Life experiences can be influential in any artist's musical style, fostering an individualized approach to creating music. For Braden Cano, a senior studying music production and the recording industry, his soulful R&B and rap sound is no exception.
"I'm really influenced by my surroundings and that kind of shapes you, especially growing up – where you're from is going to change how you view the world," Cano said. "You go somewhere else you might change your viewpoint. But initially where you're from makes you who you are."
Born and raised in Upper Sandusky, Cano began his musical journey at a young age. His first instrument was the violin but after his sister began taking piano lessons, he grew interested in the instrument too. His mother drove him 30 minutes to each lesson. His piano teacher taught him an incredibly valuable technique that carried over into his other interests — learning to play by ear. This allowed Cano to add the guitar and bass to his repertoire of instruments he can play through sound.
Cano's passion for music continued in high school, where he participated in musicals, the school band and a cappella groups. He even started his own band called "E Trio Unum," a play on the U.S. motto.
When Cano was 17, the band played at Wyanstock, a local musical festival. Through various covers of Jimi Hendrix songs, Cano discovered a love for performing.
"Looking back, I was into performing and I didn't know it," Cano said. "Now that I get older, I'm like 'OK that s— was actually good that I did that because now I have these tools to work with.’”
Cano's musical landscape also takes inspiration from his hometown. With a life of a slower pace, he started observing the culture around him and appreciating the smaller details in nature.
Describing himself as an "earthy person," Cano resonated with being grounded and stories that felt more relatable to him. He noted some coming-of-age movies, such as "Boyhood" (2014), had a huge influence in his approach to music production and songwriting.
"I'm also a human being, I'm also going through changes like growing up," Cano said. "You can relate to people through this s—-, [and] people listen to that and that's what makes people feel s—-. It opened me up to [the fact] that this can be something completely different, and so now I want to make music."
In early 2020, Cano wrote his first song for himself, and prior to this, the only song he wrote was for his date for his high school prom. He did not take writing lyrics seriously until the fall of 2020, when he started attending Ohio University as a freshman.
"I came here and I was like, 'Yeah, I guess I’m going to go make music,'" Cano said. “I don't know if there was ever a split decision where I was like, 'Oh, this can be like a career for me' because I wasn't really going to go to school. I wasn't really planning on it, [and] I wasn't planning on anything else either. I feel like sometimes things just happen."
Despite his eagerness to make music, Cano experienced a period of self-doubt and hesitation before he officially began publishing his music on streaming platforms. He felt he was not "a good performer yet" and that he was still becoming an artist. However, the support and hype from his friends gave him the confidence boost to release his music, even if they were not fully perfect because its themes could relate to others.
On February 10, 2023, Cano released his debut single, "01' chevy Malibu." Beginning with a dreamlike soundscape, the song aptly explores a series of "firsts" for the artist. Its soulful vocals fuse with the nostalgic and often windy instrumentals, creating a unique introduction to Ohio's homegrown musician.
Cano followed up his debut with two singles, "Ghosts" and "I Dont Rlly," nearly six months apart. Both songs continue with Cano's drawing from personal experiences, exploring themes such as mental health and an understanding of the world surrounding us.
The next two solo tracks from Cano, "Circumstances" in October 2023 and "Bad Dreams" at the very end of January 2024, preceded the release of his debut EP titled "1-800-Too-Dope” on February 4. The album was launched by Midnight Music entertainment company as the group’s first-ever artist launch project. The seven-track EP featured the assistance of Michael Wells on mixing, Jack Wire on mastering and Nick Thompson on the album's rollout production.
The EP features a mix of genre-defying sounds as Cano lets listeners learn about his personal world. Although more groovy than a similar song in "Ghosts," the track "Bad Dreams" explores similar themes while looking forward to the future. "Circumstances" weeds through the disparaging aspects of life in an uplifting beat, stating, "you can find me when the rain passes."
Love is featured in tracks like "Memories” and "Diamonds," the latter of which is a chill exploration of what he loves about his lover. The closing track, "In My Life,“ rediscovers Cano's past in a nostalgic look at his life.
Now, a month after his first EP release, Cano is eager to release his second album in the future. He describes the album as a capture from his previous sound as this is in your face and more out there.
Cano will participate in the "Ohio in LA" program this summer and plans to stay in Los Angeles after graduating this spring. He hopes to find a music studio to work for, but he is open to any possibility.
For now, Cano continues to be a rising star in the Athens music scene, creating a unique atmosphere with his musicality.
