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Brainstory is: Kevin Martin, Tony Martin and Eric Hagstrom. Kevin and Tony Martin are
brothers by blood, and Eric is a brother through their music and long term friendship. While the group’s initial connection comes from the heady mixture of jazz-performance-focused music school and the grind of playing local shows, their bond has been strengthened through countless hours on the road touring and the making of two studio records—2019’s debut full-length, Buck, followed by 2021’s Ripe EP.
“Being on the road, doing our own tours, and backing incredible people like Lady Wray, has
sharpened our skills and really revved us up for this record,” Kevin says. “It’s been four years
since our last full length record, and with everything that’s happened since, it’s like we’ve been
catching up to ourselves.” That’s one way to describe change: catching up to oneself. Each
member of Brainstory has gone through shifts, both personally and musically, and all of that
thread through this record.
The path to take their art to the next level is clearer than ever. If there is one thing that is
abundantly clear on this album, it’s that Brainstory leveled up. Part of their evolution is
undoubtedly attributed to having access to and working constantly in their own studio in Long
Beach. Another major factor is that their brotherhood has expanded. “I’ve been playing music
with my brother all my life and now with Eric for a long time,” Tony tells us. “Leon, though, is like
another brother I’ve just met.”
Brainstory’s friendship started the group, and now, their expanded brotherhood is supporting
them to push it further. The stars have aligned for them to take a big and well deserved step
with this new album, and you can hear it in their music—music that just Sounds Good.
