Phillip Brandon, The Versatile TV Star Known for His Deep, Velvety Voice and Exceptional Musical Storytelling, Is Well on His Way to Achieving Major Success! 

INTERVIEW BY: GINA SEDMAN, WRITER/JOURNALIST & HEAD EDITOR    

Hailing from Inglewood, CA, and a proud Morehouse College graduate, Phillip Brandon is a true polymath in the world of music and entertainment. As a Singer-Songwriter and Storyteller, Phillip's live performances are a heartfelt exploration of life's highs and lows, brought to life through his melodious voice and personal anecdotes. His shows, perfect for Jazz Festivals, Performing Arts Centers, Dinner Theatres, and more, weave a rich tapestry of emotions that resonate deeply with audiences. 

Phillip's album "The Story Begins" showcases his musical prowess, with the hit single "Come On" spending 12 weeks on the Billboard Top 20 Chart for Smooth Jazz. His remake of Anita Baker's classic "Mystery," featuring Gerald Albright, skyrocketed to #2 on the iTunes Jazz Charts. Beyond his solo work, Phillip is a longstanding member of the multi-platinum rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra, thrilling, sold-out arenas with his performances. 

Phillip's versatility extends to prestigious collaborations, such as being a bass soloist with the LA Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel and performing in the Broadway National Tour of Oprah Winfrey's "The Color Purple." His vocal talent is also featured on the title song for the Academy Award-winning film "Get Out." Recent TV appearances include roles in "Grace & Frankie" (Netflix), "The Flight Attendant" (HBO), "S.W.A.T" (CBS), and "Station 19" (ABC).   

Phillip is not just a musician; he has also made his mark in advertising. He has shared the screen with Kevin Hart in a Chase commercial, starred alongside Jane Seymour for Lifetime/Dish, appeared with Fred Armisen in a Walmart ad, and teamed up with 2 Chainz for Finish Line. These roles highlight Phillip's ability to engage and connect with audiences across a variety of platforms, bringing warmth and authenticity to every project. I had the privilege of speaking with this incredibly talented, funny, and kind multi-talented gem regarding his phenomenal career in entertainment, and here's what we discussed. 

Hi, how are you doing, Phillip? I'm quite well. How are you doing, Gina? 

I'm great, thank you. You know, Phillip, I was looking over some of the things you've accomplished in your career, and I think you are absolutely amazing. It is definitely an honor to interview you. 

 Oh, I appreciate you. Thank you so much. It's an honor to be here. 

It's my pleasure. So, let's go, as Minnie Riperton would say, back down memory lane. Yes, I love that.  

Awesome! First and foremost, can you tell our readers about your origins? Where did the stork drop you off, and where are you currently located? I was born and raised in Inglewood, CA, which is in Los Angeles, and I still live in Los Angeles today. I just live in a different part of LA, in the valley. My family still lives in Inglewood, and believe it or not, my mom still lives there in the family home. So, I get a chance to go and visit her pretty often, and I love it. But overall, I'm an LA boy through and through. 

You know, Phillip, although I was born in Chicago, my parents moved to Inglewood, California, when I was about two years old. I attended numerous schools between grammar school and high school, 14 to be exact. Basically, I lived all over Los Angeles. I don't think there are too many places in LA where I didn't briefly attend a school. (Laughs) So, I'm very familiar with your stomping grounds. (Laughs) What school did you go to? 

Oh wow! When you said you moved around, you weren't lying! (laughs) Well, for kindergarten through 8th grade, I went to La Tierra, which is right in Inglewood. For high school, I went to Venice High School for their foreign language magnet, where I studied Japanese for four years. Then, I went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. 

What a coincidence! I went to La Tijera Jr. High School too.  

Really! Wow! 

Yes! How cool is that! So, we have trodden some of the same paths. Yes, indeed. 

