Interview With Brett Pemberton,
(Model/Singer/Songwriter)
(added August 22, 2006)
The interview below may be reprinted
with permission. The interview must contain the links and photos
including the credit posted at the bottom of it. Please contact
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[Wendy
at Dreamish.com]
I get intrigued and inspired by certain people and want to get to
know them better. This was the case with Brett
Pemberton, especially after hearing his music and falling in
love with a few of his songs. I was fascinated by his accomplishment
of creating his first CD by writing his own music, singing his own
songs, and playing all of the instruments. At the age of 20, he
was a one-man band. We talked at length on the phone and then I
interviewed him so that I could share some insight into his life
with you...
[Wendy at Dreamish.com]
What came first, modeling or your music?
[Brett Pemberton] Music... at about age 8, my
parents had been tossing me toy-instruments for x-mas presents,
etc... & it naturally segued into a real passion for it.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] How
did you get into modeling? How old were you?
[Brett Pemberton] My first modeling job was
at age 12. Having an older sister that modeled fairly successfully,
I was naturally in and around her agencies, and got a sort of shoe-in.
The next big thing I got was flying down to LA, expenses paid for
an audition as a guitarist in an anti-smoking campaign. Unfortunately
I was not old enough for the part!
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] What
took you overseas to Milan, Italy?
[Brett Pemberton] An
agency in Milan, Italy called Future Models (Fronted by agent-star
Maristella Becucci) sent a representative throughout the US to search
for new talent, and I was one of their choices from the Northwest.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] Is
modeling a career that pays well? How competitive is it?
[Brett Pemberton] Modeling
is extremely competitive. Unfortunately, as with many other industries,
the more it is flooded with “talent” the less opportunity
for each model to secure a job. It pays extremely well in very sporadic
& random spurts of time (in the beginning). A typical wage for
a beginner model, is around $150/hour. Do the math for a full weeks
worth of work... but it's very hard to secure that type of work
in the beginning stages of a modeling career.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com]
Are
there certain things you did to get modeling jobs? Did you have
an agent or a manager?
[Brett Pemberton] I
have agents in Seattle, New York, Italy & now potential agents
in all other parts of the world. If your “mother”
or home agency is excited about you (mine is based in Seattle),
then they will do their best to promote you to all other agency
across the world.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] You
recently changed your focus from modeling to music. Was music
always something you wanted to do as a career? Why the change?
[Brett Pemberton] Music has always been my passion &
dream career. Recently modeling has taken over a bit more of my
time, so the need for a conscious change (back to music) wasn't
out of the ordinary. Music is difficult for me to be far from,
so I hope to cross the two in a healthier way in the future.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] Do
you have advice for people that want to get into modeling? Is
there anything you would change from your experience?
[Brett Pemberton]
My biggest challenges in modeling are my interpersonal skills.
If one were to be interested in modeling, I would caution them
that it is a very delicate industry & your social skills must
be very astute. I've run into trouble (nothing too serious) before
learning how fragile this business can make you.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] You
became a one-man band entrepreneur, who wrote, sang, and did all
of the music for your first CD. Why did you take on this challenge
by yourself?
[Brett Pemberton] Vision
with music has never been something I've lacked. I've often “seen”
or “heard” the final product before I start to record
(or write). With band mates the trouble is communicating that
vision & successfully creating it.
As a one-man-band you have utter control.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] When
did you learn to play musical instruments? Which did you learn
to play first?
[Brett Pemberton] The
natural order was probably something like: singing, pots &
pans, guitar, eventually real-drums, a little piano here &
there, & bass sort of came along the way as I wanted to round
out the recordings.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] Did
you take professional singing lessons?
[Brett Pemberton]
No I didn't & don't... I took 4 lessons from a neighbor
(in trade for turning down my band practice sessions!) and he
pointed out a few key-stresses that had been holding back my potential
in a way. That's it.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] Did
you have experience in writing before you wrote your own songs?
[Brett Pemberton] My first song was written
at age 8. My dad had a thing for making up spontaneous child hood
“rhymes,” and I guess his confidence & charisma
sort of encouraged my own leap. As a person with a very elaborate
internal life, lyrics just seemed something to connect me with
the outside world, as well as my own feelings.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] What
inspires the lyrics in your songs?
[Brett Pemberton] I wish I knew. If someone
told you that you couldn't talk, it would be like someone telling
me I couldn't write. It's like a conversation that you've been
waiting to have, and the music articulates in the most beautiful
of ways.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] What
inspired my favorite song of yours, "When We First Met?"
[Brett Pemberton] At age 13 I met a girl
that changed my life. We dated for roughly 5 years, until her
inevitable trip to college got the best of us. She's a friend
now. While we've both gone our separate ways in life, there is
still a love that lingers, and at times it's as if we are those
same, two tiny kids again. Just like when we first met.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] Has
it been hard self-promoting your music? What things have you learned?
[Brett Pemberton] One thing
that's worked most to my advantage has been a subtle case of manic-depressive
disorder! I've taken leaps that some people would fear taking,
anticipating rejection, & embarrassment. One thing that makes
self promotion easier for me is the utter & undying belief
in the music that I play. To me it's not music, it's my life documented
by notes & expressions.
I've learned that if you truly believe in the life that you live,
that your life speaks for itself & people will want to take
part in it. Convincing someone to like me is not something I enjoy
doing.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] You
created your own website. Have you found it essential to have
a website?
[Brett Pemberton] I guess the advantage to having
a website is that it's a great face to your music. It's a place
where industry folk or fans can go to connect & feel comfortable
with the music & images.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] You
are also on MySpace, where I first met you. Have you found it beneficial
to network and help get your music listened to?
[Brett Pemberton] Myspace
to me has more or less been a glorified, social pass-time. As a
bonus, I've had many people bump into my music & purchase it
online or come to a show.
Recently an industry insider e-mailed me with interest in my music.
So I guess that's a perk.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] What
is going on now? Where do things seem to be headed with your music
and modeling career?
[Brett Pemberton] Now
is a definite transitional phase. At this point, much of the foundation
of my career has been set, and the rest is to be built. The sky
is the limit really, but finding the balance between art, commerce
& life outside the game will be the ongoing challenge.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] Is
there anyone you would like to meet or collaborate with on any projects?
[Brett Pemberton] That's
a great question. I'd love to collaborate with the best singers,
producers, & musicians to really allow a song to fly. Amerie
Rogers (www.amerie.net)
is one particular R&B singer that I'd love to write with.
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] People
are going to ask, so I will, where can your music be purchased?
[Brett Pemberton] In
due time, the music should be available across the country. For
now, visit myspace!
[Wendy
at Dreamish.com] Thanks
Brett!
[Brett Pemberton] Thank
you, Wendy!
You can visit Brett's
MySpace spot to hear his music. He also has an official website
located at Brett
Pemberton .com
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Wendy Shepherd is the owner and creator
of a multitude of websites on the internet since 1997. To learn
more about Wendy Shepherd, please visit the website at www.wendyshepherd.com
.
This interview
may be reprinted with permission. The interview must contain the
links and photos including the credit posted at the bottom of it.
Please contact
Dreamish.com
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