Conversations with Brogan Boyd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brogan Boyd.

Hi Brogan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Brogan Boyd. I am a singer, songwriter, and guitarist in the Phoenix area. I hope that through my music I can carry with it a message of love and hope. Music has always spoken to me in a manner that is deeper and more powerful than my eloquence allows me to describe.

My mother tells a story that when I was 4 she and I were riding in her car listening to the music when I looked over at her and said “Mom. Listening to good music gives me a cry bubble in my heart.” I don’t remember saying that, but I know the exact feeling I was describing. As a young boy, I discovered a deep love for music one fateful night when I curiously played a song by a man I had never heard of before.

His name was Stevie Wonder. Seconds later, I was jumping around and dancing uncontrollably and erupting with joyous laughter. My life would never be the same. Picking up a neglected family guitar, I was taught to play by B.B. King, to sing by Ray Charles, and to perform by Otis Redding. I started a band with some friends in high school and played all over Arizona and California with them all through high school and college.

After finishing school, I moved back to Phoenix and continued gigging with the band. We had hit somewhat of a ceiling in AZ and decided to make a move to try and make it to the next level. Nashville was going to be our destination and we started making all the arrangements to go, but then two weeks before leaving the band sat me down and told me they didn’t want to go. I knew that it was something I couldn’t let slip away or I’d never forgive myself.

So, I moved to Nashville myself, where I would get my first records on wax. Little by little, I went from chasing my dreams to running from demons and eventually found myself back in Phoenix and completely lost to addiction. By the grace of God, I was able to put my pride and ego aside and ask for help.

During my recovery, I discovered my purpose in this life is to spread as much love and joy as I can, carry the message of recovery that was given to me, and be of service whenever possible. I spread this light and healing with my music and no matter where you are, I would like you to have some!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Growing up, I had no musical influences around me and could not afford regular lessons. Being in a time before YouTube, I had to teach myself everything I know just by listening to my favorite artists. I meet people in the music community all the time that talk about their parents playing instruments or touring with famous artists from the 60s and 70s and I cannot imagine how incredible it would be to be able to play a song with my parents or siblings.

Also, as I stated in my bio, I am an addict and had a terrible struggle with drug use and even more so, the illusion of control that we call the human condition. This is a battle I will be fighting for the rest of my life, one day at a time. I alone am too weak to fight this battle. As it says in one of my favorite books, although I have moral and philosophical conviction galore, my resources as marshaled by my will are insufficient.

I simply cannot do what I know I should, no matter how badly. Luckily, there is a solution. By giving my will and my life up to God and working every day to grow in my conscious contact with God, I will continue to grow in my knowledge of Its will and the power to carry it out. As long as I try to truly live God’s will, I cannot fail. On a lighter note, trying to constantly grow and evolve musically and not become stagnant is a struggle.

It’s easy to get comfortable with what I play and get stuck in a rut of being bored with my playing. Thankfully, with the wealth of information and inspiration the internet has, it is easier than ever to find new things to work on and new music to inspire me and keep me moving forward.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a musician. A singer, songwriter, and guitarist to be exact.

I have a pretty eclectic style. But if I hear something that speaks to me, even something as small as a chord change or a melody line, if I look into it and try to find where it originated from I invariably find that it almost always can be traced back to the Blues and Gospel.

People have always told me that I have a soulful quality to my voice and playing and, most of all, that I exude the joy and love I have for music when I play. I would say this is what I’m proud of.

If I am not only able to express the profound love and joy that I get from music, but possibly share that with someone and help them feel the healing power that music has, I can’t imagine something more fulfilling.

Especially, if I can help someone who is struggling with addiction or any of the tribulations I faced, and share with them my experience, strength, and hope, I think that I will have fulfilled my purpose.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I always loved music.

When I was a little boy, I thought everyone felt like me and that everybody could sing. I realized as I got older that I had been blessed with some natural talent, but more than that I was given a deep for music. I was always a happy kid, and have always wanted to make people laugh. I definitely tested many of my teacher’s patience by being a class clown.

My parents split up when I was in middle school, so I grew up in a house of all women. This was challenging at times, to say the least, but I believe it has given me a perspective and respect for women that I am very grateful for. Also, my whole life I’ve felt like I was able to get along with all types of people. I played sports my whole life so I was friends with the “jock” types, but was also a musician so I got along with more artistic types.

I am grateful for this and love learning about other people and seeing how many different ways of thinking people have. I was a curious kid as well. I always wanted to know how and why things worked or were the way they were. I always say that I need things to make sense in my head. If I cant logically connect the dots in my head, I have to know more about whatever it is.

When I got to high school, I discovered volleyball and tried out for the team. When I graduated, I was an all-state player, captain of the team, and a state champion. During my freshman year at NAU, a couple of friends and I started a men’s team. We didn’t have any financial support or even a coach. We would carpool to tournaments across the country and cram into cheap hotel rooms.

We were extremely talented, dedicated, and had amazing chemistry though, so by my senior we had become the #1 ranked team in the nation. That is one of my proudest achievements and most fond memories for sure.

Pricing:

• $200/hr for solo performances.
• $350/hr for a duo (guitar and percussion or guitar and sax).
• $45/hr for guitar lessons.

Contact Info:

• Email: broganboydmusic@gmail.com
• Website: https://flow.page/broganboydmusic
• Instagram: @Broganboydmusic
• Facebook: Broganboydmusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCHYW6P0olSW11-lPj1eaWaQ
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Sn3TWjiVBPEUPp2XeOP85?si=aIjnGxFkSJOydiyT-MPw9Q