My Debut Solo Album, Brad Gardner - Gemini

My first album in 10 years is out today ❤️ After previous musical monikers over the years like Breaking Day, The Good Luck Foundation and Reverie Band. For my first time, I made an album completely by myself. I played all of the instruments and did all of the audio production accept for the mastering which was done by the great Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel, Toronto.

This process was a massive learning curve for me personally and creatively. As they say, where words fail, music speaks and I hope that to be the case with this music.

That's part of the fun of releasing a record, I have a million reasons for this or that, but once it it's hits your ears it becomes something different, and to me that is beautiful.

Why did I name this album Gemini? A multitude of reasons, for a start I am a Gemini ... as are many amazing people in my life. But one thing I can say about us Gemini's is that that not one Gemini is truly alike we all seem to have a large variety of interests and careers.

I guess we could say that about all people and zodiac signs for that matter. If anything else, it was a really great theme to dive deeply into conceptually on this album.

The recording of this album started on day 1 of our global lockdown. Going back as far as 2020, I knew that I wanted this album to be called Gemini, infact, I initially thought that GEM II I N I would be my new band name. Dozens of songs have been recorded in the time frame from 2020 - 2025.

Day 1 of the pandemic

To my surprise, about half way through working on this album, I found out that google had just named their latest A.I service Gemini.

I found that to be a pretty freaky coincidence, one that began to add to an overall arching theme to some of the material on to the album in these times of Real vs Fake and the competitive nature of A.I influencing our job markets, culture, news and values.

While working on the album I was becoming increasingly aware of a feeling within that this album was going to be a different experience for me. I personally felt a deep motivation to fight for the age old craft of songwriting and performing in all art forms for that matter in the spirit of this album.

As A.I has made many things in this world more and more diluted, it drove me to get more and more pure to the source of songwriting and storytelling within. This included massives lifestyle changes for me personally and the most amount of reading and research that I have ever done in my life.

In the case of music. It is something that us human beings have done for over 40,000 years (according to google and I understand the irony here) and for the first time in our history, the insistent copying and replicating going on all forms of the worlds music and art forms is putting loads of traditional craftsmanship at risk. 

It is for that reason that I also took great joy in teaching many students music over the course of making this album. Trying my very best to share and impart what I have learnt thus far in music in my 33 year journey as a musician. 

A.I is now sadly learning from and diluting our major streaming platforms that have real (human) and fake (A.I) music in the same fishbowl. Which seems to be confusing listeners and artists alike. This has also made me further appreciate the true and irreplaceable magic of live performances and community connection.   

In a very real way, the more that A.I is learning from our music on streaming platforms the less comfortable I am with partaking in that delivery system for my music as of today. 

For now, my debut solo album is available exclusively here on the website or here on bandcamp for purchase as of today Friday July 25th 2025.

By purchasing my album directly, you are making a direct impact on my life and my future music projects and for that I thank you so very much.

I hope you enjoy the music, making it has been a life experience that I will never forget and I will cherish the process and all of the many experiences within these last 5 forever.

Play it loud! It was mastered to be turned up, you will hear it open up when you do.

All the best,

Brad

No A.I was used making this album cover, I made it in collaboration with my friend and graphic designer Regina Tirsgaard.

David Gray Dear Life part 2

David Gray released his amazing new record Dear Life on January 17th 2025. The roll out of this release has been a beautiful experience for me personally as a David Gray fan.

First, I took part in the album pre-sale in September 2024 that coincided with the fresh 1st single off the record titled "Plus & Minus". You can check out the pre-sale of the signed vinyl page here.

If you had a chance to read my previous article, you will know that I discovered David Gray's music as a teenager and to have something signed by him sure means a heck of alot. The same can in fact be said for every artist who has ever signed anything for me!

There is a new trend in the music industry that I would like to point out as truly awesome!

I have now experienced this with the recent new releases from David Gray, Coldplay and the upcoming Doves record.

What the bands have chosen to do is have a limited amount of signed vinyl records on offer on their merch site for pre-sale. The cool part is that they are selling the signed editions of their respective albums at the same price as their unsigned copies of the record on a first come first serve basis.

To be on the receiving end of this experience as a music fan feels a bit like getting a golden ticket in some way …. and I love the first come first serve approach!

Therefore, instead of charging more money for the signed copies of the album the artists here have chosen to bring a bit of luck and fun into album pre-sale.