Now, Phillip, you've had a very adventurous career, full of music, acting, travel, and performance. In fact, you have been so successful that your journey has led you to perform with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to a solo with the Phil Harmonic. Can you share your foundational journey and what shaped your music before all this transpired? Yeah. Let's go back to my youth and work our way up to that. My love for music and the arts developed early on. I grew up in a home where music was always present. My mom is a singer as well, and she used to tour and sing with Ray Charles as a "Raelette." 

How wonderful! Yes, and even though my dad wasn't a musician or a singer, he was an overall music lover. He could literally name the artist and the recording details of a jazz record with his eyes closed. He'd say, "Oh, that's Chet Baker live at such and such." As I got older, I realized how impressive his memory was, especially before technology like Shazam. Music was always big in our house, and one of the first pieces of music my parents got me was a 45 of Ashford and Simpson's "Solid as a Rock." Because of that and my parents' musical foundations, I feel like I was born later than where I live musically if that makes sense. 

Yes, you were a young man with an old soul. Exactly. I love all 70s and 80s music, particularly soul, funk, and jazz. I always leaned toward song stylists like Nancy Wilson, Phyllis Hyman, and The Whispers. I still love The Whispers today. 

Yes! So, that's how it started. Ironically, when I was younger, I was very shy. I knew I could sing and would occasionally perform in talent shows, but I was too shy to really try. It wasn't until college that I “opened up” and realized that not only did I enjoy music, but it also gave me an outlet. That's where my music journey truly began. 

Well, Phillip, that's amazing! You had two parents who were music lovers and introduced you to music. That's great. What a journey you have been on! Now, let's talk about the keyword, “journey.” Everyone has a timeline of interesting events that lead to their current destination. Can you tell me a little bit about your timeline and what events led to doing what you do now? I'll lay it out in a timeline sequence. After finishing college with a degree in marketing, my first professional gig was singing on cruise ships in an acapella group. I had the opportunity to tour the world, which was fantastic. After that, I auditioned and got cast in the role of Scar in The Lion King in Hong Kong. 

Wow, that was an experience. How old were you at that time? I was fresh out of school, around 23 or 24 years old, or something like that. 

That was a very courageous move for someone so young. Going to another country is an incredible experience! Yes, it was incredible. I really enjoyed it. To be fair, when I was in high school, I was an exchange student in Japan for a summer. So, I already knew I enjoyed traveling and experiencing other cultures.  

Fast forward a bit—while I was in Hong Kong doing The Lion King, this was around the time that YouTube was fairly new. I decided to put something up there, just trying to understand what this new technology was. I uploaded a clip of me singing "Be Prepared" from The Lion King.  

This was around 2007. We all had cell phones but no international SIM cards, so my US cell phone was turned off while I was in Hong Kong. I had to use a local phone to check my voicemails every now and then. One time, when I checked my voicemail, I had a message from a lady who said, "Hey, I'm a talent coordinator for this rock group, and I would love to chat with you."  

When I heard "rock group," I thought it was a spam call and disregarded it. But she called back the next month and left another message. At that point, I thought there might be something to this. I decided to see what was going on. It turned out that she was the talent coordinator for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. 

Wow! Yes, I was still unsure about it, but she said she saw my video on YouTube. I always say the rest is history because from there, they started flying me back and forth for work sessions, and eventually, they offered me the job. Now, I'm going on my 15th year touring with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. 

Wow, it's incredible how, when God has a purpose for your life, He orchestrates everything perfectly. All the pieces just come together, and all you need to do is be ready, use your talent, and make the most of the opportunities you get. Yes. Absolutely.  

Speaking of new opportunities, your acting skills are top-notch, and your natural sense of humor shines through. It's a mystery to me how you managed to film that particular scene inside the MRI machine. Personally, I despise those contraptions! Every time I have to undergo an MRI, I immediately go into a full-blown panic attack. It's unbearable! (Laughs) I can't fathom how you were able to film that scene repeatedly, spending so much time stuffed inside the MRI machine and still maintaining your character flawlessly. You're a true professional! Thank you, Gina. Oh, I've got a hilarious story about that! 

