Meet Brian David Collins | Solo musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian David Collins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian David, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My business has a two prong approach. My initial reason for starting Brian David Collins Music was to release more original music faster, without needing to confer/compromise creative visions with an entire band. Since the dawn of BDC’s creation, I have released two albums: More Than Shadows and Different Light. Both can be found on all major streaming platforms and I plan to release another full length album in 2021. Now, in 2021, being a solo artist is a necessity. Because of family concerns, The Seers are on break, and so I need to play solo to survive. I have now been playing shows in Wyoming but am excited to get back into the Colorado music scene as a solo entertainer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Brian David Collins Music seeks to perform, record, and release original music. My lament for click tracks and recording songs one layer at a time became so great that I had to make a move back to where I originated. I wanted good honest live recordings with authentic energy and true classic sound. I am most proud now of my new full length project, The Golden Age, planned to be released this summer if we come out of COVID all right. It took eight musicians to make this work sound as I heard it in my head, and I will be glad to share it when it is more appropriate. On the other hand I am proud to have been able to play music as full time employment since 2010. The main lesson I have learned is to be humble and kind, as Tim McGraw says. Play the music audiences want to hear, and remember, it’s never all about you. Humility is the only reason I got anywhere. Since March of 2020, I have needed to get creative about my performances. I have played outdoor shows for senior living communities, provided singing telegrams, hosted concerts on Facebook with the help of my wife, and have been fortunate enough to have taught piano lessons and songwriting on zoom.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Pre-COVID, I would love to take a friend out to eat at Buena Vida Mexican Restaurant, Longhorn Steakhouse, Maya Cove, or The Whiskey Still. For a show, we would take them to the Sunset Lounge in Ft. Collins to hear Mark Sloniker and friends play or to the West End Lounge in Loveland, to see who is playing there. For a day trip, we would go to Vern’s restaurant to eat before heading up the Poudre Canyon for some sight-seeing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I credit the current success of Brian David Collins to my wife, Dana Collins, my drummer, Tom Ditzler, and my good friend Peter Finch. Dana is the inspiration for so many of the songs, as well as a full time supporter of Brian David Collins music. She does the majority of my online communication and gets me to gigs faithfully. Tom has been in it with me from the beginning. He is the most dedicated band member, providing funding for recording projects, transportation to gigs, and putting hours of time each week into making the music sound right. Peter Finch has been one of my greatest moral supporters. He is also responsible for finding my graphic designer, and is a continual strong post in our lives.

Website: https://briandavidcollins.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briandavidcollins/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianDavidCollins/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Emtas-LlfopUs2bDmnT4A?view_as=subscriber

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1UFK00xLg94Y1O75SAJAgE

Image Credits
Photos by Dana Collins of Music, Laughter, Love Photography