very an inside-of-myself kind of person, especially when it comes to my art– EXPOSITION also helps me to push it out of myself, and to also understand things that aren't just about my song, or my writing. It gives me a wider view of things. And has really nice people.

Josh: I think what's also really cool is that when you look at Spotify, like monthly listeners and stuff like that, it's like what EJEAN [said] where it can be very mind numbing, and it [can] just be a statistic. But I think what's been really cool about opening for shows or live performances in general is that you get to see–

EJEAN: People.

Josh: Yeah, it's tangible. You get to see the actual fans that care about you, and love your music. I feel like that's always a really cool moment for [us] to have. Because it just makes everything more real. 

You started out your journey with releasing covers. What was the process of transitioning from recording covers to releasing original music? Was there a learning curve? Or any challenges that you faced along the way? And if so, how did you overcome them?

In terms of just putting it out there and making the transition was just a friendly push from [my peers] and from niko rain with “find you.” But between releasing those covers and releasing find you were very pivotal moments in my life in general. I moved across the country to go to college. I decided to study music for college. Which I know, a Bay Area Asian studying music, no lucrative career. Crazyyy. So out of pocket actually. So yeah, all those things were changing in my life. And then also personal things were going on, like friends and relationships and stuff. And even my relationship with myself, it was all changing in those times. And then starting [in] 2021, 2022, I was on a path forward. 

The Bay Area isn't super known for a strong music community, in comparison to, for example, Los Angeles or New York City. What's it like being a rising artist in the Bay Area, and what's been the experience of finding connections and community both with the people based in the Bay and online, in terms of collaborators, mutuals, etc.?

I think in terms of being an artist in the Bay, at least personally, it's just very casual. I'm in my home. I'm making music with my friend. And we're just hanging out and then putting it online. In terms of connecting with other people… I've been fortunate to have people like EXPOSITION and Bay Area Rising [...] And I've met a ton of artists that way. Not all of them local, but a ton of them. And then there was also I was gonna say, actually, one of my recent collabs “Sweatshirt,” with Patrick Hizon, he's from San Diego, but he literally just DM'd me, and was like, “Hey, your voice is pretty sick.” I was like, “Oh, my gosh, your music is sick.” And we're like, let's freakin cook. And then we cooked. And then I went all the way to frickin New York singing that song. Which is so stupid. So awesome. So stupidly awesome. 

What's next for you? Can we expect more singles, collabs, a debut EP or album? Or more concerts? 

I do have some things cooking. My boy niko rain also has some things cooking. I'll let you guys make connections about that. There might be some sort of show coming up in the future. And then I think, in this next year, I think I'm gonna push myself. And I'm gonna do those solo songs. I'm gonna get it from the diary to Spotify. It's gonna happen soon.

EJEAN pre-show

brb. pre-show

niko rain

EJEAN and niko rain

Clarence Liew (CLO)

Marc Lian

Auzaie Zie