I believe this is a great way for bands to connect with their fans further making the vinyl vs streaming war much more interesting too.

We all know of the many plights and inequalities for artists in our current streaming era of music consumption. It is for that reason, I believe the purchase of a vinyl record says so much more to the artist than an album stream.

I believe that music streaming’s true function in the world is to window shop for music. When I've streamed a record several times and find myself returning to the artists music, I then buy the album on vinyl.

To me, it is showing much more support as a music fan to buy the vinyl. In a way, the music fan is showing the artist. "I have streamed your album enough times now (a.k.a window shopped) that I now want to know more about your music and commit to it as a fan.

I want to hear it with better sound, I want to study your album art which I know artists and sometimes teams of people came together to create.

I also want to read the lyrics and read the album credits, to learn who helped make the music that I’m listening to. It’s also fun to see if there are any familiar names in the credits and if not, I may want to learn about them too!

Above all I want to invite the artist’s music on my record shelf with my other favorite bands over the years in my life.

Anyway, back to David Gray's album roll out! On January 23rd, after an anticipatory 4 month wait, I received my signed copy of Dear Life which is on a very stunning sea blue vinyl.

When I write these blogs, I like to put the album on the stereo as I write so I can really get into the headspace and vibe. As I type my hope is that the reader maybe does the same! So go on, hit play on Dear Life now if you haven't already. Somehow, I just noticed for the first time that the vinyl also has 2 exclusive songs bringing the album to a healthy 15 tracks from the 13 on the digital track listing. The new song I just uncovered now is a song called "The Messenger" which follows after "Singing for the Pharaoh" and all I can say is wow! What a song, it starts in the tune of "Singing for the Pharaoh" but then slowly morphs into what sounds more like a remix and blissed out extension of the song. The two songs back to back sound absolutely magnificent!

The best part about when I did receive the vinyl was that I was about to see David Gray for my 6th time on January 31st at Massey Hall in Toronto.

The Concert.

The line up to get into the concert on a chilly and clear last night of January. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. January 31st 2025.

Massey Hall is a Toronto venue that is for me, hands down the most special place to take in a concert in the city. There is intimacy, history and an incredible vibe and sound to the room that is so complimentary for artists and fans alike.

The only downside about the venue if I really had to reach is that there are some seats with obstructed viewing. Just avoid those seats and read the fine print when buying your tickets!

Here is a bit more about massey hall taken straight from their website for anyone wanting to learn more about the historic Toronto venue: "Known as “Canada’s Carnegie Hall,” Massey Hall is Canada’s oldest and most venerated concert hall. It opened in 1894 and was the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir until 1982. The site of many historic events and performances, it has been repeatedly voted Canada’s best live music venue over 1,500 seats and venue of the year by Canadian music industry associations. It is a National Historic Site and a heritage site in the City of Toronto. It was closed between 2 July 2018 and 24 November 2021 to allow for a $184-million renovation."

My favorite show of his! This was my 6th time seeing David Gray live. After catching David Gray on his White Ladder 25th anniversary tour 2 years ago, I truly thought that magical summer night at Budweiser stage could not be topped. But somehow he did it! This show, at this venue was a perfect 10.

David graced us with his greatest hits, deep cuts, fresh new material and covers that any audience could ever hope for. The setlist was steller, the energy in the room was palpable between artist and audience and I got to watch the show with my family which was extra special.

Here is the set list from the show:

1. After the Harvest

   
   

2. Slow Motion

   
   

3. The One I Love

   
   

4. Lately

   
   

5. From Here You Can Almost See the Sea

   
   

6. Eyes Made Rain

   
   

7. Plus & Minus

   
   

8. My Oh My

   
   

9. Please Forgive Me

   
   

10. Silver Lining

    
    

11. That Day Must Surely Come

    
    

12. Last Boat to America

    
    

13. Dead in the Water

    
    

14. Be Mine

    
    

15. The Other Side

    
    

16. Flame Turns Blue

    
    

17. As I'm Leaving

    
    

18. Singing for the Pharaoh

    
    

19. Just Can't Get Enough

    (Depeche Mode cover)

    
    

20. Babylon

    
    

21. The First Stone

    
    

22. This Year's Love

    
    

23. The Way Young Lovers Do

    (Van Morrison cover)

    
    

24. Sail Away

As you can see an amazing mix of new and old songs. And just like the last time I saw him, he performed two amazing covers! The first was of Depeche Mode's "I just can't get enough" and the second was a jangly and hypnotic cover of Van Morrison's "The way young lovers do".

