A Chat with Brendan Ranney (19.08.26)
Blending raw, introspective narratives with moving, melodic guitars, singer-songwriter Brendan Ranney returned to music in 2023 after an almost 20-year hiatus. Often compared to Sonic Youth and Elliott Smile, the Southern California solo artist recently released his debut album, Slightly Out Of Focus. We speak with Ranney about the album, what music means to him and much more.
OSR: It’s rather cliché, but what made you decide to pursue music? What drew you to music, and how did everything come about?
Ranney: I was drawn to music at a young age, always making noise of some kind. I was given a little junior acoustic guitar when I was maybe 10. My parents then had me take lessons over the summer in a community music class. We learned types of all things; needless to say, I was not inspired. It was also hard for me to sit still and to quiet my mind at that age, so those lessons never took. It wasn’t until I was 19 that I bought an electric guitar and began teaching myself how to play. That is when I realized that I could express my emotions through playing music. From then on, I was hooked.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Ranney: Ah, good question. To me, music is not just an escape from the challenges of life, but also a way in which I can process emotions and experiences. I have always found it hard to express myself verbally. Music gives me a path to do just that: express myself. So, music is a lifeline that allows me to move through experiences, emotions and expression in a way that is vital to my overall well-being and has allowed me to maintain a better balance in my life.
OSR: You are about to release your debut solo album, Slightly Out Of Focus, after almost two decades’ hiatus. What made you decide to stop writing music, and what inspired you to return to the music world?
Ranney: In 2003, I walked away from music altogether. At the time, my father had died, my first daughter was born two weeks later, my band had just released our record, and I was a mess. It seemed that everything was falling apart. All of my relationships seemed to be deteriorating; I was not making very good decisions. Self-doubt became an ever-present companion, and I had convinced myself that I was no good. So, at one point, with creditors breathing down my neck, I sold all my gear and left it behind forever. I needed to put my life back together, and that was the path I thought I had to take.
Returning to the music world, as you put it, was something that was not planned. I did not listen to music for a long time; it was just too painful. I avoided it altogether. Then in late 2022, after a lot of upheaval and revelations about my family of origin, and finding a box full of my father’s short stories and poetry, I walked into our local music store for the first time since 2003. I walked out with a guitar and began writing songs that would make up the bulk of what is on this record.
OSR: Looking at that long break in creating music, did you continue to write songs or was it a total absence?
Ranney: No, I hadn’t even touched a guitar, let alone write anything. It was a total absence. I had said to myself never again. But you know what they say, never say never. I still to this day am amazed how life works out sometimes. A path that was thought lost and forgotten can reappear just like that.
OSR: I read that your material in the 1990s explored themes like disconnection, isolation and shame. Are these themes or emotions still evident in your present work, and how?
Ranney: Yes, I think so. Living today, you can’t help but feel disconnected and isolated. The shame is still present, which is something that society places on us. Constantly failing to measure up to some standard that keeps moving further away. I think those associated emotions are still in my music. Especially in songs like ‘Second Son’ and ‘Here With You’. I think a major difference in my work today, as opposed to years past, is that back then, I was angry about it all. Today, I find myself wading through those waters more reflective and explorative. I find myself wanting to understand more of my emotional side of dealing with those feelings of isolation and disconnectedness. Basically, asking why a lot more. Songs like ‘Where I’ve Been’ and ‘I Don’t Want to Go’ explore that very thing.
OSR: Looking at Slightly Out Of Focus, what is the album about, and what was the process of creating it like? Did you face any challenges, and how did you overcome them?
Ranney: The record is about never quite being seen, always left on the outside. This can be in social circles or even in the family that you grew up in. It is about finally being seen and heard. The process used in making this record was also a different one for me. In the past, we always tried to track everything live, which led to feeling rushed. This time around I wanted to approach it differently. I didn’t want to feel rushed, which was my main concern. I wanted to take my time and allow for my creative process to help influence where we went on the record. This allowed for each song to develop organically and breathe a bit.
The greatest challenge was basically getting up to speed with my guitar playing and vocally, considering the time away from music. Fortunately, I had a very supportive engineer/producer in Jon Crawford. He was patient and very encouraging. Since he and I went way back, he could hear the potential and really helped bring it out of me, and I think the songs demonstrate that. Another challenge was finding a guitar tone that I was happy with. We took the time to explore a variety of amp and guitar combinations, finally settling on a couple variations. All of which really helped shape this record from start to finish.
OSR: What does Slightly Out Of Focus mean to you? What do you hope people take from this album?
Ranney: This record means a lot to me personally. It represents my journey in finding myself again. I think we as people can struggle with who we are at times as we progress through life and the various roles we may find ourselves in. Sometimes, along the way, we can get lost; we can become unfamiliar and not recognize ourselves. However, if we can continue to make an effort in putting a positive step in front of another, we can alter that path we are on and ultimately rediscover ourselves. That is what I hope people take away from this record: that we have the power to change the path we’re on.
OSR: If you could speak to a younger you, what advice would you give young Brendan about music, life, and everything in between?
Ranney: First, I would say that music and life are not mutually exclusive. It is possible to do both and have a better life balance. Something I did not think was possible when I was younger. I would also encourage my younger self to be patient and trust the writing process. As for life, I would recommend to surround myself with good people, which can make a huge difference.
OSR: This is only the beginning, so what can we expect from Brendan Ranney in the future?
Ranney: Well, I am going to continue to create music and follow that path as long as I can. I am also into experimenting with new sounds, so I am open to where that leads. I have also talked to a few people about doing different projects, so we’ll see. I am excited to see what comes next.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Ranney: Yes, thank you for listening to my record. And if you can believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Many thanks to Brendan Ranney for speaking with us. Find out more about Brendan Ranney on his official website, Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
