Get to Know Garth Brown and Embracing a Higher Calling Through Making Music
Versed in worlds of music, A&R, and marketing, multitalented star Garth Brown’s life shines with the power of storytelling. Having released his latest single “Endaweni,” the drop of the singer-songwriter takes him deeper into his calling, not just for the love of the music but for the fulfillment of his grand purpose of telling stories. For Brown, the dynamo that lights him up is the burning desire to put out stories and becoming a better version of himself along the way.
Brown spoke about where his love for music was born, from being born into a music-loving family to gaining the early understanding that he was gifted at a young age more than his contemporaries.
“For as long as I can remember music has always been a part of my life because I grew up in a very musical family. Music hasn’t just been a background for me but the foreground as well. My father side of the family was involved in singing, especially in things like functions—they would always take the lead, and other people would just burst into song. That is what sparked my interest.
Garth Brown | SUPPLIED
“Another thing is my realising that I can sing better than the average person when I was young and being generally exposed to a whole lot of different things. I grew up in different parts of the SADC region, which gave me a lot of perspectives in life. Because I was an introverted kid, I’d write about these experiences a lot. Some of these writings were songs and some things were just writings about my experiences and nothing else. All that helped me a lot in discovering my voice,” he said.
Garth spoke about seeing music as a calling and recognising that life has a different path for everyone to be honoured individually.
“I’ve learned over the years the importance of staying true to yourself and your calling. I think the reason why I think of it as a calling is because of how it doesn’t stop ringing. You’ve always got to wake up to the reality that your calling is a permanent part of your journey, and you’ve got to pay attention to it. The calling also comes with people also having certain expectations about you, but you should learn to stay true to who you are since purpose is not group work but a thing to be fulfilled by walking in our own individual paths,” he said.
Brown shared that over the years he has learned to regulate how much of himself he can give while letting people prove who they are.
“I’ve grown to understand not to give too much of myself to people too soon just so I can preserve some of me strictly for me. That has also helped me to give people room to prove themselves and who they really are as opposed to opening myself up completely and all the way regardless of how long I know someone. Being too trusting and loving in this world and thinking that everyone has the same heart as you will get your fingers burnt because not everyone will have the same heart and intentions as you do. You will suffer a rude awakening about how the world really looks,” he said.
Garth Brown | SUPPLIED
The singer listed a number of things he does spiritually and also physically to keep himself in good health, while also monitoring how much of him people were allowed to take.
“I’m a prayer guy, so that is important for my well-being as well as meditation. Movement is also another thing that continues to help me keep in the best possible shape, so physical exercise, I’d say. I’m also careful about who I let into my life, my space and into my mind. Being protective of myself by being conscious of who gets to have access to you essentially,” he said.
Garth lamented the fastness of the digital age and how it has affected artist development and the natural pipeline that takes underground talents, polishes them, and readies them for a life under the lights.
“Something that I used to be dedicated to was discovering new talent, and I think because we live in a time where everything is like microwave popcorn – instant gratification – trends come and go just like that. Back in the day, people would find talent, grow it, groom it, and develop it. Now, it’s all about finding the next big thing now. Everything is supposed to be instant like the popcorn I just mentioned. That is what is happening with art. Someone can now just blow up overnight and become a sensation, even though it never lasts because there’s nothing behind those people like a brand identity or proper artist development. I really wish the old way of doing things would make a comeback,” he said.
Garth Brown | SUPPLIED
Garth spoke about the person he is outside of music, revealing the core of storytelling driving him even when not in studio.
“I’m a nerd,” he said. “I enjoy a lot of silence, which takes people by surprise when they visit me because they think there’s gonna be a lot of noise. But no, I read a lot and watch a lot of documentaries and I write a lot. I’ve got so much I wish to contribute to the industry, including TV and telling stories because I’ve always identified as a storyteller more than anything. Storytelling in all its different forms is something I want to tap into and constantly hone. Shout out to Samekelo Ndlovu for opening an academy for actors; that’s something I’d like to do,” he said.