Brandes – Love In Two Degrees (2026)
The brainchild and solo project of acclaimed author and former Labour MP Peter Bradley, Brandes is an artistic outlet allowing him to dream, create and connect. In our interview with Bradley, he mentioned that while his political career is important, it’s “never been all my life…I’d dreamed of being a writer or a poet, and now that I’ve had a chance to dream again, I do feel compelled to take it.” So, a year or so after our conversation, we head to Brandes’ Spotify, pick up our cup of tea, and hit the play button on his latest single, ‘Love In Two Degrees’.
Produced at The Song Lab in Birmingham with Jonny Amos, ‘Love In Two Degrees’ is another single leaning toward a distinctive sound that is entirely Brandes. Drums pulsate in the background, while a guitar lulls along with a soft, soothing, hopeful tone. Simplistic and easy on the ears, the traditional folk melody has a bare-bones, sparse feeling.
The influence of Leonard Cohen and Cat Stevens is highly evident in ‘Love In Two Degrees’. While the folk-tinged melody hums in one lane, Brandes’ spoken-word takes prominence, dancing across in a rich, full-bodied baritone. It’s as if we were having a conversation with the UK-based artist and a tune played in the background – no real connection, but simultaneously a strong link between the voice and the instruments.
Already a weighty song, despite its starkness, ‘Love In Two Degrees’ becomes heavier with the profound theme. Brandes explains: “In all my songs, I try to achieve clarity of thought and honesty of emotion. In ‘Love In Two Degrees’, I set out to capture a personal experience and convey how it felt then and what it means now.”
Charming but obscure; confident but flecked with vulnerability; bold but with a sense of fragility, ‘Love In Two Degrees’ is an interesting track. With the promise of an upcoming album, I’ll be sure to keep my eye on Brandes.
Find out more about Brandes on his Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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