Pennan Brae

Pennan Brae kicks off 2021 with his new album, ‘Lit’, a 10-song album influenced by rock & roll of the 1970s & 80s. The lead singles off the album are ‘Passing Fad’, ‘El Camino’ & ‘Tearing My Heart In 2’. Recorded at Blue Light Studio in Vancouver, Canada with producer Kaj Falch-Nielsen, the album follows Pennan’s successful ‘2 Below 0’ album in 2020 which received airplay on 125 College & AAA Radio Stations in North America. Both albums feature the line-up of Edward Whelan on drums, Kaj Falch-Nielsen on bass, Alison Jenkins on background vocals & Pennan on guitars & vocals.

“I’m pleased with how ‘Lit’ turned out,” reflects Pennan. “The recording sessions were fun & Ed sounds better than ever on drums. Kaj & I spent a long time in the studio working on the mixes & trying to offer something enjoyable to listen to. The album is influenced by the music I love from the seventies & eighties & I hope people have fun with it.”

Pennan was busy from 2018-20 releasing 2 feature length films which he wrote along with the corresponding soundtracks; ‘The Astronot’ & ‘2 Below 0’. These films participated in over 100 film festivals with ‘The Astronot’ now streaming on Amazon Prime. “I miss filmmaking,” remarks Pennan, “ & I’d love to get back into it, but now is not the time for that. Perhaps late in 2021 or 2022 we can get back at it.”

‘The Astronot’ soundtrack provided Pennan the opportunity to work with 2 of his musical heroes. Legendary drummer Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Eric Clapton, Duran Duran) & bassist Garry Gary Beers (INXS) played on the 2 lead singles off the album, ‘Walk With Me’ & ‘Crashland’. “I grew up listening & watching these guys play,” states Pennan enthusiastically. “& now I’ve a chance to record with them? It’s a dream I’ve still not awaken from.” Pennan co-wrote ‘Crashland’ with Grammy-nominated artist Eric Alexandrakis with the track mixed by Paul David Hager & mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Emily Lazar. The rest of the album was mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Grammy-winner Sean Magee. “To have my music worked on at Abbey Road; that’s hallowed ground to me,” comments Pennan. ‘A huge honour.”

As of late, Pennan has worked remotely with filmmaker Tim Cash on a number of lyric music videos for his YouTube Channel. “These music videos have been really fun to make,” he exclaims. “It’s wonderful researching old film footage & we can create them safely in the current environment. I’ve fallen in love with the medium. It’s really fun to clearly share the lyrical content of the songs.”

Wherever 2021 takes Pennan, he’s happy to kick it off with ‘Lit’, his 8th studio album & hopes listeners might enjoy it, too.