I have to say, I am much more familiar with Jeff Buckley's version of the song. To hear it with a full band's, a bit more faithful to the original but with a David Gray twist was an amazing experience. I embarrassingly only listened to Van Morrison's original version of the song after the concert, but that Jeff Buckley cover has been on rotation for me since I was 18 years old. Back then I worked at music world where I bought his Jeff Buckley’s Live at Sin-e double album with my paycheck from the record store. If you have not heard that album, please do!

All this to say, if you have not had the chance to hear the David Gray’s Dear Life or any of his 13 previous albums for that matter I highly suggest you check out his bountiful music career. And if he is playing in a city near you, Go! You will not be sorry :)

David Gray blesses us all Dear Life part 1

David Gray's 13th LP Dear Life is out today Friday, January 17th 2025.

Before discussing this brilliant album, I would like to share how I first became familiar with David Gray's music and what a ride it’s been being a fan of his.

The year was 2001 and my family and I were on the trip of a lifetime in the South of France followed by a weekend in Paris. We all absolutely fell in love with the citie’s cafes, museums and life changing food and music.

Me (with bleached blond hair) on the Champs-Élysées in the Spring of 2001.

On a city walk, we discovered what is still to this day, the best record store I have ever been to. It was the Virgin Records Megastore right on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The beautiful 3 story building was packed with every kind of media you could imagine and there was even a bar and restaurant at the top floor.

Upon finding this picture on the web I sadly discovered that the store is now closed.

At this store you could pick any CD of your choosing and walk up to a listening station, scan the barcode on the back of the CD you were interested in and it would magically start playing the album for you. I had never seen anything like that, and my 16 year old mind was blown. This was my happy place, I had found a corner musical heaven.

Keep in mind this was very much the era of the CD and downloads had maybe just begun. I must have spent the better part of an hour looking around the store while my parents happily had some drinks at the bar on the 3rd floor.

After combing through the isles, I had finally chosen an album called White Ladder by David Gray that caught my eye in the new release section. An employee also told me that it was an incredible record. The CD also had a sticker on the front with a testimonial quote from Dave Matthews praising the album and David Gray's songwriting.

I was sold, I bought the album not knowing I would go on go listen to his music for the rest of my life. I can still remember hearing White Ladder for the first time on my portable cd player in my room at a bed and breakfast just blocks away from the Champs-Élysées . It has become a bonding record with my friends and family and I for 23 years now. When we ultimately did return home from Paris, I had an idea to see if he was touring and coming to Canada or if he was a maybe a rare European act only.

To my surprise, the timing was perfect, and he played Toronto just a few months after our trip. That would end up being the first of 6 times I've had the privillage of catching a David Gray concert.

Therefore, it's always a special day when David Gray puts out a new record. All I can really say is that I am thankful for his music and to be a David Gray fan is a magical experience.

Today, 23 years later, David Gray has released his 13th album titled Dear Life. I’m only on my fourth listen through as I write this, but what a beautiful collection of songs this is!

The perfect record to get swept away in with it's lush production and sentiment, packed with captivating lyrics that float among his trademark hypnotic and swirling songwriting that is fraught with soothing hooks. This album has lots of mojo, vibe and presense. The kind of record that can make bad speakers sound good if you know what I mean. The album also features the very welcomed return of fan favorite drummer and original White Ladder collaborator Craig McClune (commonly known by fans as “Clune”.)

“Dear life” was recorded after the success of his White Ladder 2oth anniversary tour which was initially put hold due the global pandemic and was completed the following year. I can confirm that the delay of that tour was absolutely worth the wait.

David Gray white ladder 20th anniversary tour in Toronto, Canada July 15th, 2022 at Budweiser stage

After the tour, Gray moved homes and subsequently recording studios, leaving behind a studio where he had crafted so many of his recent albums. This new change seems to have played a part in this incredibly refreshing batch of songs that he has blessed us with today.

I feel very lucky to live in the same time as this noble songwriter. In Dear Life David Gray takes fans into uncharted musical waters, and it’s a joy.

Love, courage, magic, contemplation and revelation seem to be at the fore with this one. I am so, looking forward to spending more time with the music and catching it live!

To be continued ...