Following the release of his emotionally charged single “Now That I Miss You,” rising New England artist BRODIE sat down to discuss the deeply personal journey behind the track. The song showcases BRODIE’s signature fusion of rap, R&B, and alternative pop while offering listeners an intimate glimpse into his process of grief and healing.

With heartfelt lyrics and a bold, honest approach to self-expression, his latest track opens a window into his personal struggles and triumphs. In this candid conversation, BRODIE reveals the painful inspiration behind the song, his creative process, and the message he hopes to share with listeners who may be navigating their own battles with loss. Join us as we explore the making of a song that is not just a reflection of his artistry but a testament to his resilience.

“Now That I Miss You” touches on themes of loss, regret, and longing. Can you tell us about a specific moment or experience in your life that inspired this track?

On February 28th, 2023, I lost my lifelong friend to suicide. I was on a short trip to Miami for my birthday, the 24th, with my girlfriend and our mutual friend. At about 7 am, a call from my dad woke me up, informing me that my friend Dillon was no longer with us. It was a devastating moment… Honestly, even writing this is hard but it’s the best way I know how to honor him. 

Your lyrics in “Now That I Miss You” are incredibly personal. How did you approach writing such vulnerable lines?

For me, it was more of a rollercoaster of emotions that I was processing and letting myself feel all of it. A lot of mindfulness, introspective thinking, and being honest with myself. The lyrics are thoughts and feelings that I chose not to shield myself from but to face head-on and hopefully heal from. 

For example, the lines, “Eyes wide shut, wake up! / Am I dreaming again? Make love; I’m not sleeping again, but I’m laid up. Someone save us” is specifically about the moments of waking up to the phone call, the confusion, the denial, and the aftermath. Everything I wrote, sang, and spoke was a direct reflection of the experience I went through.

Can you describe the creative process behind “Now That I Miss You”? Was there a particular moment when the song truly came together for you, both musically and emotionally?

Now That I Miss You came about after first hearing the instrumental. I remember being in the studio, listening to different beats from the talented ANYWAYWELL, and this one just hit home. Almost immediately, the instrumentation caused a lot of emotions to well up and those first few lines wrang out as the beat played… It really set the tone for the rest of the song. So right off the bat, I knew this song would be special to me.

As someone who self-produces and engineers your music, what do you feel is the most challenging aspect of having full control over your creative process, and how do you overcome it?

The most challenging part of a self-producing engineering artist is balance, perspective, & innovation. To be fair, it became difficult to balance it all while elevating my career. Having to conceptualize, execute, and deliver every song, and then promote it was cumbersome to my progress, causing huge delays between releases. 

Overcoming these challenges came down to allowing myself to be open-minded and inclusive with my creative process. I spent years doing everything myself, which also led to a lack of perspective on the evolution of my music. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about art, stubbornness will be met with poor results. 

I would encourage anyone to build a team; put yourself out there until people click and want to be involved. This doesn’t mean “losing control” over your creative process, but rather it frees up headspace and provides perspective on your career, music, and brand, which is what will ultimately elevate your music.

The title “Now That I Miss You” is poignant—what does the phrase mean to you personally, and how does it encapsulate the essence of the song?

It’s just the truth. I miss my brother dearly. Every day, there are a lot of things that remind me of him, and this song is one of them. I just want people who are going through similar experiences—trauma, loss—to see this title and find refuge. Something outside of themselves to hold onto and maybe not feel so alone. 

You’ve been very open about your desire to push musical boundaries and evolve as an artist. How do you feel that “Now That I Miss You” represents the next step in your journey?

It feels like a metamorphosis… A release of anything that was holding me back creatively, personally, and mentally. Ironically, this song is also about saying goodbye to those things as well, moving forward. It’s a reminder to wake up and take the deepest breath of fresh air and to move forward knowing who & what I’m living for.

What can fans expect from you in the coming months? Are there any new directions or collaborations on the horizon that you’re excited to share?

Expect a lot of music & content. Expect quality, innovative sound. Hopefully unlike anything you’ve heard before. My team and I have been formulating and planning, and it’s time for execution with multiple fleshed-out music projects, singles, videos, and coverage.

Collaborations are always in rotation. I recently was featured on Boston artist Milly19’s album cut BLUE BEAMS, as well as, Los Angeles’ UNDRGRND ALBUM PT.4 with 5 different features from myself. This is just scratching the surface. I’m open to working with anyone who comes ready and willing to invest in their career. 

With each release, you continue to build a deeper connection with your audience. What is one thing you hope listeners take away from “Now That I Miss You” after hearing it?

I hope they can see me for the human being that I am, the perspective that I have on the world and life, a perspective from what felt like a lifetime of reflection. I hope we can connect to understand each other and feel a little less alone in this world. 

For listeners who may be hearing your music for the first time, how would you describe your sound and the emotions you hope they experience when they press play on “Now That I Miss You”?

Truly, to anyone listening, I hope you feel alive… I hope you feel something you’ve been holding deep down when you hear this song.

Even with the music going forward, we’ve worked really hard to bring the music to life, to build a sonic identity that feels new and unique, that feels human. So that people can truly have an experience when they tune into BRODIE’s music.

I hope you have an experience. I hope you feel something. Breath.