Brosseau creates 'prog folk'
Published March 21, 2006
Tom Brosseau has released six albums, but he does not consider himself a musician or a songwriter. To him, a musician is someone who is especially skilled at what they play.
"I have a unique way of playing the guitar, but there are a lot of people in the world who are better than me," he said.
He considers himself more of a storyteller than a songwriter.
But, by the poetic way he speaks, it is obvious that he is a songwriter.
Brosseau combines stories of his life with unique instrumental sounds that produce "progressive folk," a term coined by his friend John Doe, the songwriter and bassist of Los Angeles punk band X.
"Even I don't know how to classify my music sometimes," Brosseau said.
But he said he likes the term "prog folk" because he says his lyrics are linear.
Brosseau said he tries to create the essence of progressive music though the use of a simplistic, folk-driven acoustic guitar.
Brosseau was raised in Grand Forks, N.D., but after a devastating flood left Grand Forks covered in water in 1999, Brosseau said he knew he "wanted to see the rest of America." He finished college in St. Paul, Minn., with a degree in communications.
After traveling the country, he settled in California in 2001, and he lives in Santa Monica.
Brosseau said his music is influenced by the likes of Woody Guthrie, Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, who all reached popularity before 1940.
He said he likes these early-century musicians and songwriters because they took an original idea and developed it into a song whereas more modern songs seem manufactured.
"I appreciate when people take a little time in writing a song," Brosseau said.
He said he tries to incorporate the same concept into his own writing.
"I let the ideas in my head percolate," he said.
Brosseau has been touring steadily since last summer.
"I feel most natural on stage," he said. "I really feel awkward when I'm not on stage. I love looking at people when I sing, making connections and touching people in that way."
Brosseau is playing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ragtag Cinemacafé, 23 N. Tenth St. In addition to touring, Brosseau will release two albums in April.
One, which will be released on Loveless Records, is a self-titled re-release of an earlier album. The other is his latest work, Empty Houses Are Lonely, a "biographical" collection of his songs dating from 2001-2006, will be released on FatCat Records.
Although he self-released his first two records, Brosseau is excited about signing with both record companies because they can reach out to more people.
"In the end, what's most important to me is for people to hear my music," he said. "It's about creating something and getting it out into the world, hopefully turning peoples hearts to it."