Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Pounds.
Brian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started writing songs after moving high schools as a sophomore. I went from knowing everyone at school to knowing nobody. I poured my newfound loneliness into songs and became obsessed. After high school ended, I followed a girl to college in Oklahoma. As you can probably guess, it didn’t work out. On the last day of the semester I moved to Austin to pursue a music career. After 11 wonderful years in Austin, I decided to relocate to Houston to pursue a career in law as well as music.
Has it been a smooth road?
The music industry is deeply flawed and notoriously chews up and spits out the overwhelming majority of people who pursue it. The style of music I play is not the most popular music of the modern era and is predominantly kept alive by what almost amounts to charity from a community of incredible people across the nation. In my opinion, this is the general trend for almost all music–a sad reality. Because of that reality, pursuing a career in music can be a pattern of high peaks followed by long, low valleys.
Financially, music has always been a sacrifice. My love for songwriting and performing has never wavered once since I was a sophomore in high school. But to pursue that love requires a choice between almost certain poverty, self-doubt, lack of respect, loneliness, etc. versus the comfort and stability that a traditional job gives. Choosing to start a family, in my opinion, is a much more difficult choice for a musician. Buying a house, saving for retirement–almost all of these things are pipe dreams to many of my friends who also happen to be my favorite songwriters. Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, many of them have survived either by finding new jobs or accepting the generosity of others. I have spent a number of years making ends meet, wondering where the money would come from if I blow a tire or if I have to go to the hospital for a couple nights. It’s wonderful for inspiration, but a clear drain on the quality of life.
On top of the financial woes, it is a constant struggle to find an audience. My dad is a very good commercial pilot. Up until recently, when he showed up to the plane to go to work, he didn’t have to worry if there would be people in the back or not. The same for a number of my friends who are accountants, or lawyers, or teachers. Those jobs present their unique challenges, but I will say it’s an incredible blessing to be able just to focus on your skill versus having to be a promoter, manager, booker, and all the other hats that come along with pursuing a music career. I would love it if I could just worry about writing songs for a living. But instead, most nights my biggest worry is whether I’ll be playing to a crowd where all the chairs face the same direction or not. Put me in a room with an audience and I’m comfortable and confident and joyous. The struggle is everything that happens up until that moment.
Please tell us about your music.
As a songwriter, I’m mostly known for sad songs. I’ve told the story time and again that I’m not a sad person. It’s just that when I’m sad, I feel like writing. When I’m happy, I never want to stop what I’m doing to write a song about it. Therefore, the happy songs I write always suck because they sound disingenuous. The sad songs—while a bit of a downer—are honest and searching. If I could be disingenuous and get away with it, I probably would. But I don’t have that skill. So, I play sad music and I love it.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Houston is home to me. I grew up in Spring and there’s always a since of familiarity here. Also, I like the diverse complexity of the city. I lived in Austin for 11 years and I think I drove on almost every street in the city at least once. But I lived 18 years in North Houston, and another two inside the loop, and I’ve still yet to see even 1/10th. I also love to sense of community the city offers. The Astros have the ability to bring people together who notoriously can’t get along. Same with the other sports teams. In times of panic and disaster we bond together.
I also love the heat and mugginess. Well, I should clarify. I hate the heat and mugginess. But I like that it takes a certain resolve to weather the weather in Houston. I’m always proud when I travel to a colder place and see someone else in 59-degree weather bundled up like they’re about to traverse a glacier. More often than not that person is from Texas and in that moment, we can share a knowing glance or maybe even a conversation about the sad state of Mexican food anywhere north of the Red River.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brianpounds.com
- Instagram: @brianpounds
- Twitter: @brianpounds
Image Credit:
Nicola Gell
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
