Brenmar mixes hip-hop and R&B with an addictive pop sensibility that appeals to the savvy house-heads and casual club-goers alike. His string of EPs and collaborations have been garnering some serious attention and now he’s bringing his forward-thinking ear and approach to house music to the Mixpak family. I caught up with Brenmar to talk about his upcoming release, his approach and opinion of mainstream music and what puts him in a creative state of mind.

So what takes you out to LA?

Living, working, trying to connect with others. Just switching up the vibez a lil’ bit. There’s a lot going on right now out here, it’s dope!

You’ve talked a little about the Chicago scene being hard to make it big in, or maybe “make it out of” is a better way to put it. Can you describe the electronic scene the way it was when you were still living here? Also, did you have much contact with other big Illinoisans like Kid Sister and Flosstradamus or The Cool Kids?

Yea Chicago is hard to get respect in, it’s not just Chicago though, the same could be said for most other cities. You don’t get respect until you leave and “make it” somewhere else. Sad that it’s like that in Chicago because there’s a lot of talent in the city that’s not appreciated like it should be. I know Kid Sis, Flosstradamus and the Cool Kids, they all homies, most of them have left the city too. I ain’t forgot about Chicago though, never will, it made me who I am. I rep Chicago all the time, everywhere I go.

I saw a doc on the electronic scene in Detroit and an interviewee talked some about the perception that since Detroit and Chicago have these incredible, deep House roots that their electronic scenes have to be great. But in fact, they’re pretty sparse and not often really populated by young people. Would you say you feel the same way?

That is totally dead on.

How was working with DJ Rashad and Manny?

Great, they the homies making some of the best, forward thinking music coming out of Chicago (or anywhere for that matter) right now. They work fast and with just an MPC which is how I used to work when I started out, cool to go back to that.

Is your family musical?

Not really. My grandma and mother really love music and that had an affect on me growing up but I’m the only one that makes it.

I read you listen to a lot of mainstream hip-hop and R&B and have a pretty developed philosophy on “guilty pleasures.” For example when it comes to people saying your (massive) Aaliyah remix is a guilty pleasure of theirs, that “you’re glad that they enjoy it, but [don’t get] why they should feel guilty” like “what are they ashamed of” and that you’re “being completely sincere,” and unironic when you tap top 40 R&B for samples and remixes. Would you talk a little bit on how you feel about the interaction between mainstream and more underground dance music and the fact that so many people tend to approach dance music as a type of “guilty pleasure?”

Yea man, to me it’s all relative, I don’t have my nose in the air and I like what I like. Guilty pleasure?! Like…I get it…but I don’t. Who’s telling you it’s not “cool” or whatever to like so-and so…fuck dat, like what you like. I’ll respect you more if you’re honest about you’re tastes instead of just liking whatever you think your supposed to “like” even if it’s not my “thing.”

It’s too easy to hate; that’s not me. If it’s good it’s good, you appreciate something for what it is, not for what it isn’t or what you think it’s supposed to be. I have mainstream aspirations, I want as many people as possible to hear my music. That being said I’m trying to do it on my own terms, easier said than done of course but not impossible. You gotta dig, mainstream or underground, there’s good and bad shit in both.

Is there a show or set or even a collaboration that you worked on that really changed things for you or really stuck with you, something that really shaped how you think about, listen to or make music?

That I worked on? Hmmm…attending the Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid last year was an amazing experience. I learned a lot of tech stuff collaborating with others and the lectures were really inspiring, they helped reaffirm my decision to make music %100.

How was working with Sinden and do you prefer having someone in the studio with you to riff with or are you more of a loner? And with that, how was the European tour, do they dig you over there?

Europe is amazing! Always a lot of love over there. Sinden is the homie, so working with him in the studio comes pretty naturally, we like a lot of the same music so it works. I work alone a lot but I’ve been working with others much more this year so far and it’s been really great. It’s nice to bounce ideas around knowing that everyone is just trying to make the best possible song they can, no egos, just music.

What was the sickest show you’ve ever played?

Ah man, I’ve had some amazing shows in Toronto, Amsterdam, LA, NY, Austin, Montreal, Vancouver, Tokyo, and the UK. Hard to choose.

If you could work with one person, producer, vocalist, anything, who would it be?

Ciara.

Can we get a snap shot of a day in the life? You don’t have a day job right? What are some of the ins and outs of your grind?

I wake up between 9-11am. do some emails and internet hustles, hit the gym then the studio around 1-2pm and I’m there all day till I either go to bed or some party or show. That’s my average day, I work everyday in some form or another. If I’m not making music I’m digging for it, I’m sending emails, I’m going to shows, just always grinding.

Do you need anything to get you into the beat making mind state (a handle of Svedka and a packed bowl like in that video of you and Sinden?) and where do you feel you do your best work?

Ha, a little green or drink always helps get me into the zone or else my mind is all over the place. I work in my hotel, I work on the plane, on the train but I definitely feel most comfortable when I’m stationary in my city (wherever that may be, usually NY).

What are you listening to right now, just an artist or a couple tracks that you’ve had on serious rotation?

Anything Meek Mill, no one is touching him. Lil Durk, King Louie, Emp Dasme and Chief Keef are all Chicago cats that are holding it down right now, they’re making some dope hiphop.

Can you give us an idea of what you’ll be doing for your upcoming Mixpak release?

It’s going to be much more hiphop/R&B than dance. Original vocals. Trying to bring it hard, super excited about this release!

Beyond that, where do you see electronic music going and how do you see yourself in it?

Underground wise, Jersey Club and Ballroom are making some noise outside of Jersey and NY for the first time and I already see people taking the elements that make up those genres and twisting them up. I’m going to continue to do my thing, working that gray zone combining hiphop/R&B with underground dance music. Trying to write some hits, for real!

Watch out for Brenmar release on Mixpak coming later this year
Interview by Henry Chern