With his insightful lyrics, quirky look, and unique sound, Brett Dennen has been enjoying a rapid rise to folky rock stardom. After being named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s top ten "Artists to Watch" in 2007, Dennen has kept the momentum going by opening for John Mayer on his summer tour, and then releasing a chart topping new album entitled Hope for the Hopeless. Currently on a nationwide tour following his album release, Dennen caught up with Glide from the road…
So how are you enjoying life on the road?
On the one hand, it’s really hard. I think a lot about my girlfriend and home life and all that, but there’s such potential for growth right now, especially in this young phase of my career. I really feel inspired and in love with the life of being a touring musician. I want to keep that going.
Do you ever get pre-show jitters?
No, not really. Sometimes when it’s a big show in front of an audience I don’t know at all, I’ll get jitters. But when I know there are fans of mine in the crowd, I know it’s ok, because I’ve already proven to them whatever I needed to prove.
Your live performances seem to have a really intimate and conversational feel, how do you pull that off?
It’s just kinda me expressing myself. I try to get real comfortable with myself in the moment. I try to let my guard down and just be relaxed. When I can do that it eases the crowd a little more and helps them let their guard down too. Once that happens something really magical and special can happen.
How did the collaboration came about with Femi Kuti for "Make You Crazy"?
I was a fan of his but I never dreamed that I would ever be able to collaborate with him. It just so happened that he was talking to my label about signing for the release of his record in North America. The president of my label asked Femi if he’d be interested in joining in on one of my songs, and he immediately said yes. I was really thrilled.
How did you get Mandy Moore to star in the "Make You Crazy" music video?
We had this idea for the video and we thought the only way we could really pull it off was if we get a real actress. There was no doubt in my mind that Mandy was perfect for it. We wanted someone who could act without speaking any lines, who is young and pretty, recognizable, and willing to be silly. Just like with Femi, as soon as we asked her, she said she would love to do it.
What are some key things you hope people will take away with them after really listening to Hope for the Hopeless?
I hope that people see the album as a nice representation of the time that we’re living in. It’s a very hopeful and exciting time, and I think a lot of that is reminiscent in the record. It’s got a real positive and well-rounded message.
You’re a big advocate of healthy living, but you must have some vices. I’ve read that you are into Yerba Mate…
I would never call Yerba Mate a guilty pleasure. It’s actually really healthy for you. It puts you in a really good mood. It’s full of good vitamins and minerals- it’s got a lot of healthy attributes. 
What would you say then are your guilty pleasures?
I definitely like to drink scotch and tequila. When you are on the road and staying in a bus or a hotel all the time, you tend to watch a lot of late night TV, which really is all crap.
Who do you credit for pushing you to create such socially conscious music and be such a big advocate of charities and non-profits?
Well my parents raised me that way. My girlfriend is always pushing me to do more with my music. Then there’s myself- before I was a musician, I worked in the non-profit world. When I started gigging and playing music full time, I carried that with me.
Would you say that most people in our country have become greedy and apathetic or do you think that deep down folks generally have good hearts and good intentions?
I think people want to help, but they are lazy about it. All the comforts we have is like a drug. The more stuff we buy, and the more we surround ourselves with stuff, the less we are in tune with what’s going on with the rest of the world. Some people may start to understand that, but when they realize that it’s going to take giving up some of their luxuries to make the world a fairer place, that’s when people get defensive and apathetic.
For someone who has never volunteered or gotten involved with a non-profit or charity, would you recommend starting at the local level?
Hell yeah, that’s the big thing I’m trying to say to people. Find something you care about and get involved locally. It doesn’t matter how big of an effort you put out or what you accomplish, it’s all about the intention. Good intentions have a huge ripple effect on the rest of the world. They make you feel better about your life and strengthen your relationships with the people you love. In turn, they make other people feel better and make them want to do more. It’s like laughter- it’s contagious.
