Lady Gaga’s longtime collaborator Brian Newman chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about his new album “Songs for Lonely Lovers.”
How did the single “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” come about?
I had been listening to and performing this song for years, ever since I first heard Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole sing it. It’s a tragic dance of the downtrodden that always resonated with me and my early days in New York, when I was working, hustling and doing anything I could to make enough money to stay here.
There are so many different interpretations of this song, but I wanted to focus on a gentler presentation, an easy rhythm that just flowed, telling the story of faded glory.
How did you approach the song selection for your new album?
I’ve always wanted to make a record that showcased the deeper side of the Great American Songbook, featuring the songs that reach farther into love’s struggles, feelings of loneliness and those “last call” nights. I booked two days of studio time at my favorite spot, Teaneck Sounds in NJ with one of my favorite pianists and Juilliard grad, Caelan Cardello.
We accomplished so much on the first day that I called my pals Nolan Byrd on drums and Russell Hall on bass to record with Caelan and me on the second day. I’m really proud of the musicians and the way this record turned out.
We recorded everything live with little to no edits, tracking it all in two days with the great Dave Kowalski as our engineer. I don’t know why these sad songs make me so happy to sing.
I guess it’s just the piece of me that knows what it’s like to feel like the world’s against you, and you’ve got nothing to lose but to prove to yourself that you can overcome what life dishes out. I leaned into the songs that I feel reflect these stories and themes of resilience, which resonate with everyone on a much more profound level than the average Broadway sing-a-longs about happy times.
What is your personal favorite song on there and why?
That’s a really hard question since all of these tunes mean a great deal to me lyrically and harmonically but I think one of my favorites has to be ‘Some Other Time.’ Such a gut-wrenching lyric about someone who missed out on the things they wanted in life because they thought they had more time.
For me, the song means not taking tomorrow for granted, taking full advantage of today and living for the moment. I first heard Tony Bennett sing this one on a record he made with the great Bill Evans. Those two records they did together were a huge inspiration for this project. Even before I got to work with Tony on those albums, tours, TV, concerts and Grammy wins I was just a kid listening to him and trying to emulate his every note.
My time spent with him was so transformative for me and all of us involved. The humble presence of a true master was so incredible that I couldn’t even believe I was in the room at first. I remember when we were rehearsing for the ‘One Last Time’ with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett shows at Radio City, the room was filled with family, Anderson Cooper was filming for 60 Minutes, the documentary crew, and all the technicians and musicians.
It was as surreal as it gets for a cat like me. The amazing pianist Lee Musiker asked Tony if he remembered this song and played a few chords… Tony just started singing it. It could have been any number of songs but he was immediately taken back to the lyric without hesitation. Tony was a constant thought for every song on this record and every song I sing every night. I’ll never forget everything he taught me and I’ll carry his tradition in my music and my heart.
What inspires your music and songwriting?
The great tradition of the American Songbook always inspires me to stay true to the path of those who came before and, just like them, take it to the next level.
Always respecting the greatness of the musicians, writers, arrangers, composers and orchestrators who started it all. I’m always surrounding myself with musicians that are better than me. Pushing me to be a better version of myself. They are a huge part of everything. Without that, there’s no record, show, or anything!
What’s it like to collaborate with Lady Gaga all the time?
From the early days when we were hanging at St Jerome’s, to the secret NYC pop-ups, to Tony Bennett, Harlequin and beyond it has always been a complete honor and true pleasure to work with her. A true master and professional in every sense of the word.
Changing the game with every note. I don’t know where my family and I would be without her. I’m always looking forward to the next era. She is like Miles Davis to me: always changing and molding her grand design. She is always ahead of the trends and always pushing the boundaries of music, fashion and art. Love you Lady Gaga!
How does it feel to be an artist in the digital age?
Aw Cat!! Great question! I hate it! Ha! But in all honesty, it definitely makes it more difficult to break through the noise and be heard in a real way. I know we all have to do it all these days, but posting on social media, getting songs on playlists and generally pushing all outlets for coverage can be daunting and unrelenting.
That being said, it’s still how it was back in the day. Word of mouth is now just amplified for everyone on the planet, so it can be helpful too! At the end of the day I just want to make music with my friends.
What do your plans for the future include?
It’s been a wild ride so far so I’m just gonna keep on rocking and rolling, baby! Raising my family and making music is all that truly matters to me. Through the years of hard work and dedication, I’ve really been blessed, but it’s never finished and the work is never done!
Vinyl for this record is coming in the fall and I just finished mixing the next record that I recorded in Austin, Texas, with some amazing cats at Adrian Quesada’s studio, Electric Deluxe, of Black Pumas fame. All recorded to analog 2 inch tape; it’s a mix of more modern songs… but you’ll have to wait to hear more
What is your advice for young and emerging artists?
My advice for young artists is to ‘Be Kind to Everyone and Never Give Up.’ I know it’s cliché to say it but it’s really the one mantra you can always count on to get your head back in the game. I’ve been knocked down more times than I’ve succeeded, and that never changes no matter where you are in life or career.
The important thing is what you do while you’re lying on the ground. During the lowest points in my early years in NYC, I felt like quitting 1000 times, but I knew that I had something to say and offer to the world. Another important thing is making sure everything is about the audience. You don’t have to change your style.
Just be yourself, but make sure you are bringing that audience into the show and your world. They are the most important part of music. My favorite part of being a musician is connecting with the audience and making them forget their problems and get lost in the music if only for a few hours.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Someone told me once that success is like building a house. Some days you add 1000 bricks and some days only one. As long as you are constantly building, it’s not about short-term success or easy wins. It’s about longevity. Don’t use cheap material; pour a solid foundation and build on top of that.
Take a steady path toward growth and don’t rely on others to build it for you. Be the tortoise not the hare, be the little pig with the house made of brick not the ones made of sticks or straw. Am I successful? Yes. Am I done? Not even close.
“Songs for Lonely Lovers” is available for digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about Brian Newman, follow him on Instagram.
