Brett Dennen, National Treasure

How did a kid from Oakdale, California, homeschooled until the seventh grade, grab the attention of music industry superstar John Mayer? Apparently, if you’re as good as Brett Dennen, pretty easily. Having garnered comparisons to songwriting heavyweights like Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Patti Griffin, it’s no wonder Mayer took notice.

Mayer first saw Dennen perform at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles and was knocked off his feet so much so that he asked Dennen to join him on his 2006 tour. Dennen will tour again with Mayer starting June 16, 2007.

Dennen possesses the rare ability to communicate truth through his music so seamlessly that some have likened his songwriting prowess to that of an angel; he makes the kind of music that soothes babies to slumber and keeps panic at bay. His 2006 album So Much More is creating quite the buzz, its songs already featured on Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, and television commercials. Dennen has toured with both Sheryl Crow and the Hotel Cafe Tour.

Text by Bruce Scott – Photo by Laura Crosta
brettdennen.com
myspace.com/brettdennen

First published in movmnt magazine “Hotel Culture” Summer 2007 issue