Bryan Harris on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Bryan Harris and have shared our conversation below.

Bryan, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Great question for someone focused on the power of Landscape Architecture. I’m constantly wandering into new ideas and focusing on the Jazz lifestyle, meaning embracing the random hits or slaps that come at you on the daily, and improvising to solve and strive for new passions to be released. I think a path can also wander if you let it. Kind of like the path of Scottsdales Indian Bend Wash. As the story goes: The Army Corps wanted concrete to move the water as a typical Engineers mathematical solution, but looking to nature, for it never fails, Mr. Bill Walton (Landscape Architect) had another idea for solving that watershed nightmare & the rest is history. Find that path of passion to spark joy for futures to come. Whether wandering, or straight as a Saguaro, embrace the nuances on the daily and be that river of change to find your bay of bliss.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I guess you could say I wear a lot of hats, or bandanas if you will, as I’m technically a Landscape Architect in Training/HumanRadioStation-DiskJockey/Emcee-Producer-Muralist/Hip-Hop Hype Man if you need it and you better Bollweeve it like Eli Whitney…Just Playin. I love to design and build one of a kind desert sustainable Landscapes as well as collect obscure funk jazz soul and worldwide thumping vinyl records. I currently own my own Design + Build LLC and DJ on the monthly at the Valleybar Rose Room among other local venues and record shops. I also chop beats and rap and release music on the yearly with 2 new releases coming up so stay tuned to that dial! Always analog on the releases too, either cassette tapes, shirts and vinyl and for the Design + Build we’re working in Coronado currently, PV, north Phoenix, Arcadia Light and Rio Verde to mention a few and grateful for all the support in the Valley with word of mouth!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Cliché answer alert! HaHahahahahha. For reals. My sweetheart though…She knows who she is…Almost 20 years strong. She knew I had a fun way to think of every situation and let me flourish. Mad love to infinity!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
A couple times for sure, but you just have to uppercut the future and know you have a special gift to provide to the land and owe it to the sound ancestors…

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I can confidently say my goal on the daily, always, is to truly be myself and find comfort in trying to be a human flower and for me that helps to wake up knowing there will be difficult times, but at least your outfit is matching perfectly down to the socks and you can call yourself Bryan the human Agave ovatifolia because of the aqua blue hue from bandana to bootstrap. It’s ok to be a dork and I’m down for that and true passion will always win over faking the funk. Shaq said it best…”Don’t fake the funk on a nasty dunk” and that always rings true in my world. I know my hand can do it all and other businesses in the valley fake that they can do that. No need for alarm though, just save time and live bold.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
Walking early mornings waking up with the birds…

Contact Info:

• Website: https://membphx.com
• Instagram: @mother_earth_embellisher. @leadvesselskipper
• Linkedin: Bryan Harris
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live/OpKM1nO_wEI
• Other: bandcamp soundcloud STLB3

Image Credits
All photos taken by Bryan Harris.