Conor Brendan

Conor Brendan animates soulful original songs with fresh perspectives on Americana, Folk, and Pop traditions, encompassing a wide dynamic range, from irresistible grooves to contemplative cinematic ballads and anthemic explosive peaks. Often compared to John Mayer, Death Cab for Cutie, Sufjan Stevens, the Head and the Heart, and Mumford and Sons, he strikes a balance between familiar and fresh, satisfaction and surprise.

All of the (over 100) songs tell stories, be that a sweeping narrative or a personal moment in time slowed down and painted vividly with poignant emotion and clever metaphors. A common theme throughout much of the music is self love, and deep empathy, and a core belief in representing kind, loving, and respectful relationship dynamics in pop music. Conor also frequently explores tumultuous topics with sensitivity and the framework of a cathartic journey building to a metamorphic climax.

Most of the songs are inspired directly from Conor’s life, which can sometimes sound like a fever dream. During his early 20’s, Conor made a walkabout of the US, traveling around the west and living in a compact black Chevy Malibu, hopping freight trains, hitchhiking and backpacking, making friends with stray cats every step of the way. Conor also has a continuing history of involvement in intersectional progressive activism, including spending three weeks on the front lines at Standing Rock, and participating in marches with BLM, Native rights, women’s rights, reproductive rights, the Baltimore Uprising, West Wednesdays for Tyrone West, Occupy, and anti alt-right counter protests. A recording of Conor singing his song “We Are Here to Stay” at Occupy Congress at age 17 is featured at the end of an NPR story.

Along with music, Conor has a passion for filmmaking, including writing, directing, acting, and scoring. Conor Brendan and Chancey June co-wrote and co-directed “Where the Seams have Frayed”, born from true family stories and a deep love for supernatural cinema. Gorgeous songs narrate June’s stunning cinematography, in a pairing inspired by “The Ballad of Cleopatra” by the Lumineers.

Conor has shared bills with bands such as The War and Treaty, Stella Donnelly, Christian Lopez, Illiterate Light, Satsang, Falls, Ruen Brothers, Ezra Bell, Kelsey Waldon, Yarn, Dustin Thomas, and Crack the Sky, and performed alongside artists such as Peter Yarrow and Trevor Hall.