As he launches into a run of UK shows, both as a headline artist and in support of Shania Twain on her ‘Queen Of Me Tour’, BRELAND reveals he’s been working with the country-pop legend on new material.
The musician – who made waves when his debut single, My Truck, went viral following its 2019 release – last year released his debut album, ‘Cross Country’, featuring contributions from Keith Urban, Lady A and Mickey Guyton.
Now, he’s taking his blend of country, pop, R&B and hip-hop global, while continuing to build an impressive A-list fanbase.
“If you had told me five years ago that I would be coming out to the UK to play shows for five weeks – headlining my own tour and hitting the road with an international icon – I would not have believed you,” he laughs in RETROPOP’s October Introducing… feature.
Having originally been booked to appear at Twain’s US dates only, the New Jersey-born singer and rapper – real name Daniel Breland – who the only male support artist on the bill, proved such a hit that he was added to the UK shows too and invited to the studio to record a new version of Shania’s recent track, Inhale/Exhale AIR.
“While we were on the road [in the US], we hit it off so much that not only did she start bringing me on stage to do two songs [their song and 2004 single Party For Two] with her, but we also started collaborating on some other music,” he teases, adding, “There’s definitely a world in which we have some more music coming out together. I don’t know exactly when, we don’t have a date for it yet, but I’m the type of person that, if I have a relationship with someone that makes music, then we’re probably going to make a lot of music together.”
With so much under his belt already, what does the next five years look like for BRELAND? “I think it would definitely look like doing what I’m doing now but on a larger and more global scale,” he smiles. “I would love to be able to play some of these same venues that I’m opening in and headline them – I think that’s doable in five years, for sure.”
He goes on to share ambitions outside of the recording industry too; philanthropy and charity work come out high on the list, along with creative writing for screen and book projects, plus possible TV work. “Really, I want to be able to continue putting out music that people enjoy and that I enjoy and feel really good about,” he adds, “and making music will always be at the core of what I do.
“But over the next five years, I would love to be able to dip my toes and get some experience in a bunch of different areas!”
Read the full interview in the October 2023 edition of RETROPOP, out now. Order yours or subscribe via our Online Store, use our Store Finder to locate your nearest stockist, or get Digital Copies delivered direct to your devices.