Phillip, you have to tell me! I was watching and thinking, how on earth did he shoot this? Alright, so here's how I got into acting. I started as a singer; music was my first love. Then I landed a role in The Lion King and had a few lines to say. That experience sparked something in me. I realized there was potential there, and it gave me the courage to audition for more acting roles. After The Lion King, I auditioned for and landed a role in the national tour of Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple.  

That experience opened up the world of musicals and theater to me. It was the best of both worlds—acting and music. I thought maybe I could really pursue acting. So, I started taking coaching sessions and acting classes to understand the craft better. I quickly learned that stage acting, and film acting are two completely different beasts. In my first acting class, they put me on camera for a close-up. I performed like I was on stage, and when we watched it back, I realized I was way too dramatic. Film acting demands a more natural approach.  

The funniest part was watching it back with the class for critique. I was sinking down in my seat, but it was incredibly helpful. From there, I got an agent, and they started sending me out for auditions. I've been fortunate to work on some amazing shows like SWAT, Grace and Frankie, Henry Danger, The Flight Attendant, and more. But the most memorable was Station 19, where I was stuck in an MRI machine.  

Here's the kicker—I'm claustrophobic. The audition specifically stated you must not be claustrophobic. I decided to push through, thinking I probably wouldn't book it anyway. Naturally, that's the one I booked! The space was so tight they hired someone to check on me and make sure I was okay throughout the shoot. This person could call for breaks if I needed them. It made me realize I'm not alone in dealing with claustrophobia. Anyone who's familiar with shooting TV and film knows it's quite an intense process. 

Even though the scene is only two minutes long, it takes about 5 to 8 hours to shoot because you have to film all the different angles. So, I was in there for about four hours. 

Oh my! Phillip, did they let you out for a breather?    

Of course! They were really attentive. Every time they called "cut," they checked to see if I needed a break, water, or anything else. It was much more comfortable than I expected. I used my anxiety to portray the character perfectly, as the character also had issues. It was just perfect, and I thought it was awesome! 

What a great experience! Great job Phillip! I'm so proud of you! Thank you! 

You’re welcome. Yeah, so let's rewind a bit. I'm passionate about having alternative paths. Often, creative individuals, especially younger ones, might think they don't need college or a traditional job. Can you share your experience at Morehouse College and discuss how important it is for people in the arts to have a backup plan? Actually, I have a different perspective on that. Instead of thinking of it as a fallback, I see it as a powerful tool for personal growth. Morehouse was the only out-of-state college I applied to, and getting accepted was a huge honor for me. Having grown up in LA, I felt it was time for a change after taking a gap year post-high school and spending two years at Santa Monica College.  

My time at Morehouse taught me invaluable skills that books alone couldn't provide. The social connections, networks, and brotherhood I gained are still some of the closest relationships I have today. Despite pursuing a degree in marketing rather than the arts, I auditioned for and earned a scholarship to sing with the Morehouse College Glee Club. Touring as an ambassador of the school each spring exposed me to the life of a performer and broadened my perspective.  

It's crucial to recognize that pursuing education or developing skills beyond your natural talents is not just beneficial, but it's a game-changer. It opens doors, and teaches work ethics and resilience, which is essential in a competitive industry where rejection is common. Understanding the business side of my craft was eye-opening, realizing that success often hinges on perseverance and the ability to handle numerous rejections before finding success.  

Learning skills outside of your natural talents is key. Look for things that challenge you. In other words, discovering your natural talents and effortlessly showcasing them may be impressive, but it's essential to also understand the ins and outs of the industry. While spontaneous success is fantastic, it's crucial to have a solid foundation for when things don't go as planned. I'm grateful for the path I chose, as it truly shaped my journey. 

In showbiz, it's common knowledge that you'll get around 95 rejections for every five acceptances. And sometimes, it's even 99 rejections for just one acceptance. 

