Album Notes

For as long as he can remember, music has been singer/songwriter Brett Vogel's passion. The first album he purchased was George Harrison's "Cloud Nine." Shortly thereafter he bought his first guitar , and it became his constant companion from that moment onward. "There wasn't really a defining moment when I thought to myself, this is what I want to do with my life. The passion was just a part of me from the beginning. The better I became, and the more feedback I got, the more I began to realize that I could make my dream a reality."

He was diligent about attaining this dream and began taking piano lessons, and joined the choir at school. He wanted to dig his fingers into all things musical. At Eastern Illinois University, where he earned his bachelor of finance degree, he assembled his first band, "Berkeley's Dream" with four other guys, and they became a regional favorite, playing gigs at colleges, universities, and bars/venues throughout the Midwest.

Brett has since stepped away from the quartet to pursue his career as a solo artist. His solo release, produced by Platinum selling artist/producer Nicholas Gunn, combines tasty guitar melodies and catchy lyrics on songs that explore the emotional depths of love as well as the emotional state of the world today. Brett, 23, was born in a suburban Illinois city. Throughout his life, he has won several vocal contests, and with a vocal range that extends over four octaves, he is a tough act to beat.

Brett currently performs with a five piece band. The band consists of Jonathan Miller on the lead guitar and back up vocals, Kyle Theiss on keyboards, Brandon Danger on the bass guitar, and various drummers. Live shows are packed with raw emotion and breath taking energy.

Vogel and Miller have had a long relationship together on and off the stage. Vogel and Miller co-wrote four songs on the album, including "No Grace in Goodbye's", "Wishing You Were Here", "Sea of Madness", and "Breathe Clean". Vogel states, "Jonathan is an extremely talented musician and a true friend. We just have this connection on stage that I haven't been able to find with anyone else. He continues to amaze me even after all the shows we've played together. He's always pulling something out of his bag of tricks. It's awesome, simply awesome."

Brett's influences include Jeff Buckley, Dave Matthews, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, and U2. His songs are passionate and energizing with raw emotion. He has won the hearts of fans of all ages, and continues to impress listeners wherever he goes.

"Music is extremely important because it serves to bring people together. It helps people heal, it inspires them, and gives them hope. My music is very personal because I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. Music is a release for me. I'm inspired by many aspects of life, such as beauty, emotion, the struggle, the chase, and the challenge. I'm inspired everyday to write the best song I've ever written, and I hope my songs are relatable so that when someone listens to the words, they feel as though they are not alone. I believe in my heart that the best is yet to come."