Bryan Kearney Interview: 'Go in with an open mind'

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Bryan Kearney is highly regarded as one of trance music’s most innovative producers. With 15 years of experience, he is one of many artists that has guided the progression of this niche genre down new avenues, experimenting with different elements of psy and tech-trance to create intricate and complex tracks miles away from the stereotypical sounds associated with the genre. 

As well as his pioneering productions, Bryan’s drive and enthusiasm for the industry has seen him travel the world, performing his diverse brand of trance on a global stage that is always guaranteed to get the blood pumping with its relentless tempos and euphoric breakdowns. His ability to light up a crowd has led him to play at some of the world’s biggest dance music events, including appearances at Electric Daisy Carnival, Tomorrowland, and more recently on the ‘In Trance We Trust’ stage at ADE in Amsterdam, alongside trance greats Menno De Jong and John O’Callaghan. 

Another side project of the multi-talented producer’s is record label Kearnage, established for its main purpose to release creations deemed a little different from the conventional sounds of trance. Since then, Kearnage has grown to encompass a number of different projects, including a radio show, touring live events and multiple chart-topping releases, further increasing the labels ever growing fan base, and the popularity of trance. 

With this loyal following of admirers, combined with his talent for identifying and developing new and unique musical ideas and methods of producing, Bryan Kearney has not only aided the trance music scene in increasing its presence within dance music, but has cemented his status as one of the genre’s leading visionaries.  

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Judging by your recent social media updates it seems you are a very busy man – managing your label ‘Kearnage’ whilst trotting all over the globe and producing your unique sound of trance much to the delight of your fans! Where do you find the time to unwind with friends and family?

This year has been extremely busy, but I have also found time to step away from music. Running the label doesn't actually take that much work to be honest. I have a guy that helps with the Twitter and Facebook, a couple of posts a day, he helps me with the A&R too. I don't do any work after 6 pm and I take weekends off when required. It's very important to have the right balance between your work and your normal life.  

Your career has seen you scour almost every inch of the world. Do you enjoy the travelling aspect of your work? 

I used to dread it, but now, I love it. I have a high status with the airlines I fly with. This makes it a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. I use the time wisely and get a lot of work done, set preparation, editing and working on music. I try to rest as much as possible, and I always have something to keep me occupied, a book or watching something on my phone. I try to make the travelling as productive as possible. 

Have you developed any particular bonds with any country you have visited?

I think the top three would be Argentina, Mexico and Australia. I think everybody has heard how special Argentina is at this stage, I don't really need to expand on it. Mexico, I've always had a great relationship with stretching back to 2010. Australia is a place that has been great for me over the past 18 months, they've shown me a lot of support. 

Your time as a producer has seen you complete many fantastic remixes of original ideas, from the likes of John O’Callaghan, Aly & Fila and Armin van Buuren. Do you have any plans to work with other artists on future collaborations and remix projects? 

2017 is going to see the Key4050 project between myself and John O'Callaghan taken on to the next level. I don't really want to say too much more on it but it's something we are both extremely excited about. I'm always up for collaborations with the right people, where we can both bring something to the table rather than one person doing nothing and the other all the work. 

Do you have any advice for any DJs planning on collaborating with other artists following your experience in this way of working?

Do it. Go in with an open mind. It's amazing how much you can learn from other people when you sit down and see how they work and do things in their own way. 

‘Awaken’ has got to be one of my favourite trance tracks ever released. I particularly loved the added Jim Carrey inspirational speech that was intertwined with the music. What was the original idea behind the creation of this track? 

I had just got a new PC and this was one of the first tracks I made using this computer. Awaken was made at a time when I had an interest in spiritual books like The Power Of Now, all that type of stuff. I stumbled across that video with Jim Carrey and it just clicked straight away, it went into the track and I think it worked well. Thankfully I don't go too deeply into my thinking anymore and I just get on with life rather than looking into and over analysing everything. I feel human again. 

You yourself are renowned for your remarkably technical remixes of some hugely successful productions. From your collection, do you have a favourite track that you enjoyed working on? 

Probably my remix of Plumb - 'Need You Now'. I had a lot of fun transforming it from a Christian Rock track into a club anthem. It still gets requested at every gig I play. Digital Society was the first place I ever played the track out at, the May 2014 event with Gareth Emery. I've done my best to sort of phase it out from my sets but it seems to keep sneaking back in. How Many Times have I played that track? I've no idea at this stage. 

What skills do you think developing and established artists can learn from producing remixes of classic anthems?

The quality of the melodies and the simplistic production techniques. 

You are renowned for your imagination and experimental productions that cross many subgenres within trance, in particular tech and psy trance. Are there any other areas of trance that you would be open to exploring in new productions? 

I think I've hit pretty much every corner within the trance realm, I just need to do it better than I did previously. Better tracks and better production techniques.

Your record label Kearnage has been described as a label initially created for your productions that were ‘a little crazy and out there’. What do you think makes a track ‘out there’?

That was the initial description for the label but I wouldn't have it down as that anymore. No labels would sign the tracks I was making and it pissed me off, so I started my own. Over the course of two or three years the label grew, the quality level of everything to do with each release increased, musically and graphically.

The label is all about quality over quantity. Kearnage is a very difficult label to sign a track to. I have high standards for the label and unless the track really stands out, I won't sign it. 2016 has been a great year for the label, I've had so many brilliant, diverse artists on the label, and as a result I've had to do a release every two weeks. The frequency of the releases increased, but the quality, in my opinion, has never dropped.

I rarely do remixes alongside the release of the original track, that is testament to the strength of the originals.

Kearnage is rapidly expanding as a label and branching out into live touring events/club nights. With the success of this new venture, what is next for the brand?

Whatever happens naturally. We have never sat down and set out a strategic plan of what we are going to do, where we are going to do it, what tracks we are going to do etc. It's all happening naturally, the ideas are coming from the right place. It's coming from the passion of wanting to do things right and in our own way.

The live events feature artists that I have a lot of respect for, they are all self sufficient, highly talented producer / DJ's with the right personality, no dickheads with massive ego's. Lads that are in it for the music and to enjoy themselves. Every event we've done this year has been a success and I've enjoyed every single one. Myself and everybody involved in the running of the events are all on the same page with what we want to do.

Digital Society are one of the leading promoters in the UK trance scene, and the collaboration with John O’Callaghan’s concept Subculture is definitely a recipe for success. How does it feel to be asked to play the event? 

I'm buzzing to play at the event. I've been a Subculture regular in the clubs, and on the label since 2009. We have a strong bond and Digital Society is always an event I look forward to playing. Bring it on. 

What can we expect to hear from you on 11th November?

Energy.

You can catch Bryan Kearney at Digital Society and John O'Callaghan's Subculture event on 11th November. Tickets are available below. 

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