I approached it from a business angle and thought, "This is all about numbers, isn't it?" So, I just need to be ahead of the game. I'm not paying attention to the negatives. I only focus on the positives. So, I keep hearing "no, no, no, no, no, no, no," until I hear a "yes." Then I'm like, "Ah, that's what I wanted." So, to answer your question, the key benefit of learning a new skill or earning a degree is stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring something different from your usual strengths and abilities. 

Without a doubt! Phillip, your talent shines through in a multitude of ways. You excel at everything you do effortlessly. In fact, your exceptional skills are so grand that they have even landed your album's hit single "Come On" in the Billboard Top 20 charts for an impressive 12 weeks. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement!  Thank you! 

My pleasure. Can you share a bit about what inspired your album and song? Absolutely! The song "Come On" actually sparked the creation of my album "The Story Begins." I'm a storyteller at heart, whether it's through song, acting, or speech. With this being my first full-length album, I wanted it to feel like opening a book. The journey begins with the first track, and fittingly, the title track is also the opener. 

That's an interesting concept! Thanks! When I wrote "Come On," I was embracing my natural optimism. I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy. There's enough negativity out there without us having to look for it. So, I consciously choose to stay positive. 

That's a great perspective! "Come On" is my way of saying, "Hey, I'm heading in this positive direction. Let's go together!" The chorus goes, "Come on together, no matter the weather. We'll make it all better if we do it right." I wanted it to have a party vibe, and it seems that resonated with people. It was amazing to see it climb the Billboard charts, especially as a newcomer. Seeing my name up there was surreal.  

Yes, you have such a smooth, captivating voice, reminiscent of Gregory Porter, Will Downing, and Luther Vandross. When I first heard you, I was blown away! You sound so much like Gregory Porter, especially when I saw your music video, “Chocolate Child.” What a brilliant song, performance, and video!  

I'm sure many others feel the same. Plus, you had the
opportunity to sing on the title song for the movie "Get Out." That's incredible and truly shows God's goodness in your life and the gift He's given you. Thank you, Gina.   

My pleasure. How did the opportunity to sing for "Get Out" come about? I was singing with a group for a session, which is something I often do. We were told it was for a film, but I didn't think much of it at the time. About six months to a year later, they reached out again, saying, "Hey, did you know this was for the movie 'Get Out'?" It was before the movie blew up. Seeing my name in the credits was incredible. It's a testament to being open to opportunities, as this wasn't an audition—just a friend asking if I was available for a session.  

That's so cool! Tell me about your latest single, "Mystery." Did you write and produce it yourself? Great question! "Mystery" is special because it's the first song I produced. Normally, I write or co-write my songs and occasionally do covers. "Mystery" is a cover, but I handled the entire arrangement and production. It was a monumental task, and I quickly understood why producers get paid well. It was a lot of work but incredibly rewarding, allowing me to explore another aspect of my artistry. Most of my songs are either written or co-written by me. 

Do you play any instruments? Not live, but when I'm writing, I'll play some chords on the piano to develop ideas. You won't see me doing that on stage, though. 

That's wonderful, Phillip! Where can people find your performance and tour schedule? They can visit my website and follow me on social media. I'm pretty active online. 

That's great! Fans love connecting with their favorite artists. Where can people buy your new music? My music is available on all major streaming platforms—Spotify, Apple Music, you name it. 

Perfect! Last question: What advice would you give to aspiring artists, actors, or singers who are unsure of their next steps? Find out what you're passionate about and build your artistry around that. Once you're clear on your goals as an artist and a person, everything else falls into place. For me, having a clear vision has allowed me to integrate acting, producing, voiceovers, and more. Be clear on your vision, and everything else will follow.  

That's fantastic advice. You're an amazing, talented, and kind person. It's a blessing to meet someone like you. I pray that God blesses your work and your life, brings good people into your life, and opens many doors for you. I'm incredibly proud of all you've achieved and encourage you to continue being a positive role model. Our young people need someone like you to look up to. Wow, Gina, thank you so much. I appreciate all of that. 

My pleasure! May God bless you, Phillip! Have a great night! You too. Bye. 

 End Of Interview

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